Grivante's Blog, page 5
December 12, 2017
Serial Killer Z
For some, the zombies are a good thing.
Love Dexter and The Walking Dead? Buy Serial Killer Z in this gripping new horror novel by Philip Harris.
December 7, 2017
The Grace Series
One might think that the end of the would would come slowly…
When the dead have risen, do you run, or do you survive? To find out more, check out The Grace Series by M. Lauryl Lewis.
December 5, 2017
The Zee Brothers: Zombie Buffet Comic Book Now Available!
Ever wonder what happens when a zombie can eat all it can eat?
In the case of Professor West, he made the unfortunate choice of pissing off
Dr. Natasha Nitsau, and now he’s about to find out!
Grab the book on Amazon and enjoy the trailers below!
December 2, 2017
The Walking Dead Cookbook!
Just because the undead’s taste buds are atrophying doesn’t mean yours have to!
Want to know the fine cuisine of the post-zombie world? Find out more by checking out The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse: A Cookbook & Culinary Survival Guide by Lauren Wilson.
November 26, 2017
Interview with Narrator, Ian McEuen
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Ian McEuen narrates The Zee Brothers, The Curse of the Zombie Omelet, Zombie School Lockdown, and The Zee Brothers short story, The Revenge of the Zombie Yeti.
When not narrating, what do you enjoy doing?
When I’m not narrating, I can usually be found telling stores in a very different way: singing on the stage of whatever Opera company will hire me!
What did you enjoy most about narrating The Zee Brothers?
I have always been a huge fan of horror-comedy hybrids. I grew up on Evil Dead and Army of Darkness. Zombieland, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and Drag Me to Hell are all recent favorites.
Which story scared you the most?
Definitely Zombie Yeti. Something about the combination of cultists, rabid yetis, and the whiteout blizzard atmosphere really got to me!
Which story made you the hungriest?
Curse of the Zombie Omelet, of course! I think I ate omelets for a month after I finished narrating that one.
Which story turned you on the most?
I’m not going to lie, when JJ showed up in Zombie Omelet…. yeah, that was cool.
Influences:
When did you first discover that you wanted to be a narrator?
As long as I can remember, I have had two dreams. One was to preform onstage, the other was to do voice acting. I had no idea about the audio-book scene/business until some friends of mine from the opera world started doing it. Once I saw that it was possible to do both, I started devouring as much information about the process of narrating and producing audio-books as I could. I took classes to supplement what I already knew, bough a crappy USB mic, and started auditioning. The Zee Brothers was my first EVER project! =)
Did you have any narrator mentors?
The friends I mentioned above. Check out Michael David Axtell, Tim Campbell, and Carin Gilfry if you want some amazing narration!
Who are your favorite authors? What are your favorite books?
Oh gosh. That is a tough one! Ironically, I didn’t actually become an avid reader until a few years ago (just before I started narrating). Since it is going to be WAY to hard to pick a favorite, I will just list a handful of authors that I adore. Neil Gaiman, Dave Eggers, Kurt Vonnegut, JK Rowling (huge HP fan here), Andy Weir, Ernest Cline, JRR Tolkein, Nicholas Olivo and Luke Kondor are all favorites.
What other narrators have influenced your narrating style the most?
Besides my mentors? I love the work of Jim Dale. He was the first narrator I really connected with. Everything I have heard him narrate is pure gold.
Outside of Horror, what other genre’s do you narrate in?
A whole lot of Sci-Fi/fantasy. My voice and personality is a great fit for a quirky/snarky/comic sci-fi, and I love narrating that kind of stuff!
Is there anything else that has influenced you as a narrator?
Every documentary narrated by David Attenborough. That man is a legend!
What is the first book that made you cry?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
On Narrating:
How do you describe your narrating style?
In it to win it! As an actor and a singer, I always go 100% all in. Often that means I have to pull things back, because they become over the top. That is especially true of narration. Sometimes I go a bit to far, which could potentially pull listeners out of the story, so I try to find a good middle ground. I strive to be as authentic as possible with every voice, accent, and character that I portray, whether it be on stage or in front of microphone. It is all about telling the story in an effective and engaging manner.
What advice would you give to new narrators just getting started?
Read. Read, read, read. Read about narrating, read about the business, read about audio production, read about acting. Also, read out loud whenever you can. Invest in good equipment. Treat your space as best as you can to prevent echo (I started out in a closet stuffed with pillows). That, and learn to manage your time. Audio-books are the marathons of the voice acting business (every hour of FINISHED audio usually has 3-6 hours of behind it), and over the course of that marathon, many things can go wrong. There have been times when I have to delay production because of equipment failure, construction noise, and health problems. When you have a full schedule of books to narrate, and life happens… let me tell you, it sucks. So make sure you budget MORE than enough time to get it all done, just in case someone or something throws a wrench in the works.
What part of narrating do you find the most difficult?
The narration part is easy – I get to do silly voices, accents, and sometimes even impressions, into a microphone. It’s the editing and post-production stuff that really turns it into a grind. Before I figured out how to streamline my process, the editing process was slowly eating my soul. Like I said, time management is important!
What book (outside of The Zee Brothers of course) are you most proud of narrating?
I think the one I am most proud of is The Hipster From Outer Space by Luke Kondor. Luke quickly became one of my favorite authors, and working on this book was an absolute blast. I can’t wait to continue the trilogy. It was my first title set in the UK and I had to work on a bunch of accents with which I was unfamiliar. That, and The Caulborn Series by Nicholas Olivo. I just finished the 6th book in the series, and looking back at all the many characters I have voiced within that series… yeah, I am pretty darn proud of that!
What is your next big project fans should be on the lookout for?
Why, the follow up to Zombie Omelet, of course! It’s out now and you can get it here. If you’ve never tried Audible before, you can get a free copy of the book, just for signing up! That, and the final Caulborn book, which should be released after we ring in 2018.
Is there anything else you’d like your fans to know?
If you listen to an audiobook, pretty, pretty please leave a review on Audible. Thoughtful, positive reviews really help us indie narrators and authors. More than you know!
Where else on the internet can you be found?
I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and my website.
Where can readers find more of your stories?
The Calbourn Series (Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6), The Hipster From Outer Space, Reaper’s Deliverance: The Grim Alliance, Book 1, and The Shaman’s Curse: Dual Magics, Book 1.
If you are unfamiliar with or have never tried an audiobook, grab one for free! Find The Zee Brothers: Curse of the Zombie Omelet or The Zee Brothers: Zombie School Lockdown all on Audible.
Sign-up for the Grivante Press Audiobook Newsletter and get The Zee Brothers: Revenge of the Zombie Yeti audiobook short story for free!
Be sure to check out Ian’s author profile here.
November 14, 2017
November Audiobook Review: Rise of the Horde
Runtime: 8hrs and 3min Narrated by Luke Daniels
In Devan Sagliani’s Rise of the Horde we are introduced to a trio of young adults, Xander, Benji and later Felcity as they navigate a world that is deep into a zombie epidemic turned apocalypse. The story starts with the two boys on a military complex where Xander was left by his older brother and told to stay put, no matter what, only on the first page that same military complex is being overrun by a massive horde and Xander has no choice, but to run.
What did I like about this story?
At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of this story. It was interesting, but I kept waiting for the “adults” to get involved. After I caught on that this is basically a young adult zombie apocalypse novel, I was able to enjoy it on a different level.
The story explores the zombie apocalypse from the viewpoint of the 3 young characters and offers us a different perspective than the normal hard and gritty zompoc story that is so common. Bad things are happening, but we’re seeing it from the eyes of teenagers that don’t have the same life experience as adults. Their adventures or misadventures as the case often was, were fun to follow along with, especially as they encountered different scenarios that forced them to grow up. Including everything from a town under the control of a group of white supremacists, a drug-addicted rocker, and a crazed cult.
In the end, these young heroes are faced with decisions that even adults don’t want to have to make.
What didn’t I like about this story?
It’s a young adult story, which I wasn’t expecting. That said, the story is good, but it has a juvenile quality to it and if you aren’t prepared for that it can take awhile to wrap your head around it. By the end of the book I was enjoying it quite a bit, but I spent the first portion trying to understand what was going on.
Narration:
The narration by Luke Daniels was well done. Giving unique characteristics to each character with his vocal talents. The narration can make or break an audiobook and Mr. Daniels added to the overall experience of the story.
Conclusion: (Aka: Would I listen to more by this author?)
Yes. Once I got into the fact that it was a young adult zompoc I enjoyed it and found myself wanting to know what would happen to these characters next.
All in all I give this a 7 out of 10.
Get a copy for yourself on Audible!
Check out our other audiobook reviews here!
Product links on this page will most likely take you to an Amazon webpage.
Don’t have Audible? Get 2 Free Audiobooks to check it out!
Enjoy audiobooks? Get a free The Zee Brothers Short Audiobook here!
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November 1, 2017
The Winter of Zombies is here!
Have you heard about the Winter of Zombies Blog Tour? It is here! Hosted by Jay Wilburn and featuring a # of great authors. Come check it out on Facebook!
October 26, 2017
Treat Yourself to Some Zombies .99c Promo
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[image error]Behold Darkness By LC Champlin
“Two businessmen in San Francisco match wits with the mastermind of a multi-target
terrorist attack who unleashes a plague that turns people into mindless cannibals.”
Find it on Amazon Connect with LC on Facebook
[image error]Forget the Alamo By R.J. Spears
“Grant is trapped in the Alamo, surrounded by 1,000 hungry zombies, a military strike is on its way,
and he just ate his last Snicker’s bar. And that’s just the upside of his day.”
Find it on Amazon Connect with R.J. on Facebook
[image error]Mutation Z Series: Books 1-6 Boxed Set By Marilyn Peake
Ebola, one of the most feared of the hemorrhagic diseases, begins spreading across the borders of countries in West Africa, then mutates into the “Z” or Zombie Virus. Journalist Hunter Morgan uncovers a web of sinister intrigue connecting Chen-Zamora Pharmaceuticals, a treatment and research camp in West Africa, the U.S. government, CDC and World Health Organization.
Find it on Amazon Connect with Marilyn on Facebook
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The Zee Brothers: Zombie School Lockdown By Grivante
“Two brothers trying to stop the zombie apocalypse, one job at a time!”
Find it on Amazon Connect with Grivante on Facebook
[image error]Only the Dead Don’t Die By A.D. Popovich
“With hope as her last weapon of defense, Scarlett must learn how to survive
in a creeper-infested world without sacrificing her own humanity!”
Find it on Amazon Connect with A.D. on Facebook
[image error]Infected By Jessica Gomez
“If the world ceased to exist in one moment in time, would you know what to do?
Read the Flash series and see how one cave family tests the hands of fate.”
Find it on Amazon Connect with Jessica on Facebook
[image error]Odium: The Dead Saga By Claire C Riley
“At the end of the world, you either fight or die.”
Find it on Amazon Connect with Claire on Facebook
[image error]DEAD: Onset (Book One of the New DEAD series) By TW Brown
“A return to the world of the 12 book DEAD series. Evan Berry faces the stuff of nightmares
when his fiancee rises from the dead in a local hospital after being attacked in their home.”
Find it on Amazon Connect with TW on Facebook
[image error]Dead & Alive: Survive By I.J. Smith
“England has fallen to a terrible viral attack. Six months after, a team goes in.”
Find it on Amazon Connect with I.J. on Facebook
[image error]Red Dirt Zombies I: The Battle for Roswell, Georgia By Michael Peirce
“The Walking Dead TV show goes into the consequences of losing the zombie war.
My books go into the consequences of winning.”
Find it on Amazon
[image error][image error]Undead On Arrival By Justin Robinson
“A single bite turns a man into a walking corpse. Five years after the end of the world, someone made sure Glen Novak was bitten and now he has one day to put things in order, protect his people, and, most importantly, exact revenge.”
Find it on Amazon Connect with Justin on Facebook
[image error]Alone By Mercedes Prunty
“Is it safer to be ‘Alone’ in this new infected world? The world has been torn apart as we know it, a war over fossil fuels ended in Bio-Chemical warfare and this is the world Stacie now lives in. As she looks for her sister, the one reason she is still alive, she encounters many horrors and monsters on her path but are the creatures the real danger or the humans that are still alive?”
Find it on Amazon Connect with Mercedes on Facebook
Special Bonus!
For the first 25 people that make a purchase of any book above and email a copy of their receipt to receipts@reanimatedwriters.com they will receive a 10 pack of our Choose Your Own Apocalypse Postcards!
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October 17, 2017
October Audiobook Review: Rise of the Dead
Run time: 7hrs and 57 minutes, narrated by John R. Crosthwaite
In Jeremy Dyson’s Rise of the Dead, we find ourselves at the start of the zombie apocalypse. The story is in first person and we follow the plight of Blake, a man who finds himself separated from his family by the rapidly deteriorating world around him. He bands together with other survivors in an attempt to keep one step ahead of the dead, but their escape is leading them away from his wife and daughter.
What did I like about this story?
I enjoyed the fast-paced fall of civilization, how it fell apart so quickly and our main character who had led a life of controlled decisions found himself thrust into a world of unpredictable chaos.
It was tough(in a good way) listening along as his attempts at survival took him further and further away from his family. I could feel his frustration and fear, knowing that he had to do what he was doing to survive, but knowing that it could mean he’d never see his wife and daughter again.
There are some other interesting characters, Quentin, Danielle and Stitch who band together with Blake and help him in his travels. They added some interesting twists, especially the temporary salvation that Quentin’s father brings the group. This part of the story also helps to reveal just how bad things are becoming.
What didn’t I like about this story?
This has nothing to do with anybody but me, but I had a real problem with the narration and it severely affected my enjoyment of the story. I’ll cover this more in Narration below.
Narration:
Ok, so I’ll repeat, this has nothing to do with the story or even the narrator really, but I had a hard time listening to this book. The narrator did this thing with his voice where he would be reading normally and then would switch into a very husky demanding tone and that is the same voice I use to make my wife laugh. I call it my Batman voice. It’s a silly thing I do with her, but hearing it quite frequently in the story as I listened kept throwing me out of the story. I couldn’t stand it. It’s one thing when I do it being silly, its another thing when a good portion of the story sounded like it was being read in that voice.
Conclusion: (Aka: Would I listen to more by this author?)
Unfortunately, due to my struggle with the narrator’s use of “Batman” voice, I would not. This doesn’t mean that others won’t enjoy it just fine, in fact, they likely will, it’s just that it didn’t work for me.
I had a tough time deciding how to rate this. I’d give the story a 7-8, but as discussed, the narration was a real challenge for me and I’d give it a 4-5, so I’m going to average the two out and give it an overall 6 out of 10.
Get a copy for yourself on Audible!
Check out our other audiobook reviews here!
Product links on this page will most likely take you to an Amazon webpage.
Don’t have Audible? Get 2 Free Audiobooks to check it out!
Enjoy audiobooks? Get a free The Zee Brothers Short Audiobook here!
Audiobook News & Reviews Newsletter Sign-up!
Just simple MailerLite form!
Name
Please wait...
Thank you for sign up!
October 10, 2017
Undead Worlds is Here!
The anthology zombie loving fans everywhere have been waiting for is finally available for immediate download! And for a limited time, you can grab it for just .99c! Featuring 22 brand new stories from 22 different authors all in 1 great book!
Check out Undead Worlds today!
