Tosca Lee's Blog - Posts Tagged "demon"
Story of a Release, Part II
I'm thumbing through my first copy of Legend of Sheba--it just arrived on my step an hour ago. This is always a surreal moment for me. Here's why: there's a story I tell myself when I'm staring at the blank computer screen wondering how I'm going to fill it. I tell myself, "It's not really now. It's really the future. You're standing in the kitchen, reading this book right now. The words are on the page, and some of them are familiar, and some you forgot you wrote, but they're there, printed on the page. You're thinking back to this moment, wondering how to write this story. But in fact, the book is written."
I used to do this same trick when I played the piano. I was a competitive concert pianist in my teens. The only problem: I was terrified of performing. When I gave my first solo recital at age fourteen, I was certain I would be the first fourteen year old in the history of mankind of die of a coronary. I remember standing backstage, saying to myself, "It's not really now. The concert is over--you're only remembering back to this moment." And of course, at a near point in the future and ever since, that has been true.
Yes, it's a mind trick, but in a way, it really is true. The book is already written. Time is not a straight line as we know it. And honestly, even after manuscript is turned in and committed to print, it's not really finished; no art ever truly is. It's just captured at a moment in time when it's as near complete as it can be at that moment. Sometimes we get the chance to go back and reprise a performance or revise a story (I'm having my second shot at this with Demon and Havah as they are getting released for the third time this coming year from Simon & Schuster.) Other times we let that snapshot stand, even as the art continues to evolve, unobserved.
I used to do this same trick when I played the piano. I was a competitive concert pianist in my teens. The only problem: I was terrified of performing. When I gave my first solo recital at age fourteen, I was certain I would be the first fourteen year old in the history of mankind of die of a coronary. I remember standing backstage, saying to myself, "It's not really now. The concert is over--you're only remembering back to this moment." And of course, at a near point in the future and ever since, that has been true.
Yes, it's a mind trick, but in a way, it really is true. The book is already written. Time is not a straight line as we know it. And honestly, even after manuscript is turned in and committed to print, it's not really finished; no art ever truly is. It's just captured at a moment in time when it's as near complete as it can be at that moment. Sometimes we get the chance to go back and reprise a performance or revise a story (I'm having my second shot at this with Demon and Havah as they are getting released for the third time this coming year from Simon & Schuster.) Other times we let that snapshot stand, even as the art continues to evolve, unobserved.
Behind the Scenes: On Demon
I first got the idea for Demon in 1998 while driving home on a straight and hypnotizing stretch of Nebraska road. I was in the middle of another project, a fantasy novel about a woman warrior I had been working on for years and had affectionately named The Book That Will Kill Me, if only because I had spent years writing and rewriting the first 100 pages like some literary Sisyphus with his boulder. Had I known then what I know now, I would have pressed on to the end and fixed the rest later, but I was bent on getting it right (whatever that is) and pummeling that story into submission. (New writers: do not do not follow my example!)
I jotted down the idea of a demon telling his story, planning to revisit it some day after I had vanquished The Book That Will Kill Me.
“Some day” turned out to be only a few hours later when my motherboard short-circuited as I sat down to write. It fizzled and popped inside the case, a tiny wisp of smoke drifting out the vent. I freaked out, pulled the thing apart, beat my head against the desk, and finally sunk down in a concussive slump. It was early evening by then—help would have to wait til morning.
I sulked out to the sofa with notepad and paper, determined to march on.
Nothing came. Just the faint waft of burning circuitry from the direction of my office.
At last, I flipped the page and began to write this demon idea. The story that would become Demon: A Memoir, was finished six weeks later.
What you may not know about Demon:
-The manuscript took six years to sell.
-It was nearly published under the title The Appointment.
-Every detail of the setting is real, including Clay’s apartment house on Norfolk, the large house in Belmont and the artwork on display at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
-The dim sum restaurant, The China Pearl, is a regular stop for my sister (who lives in Boston) and me whenever I’m in town.
My father, my sister and I all have cameos in Demon. My sister immediately recognized the two of us standing in the Four Seasons’ Bristol Lounge scene. Dad, however, didn’t recognize himself (or his Gold Toe socks!).
For more Demon trivia, see the back of the book!
I jotted down the idea of a demon telling his story, planning to revisit it some day after I had vanquished The Book That Will Kill Me.
“Some day” turned out to be only a few hours later when my motherboard short-circuited as I sat down to write. It fizzled and popped inside the case, a tiny wisp of smoke drifting out the vent. I freaked out, pulled the thing apart, beat my head against the desk, and finally sunk down in a concussive slump. It was early evening by then—help would have to wait til morning.
I sulked out to the sofa with notepad and paper, determined to march on.
Nothing came. Just the faint waft of burning circuitry from the direction of my office.
At last, I flipped the page and began to write this demon idea. The story that would become Demon: A Memoir, was finished six weeks later.
What you may not know about Demon:
-The manuscript took six years to sell.
-It was nearly published under the title The Appointment.
-Every detail of the setting is real, including Clay’s apartment house on Norfolk, the large house in Belmont and the artwork on display at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
-The dim sum restaurant, The China Pearl, is a regular stop for my sister (who lives in Boston) and me whenever I’m in town.
My father, my sister and I all have cameos in Demon. My sister immediately recognized the two of us standing in the Four Seasons’ Bristol Lounge scene. Dad, however, didn’t recognize himself (or his Gold Toe socks!).
For more Demon trivia, see the back of the book!
Demon Audio Book Out Today!
Today is the day! It’s an audio experience nearly fourteen years in the making. Demon: A Memoir—the book that started my career—is out in audiobook!
Recently divorced and mired in a meaningless existence, Clay drifts from his drab apartment to his equally lusterless job as an editor for a small Boston press–until the night Lucian finds him and everything changes with the simple words, “I’m going to tell you my story, and you’re going to write it down and publish it.”What begins as a mystery soon spirals into chaotic obsession as Clay struggles to piece together Lucian’s dark tale of love, ambition, and grace–only to discover that the demon’s story has become his own. And then only one thing matters: learning how the story ends.
“Compelling, deep… a novel that has you compulsively turning pages and makes you think at the same time.”
-James Scott Bell, best-selling Author of Deceived
Get your copies from your favorite audiobook vendor:
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Demon-Audi...
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/audiobo...
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/audiobook/...
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/...
MEET THE NARRATOR
Joe Hempel was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a total eighties’ kid. He had a fascination with an eclectic array of shows that would later shape his performances in the audiobook world—shows like Alf, Night Court, Tales from the Crypt, and WWF Superstars. For more than a decade Joe honed his acting skills as a referee in professional wrestling and inspired people as a NASM certified personal trainer and endurance coach. Combined with his animated personality and a love for reading, becoming an audiobook narrator was a natural step. Best known for his captivating, rich narrations and uncanny ability for pulling listeners into an immersive experience, Joe has entertained listeners with almost 300 audiobooks ranging from horror and mystery to science fiction, romance, and personal development. Joe is also the winner of the 2018 Independent Audiobook Award for Horror.
How did you get started in audiobook narration?
So exactly “how” I got into audiobook narration is a bit of an awkward thing to talk about. It was basically a dare. I was a book reviewer and reviewed an audiobook fairly poorly. I don’t remember exactly what it was or who it was, but it was roughly 5.5 years ago when I was contacted saying “If you think you can do better, you do it”. And so after some investigation, I dipped my toes into the water, and the rest is history!
Is this a full-time gig?
I do actually do this full time. I produce anywhere from 60-70 audiobooks a year ranging in all styles, and with various publishers as well as my own clients. It was a freeing feeling to be able to leave my full time job just over two years ago in order to pursue this. The publishers and clients that I have are all incredibly wonderful and I enjoy working with each and every one of them. There is never a dull moment in this world because you get to spend it immersed in all kinds of various worlds that these amazing authors create.
What do you love about your job?
There are so many great things about this job. First and foremost is the incredible people you meet along the way! Some of my best friends come from this industry. Be it an author, narrator, or publisher, that is number one on my list. A close second is the fact that I get to play in all these worlds that are created by the authors. I get to be a wizard one day, or the captain of a starship in another, the romantic lead the next day. I get to teach people or inspire people in the non-fiction work that I do. It’s all a very rewarding experience.
Have you experienced any unusual moments?
As far as anything weird……there isn’t a lot. I think the weirdest thing is that while it’s a very solitary workday, it’s a very social and old fashioned business where it’s important to meet the people who hire you. They want to know YOU the person, not just the audiobook narrator. Really though, it’s not that weird is it?
How long does it take to record a book?
Complexity plays a huge role in how long it takes to narrate a book. For non-fiction you have to research pronunciations, find names and locations, sometimes even calling like a city hall or police department to get proper pronunciations. So I would say that I strive to record two finished hours of audio a day. That usually takes about four hours in the booth, and then the other few hours in the day it’s preparing the future books or doing research for upcoming sections.
Recently divorced and mired in a meaningless existence, Clay drifts from his drab apartment to his equally lusterless job as an editor for a small Boston press–until the night Lucian finds him and everything changes with the simple words, “I’m going to tell you my story, and you’re going to write it down and publish it.”What begins as a mystery soon spirals into chaotic obsession as Clay struggles to piece together Lucian’s dark tale of love, ambition, and grace–only to discover that the demon’s story has become his own. And then only one thing matters: learning how the story ends.
“Compelling, deep… a novel that has you compulsively turning pages and makes you think at the same time.”
-James Scott Bell, best-selling Author of Deceived
Get your copies from your favorite audiobook vendor:
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Demon-Audi...
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/audiobo...
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/audiobook/...
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/...
MEET THE NARRATOR
Joe Hempel was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a total eighties’ kid. He had a fascination with an eclectic array of shows that would later shape his performances in the audiobook world—shows like Alf, Night Court, Tales from the Crypt, and WWF Superstars. For more than a decade Joe honed his acting skills as a referee in professional wrestling and inspired people as a NASM certified personal trainer and endurance coach. Combined with his animated personality and a love for reading, becoming an audiobook narrator was a natural step. Best known for his captivating, rich narrations and uncanny ability for pulling listeners into an immersive experience, Joe has entertained listeners with almost 300 audiobooks ranging from horror and mystery to science fiction, romance, and personal development. Joe is also the winner of the 2018 Independent Audiobook Award for Horror.
How did you get started in audiobook narration?
So exactly “how” I got into audiobook narration is a bit of an awkward thing to talk about. It was basically a dare. I was a book reviewer and reviewed an audiobook fairly poorly. I don’t remember exactly what it was or who it was, but it was roughly 5.5 years ago when I was contacted saying “If you think you can do better, you do it”. And so after some investigation, I dipped my toes into the water, and the rest is history!
Is this a full-time gig?
I do actually do this full time. I produce anywhere from 60-70 audiobooks a year ranging in all styles, and with various publishers as well as my own clients. It was a freeing feeling to be able to leave my full time job just over two years ago in order to pursue this. The publishers and clients that I have are all incredibly wonderful and I enjoy working with each and every one of them. There is never a dull moment in this world because you get to spend it immersed in all kinds of various worlds that these amazing authors create.
What do you love about your job?
There are so many great things about this job. First and foremost is the incredible people you meet along the way! Some of my best friends come from this industry. Be it an author, narrator, or publisher, that is number one on my list. A close second is the fact that I get to play in all these worlds that are created by the authors. I get to be a wizard one day, or the captain of a starship in another, the romantic lead the next day. I get to teach people or inspire people in the non-fiction work that I do. It’s all a very rewarding experience.
Have you experienced any unusual moments?
As far as anything weird……there isn’t a lot. I think the weirdest thing is that while it’s a very solitary workday, it’s a very social and old fashioned business where it’s important to meet the people who hire you. They want to know YOU the person, not just the audiobook narrator. Really though, it’s not that weird is it?
How long does it take to record a book?
Complexity plays a huge role in how long it takes to narrate a book. For non-fiction you have to research pronunciations, find names and locations, sometimes even calling like a city hall or police department to get proper pronunciations. So I would say that I strive to record two finished hours of audio a day. That usually takes about four hours in the booth, and then the other few hours in the day it’s preparing the future books or doing research for upcoming sections.
