David Lazarus on STRANGE FORTUNE

I'm delighted to celebrate the (at long last!!!) release of the audio book for Strange Fortune with an interview of David Lazarus, the very talented narrator.



1 - Tell us a little bit about your background. How did you get started in narrating/producing audio books?

I was born in the U.K., but made America my home in my early 20s. I paint and voice act for a humble living, the latter being the more humble. The reason being, the paintbox came first, the reel to reel taperecorder later and finally the Home Studio. A naive conviction that I could make a living in my pajamas doing voiceover work was rapidly dispelled as I learned that there was more to this than a plummy accent, however a love of literature and reading out loud prevailed. I read for the blind, documentaries, ELearning projects, and museum tours, but my preference is the marathon of voice acting; The Audiobook. Thanks in part to A.C.X., I have a few under my belt and more in the works.

2 - How much acting is involved in narrating a story?

Narrating a story is very much about acting - acting with the lights out, as it were, including playing the entire cast of characters with a narrator thrown in. My job is to stage a vocal performance that keeps the listener theatrebound.

3 - What was the most difficult or challenging aspect of narrating STRANGE FORTUNE?

The most difficult and challenging aspect of narrating STRANGE FORTUNE was the love interest between men; not in the heavy breathing sense, but in making the emotional connection palpable.

4 - What character was the most fun to narrate? Why?

I had the most fun narrating Strange because of the challenge of revealing  the vulnerable man beneath the cynical soldier of fortune.

5 - What character was the most difficult to narrate? Why?

The most difficult and challenging character to narrate was Grimshaw because he was etherial and hard to get a handle on.

6 - Was there a particular scene you think you read especially well? Or that you particularly enjoyed reading?

I do not not feel there is a particular scene I read better than another, however, I do enjoy reading dialogue, including banter, tension and believable affection, or conflict.

7 - How awkward is it to read erotic scenes aloud?

I do not feel that reading erotic scenes out loud is difficult as long as the erotic scenes are well crafted.  That being said, they are no harder [no pun indended] than anything else.

8 - What’s the most satisfying or rewarding part of narrating/producing an audio book?

The most rewarding part of narrating an audio book is finishing it, with all the many files and hours of work, as well as the technical challenges resolved. To me it is like framing a painting, hanging it on the wall, stepping back and knowing I have completed a job well done.

9 - Do you ever find yourself wishing the author (naturally not me!!!) hadn’t taken the story in a particular direction? Or is narrating a much more detached process?

The job of the narrator is to read the story and not critique the author.

10 - Where can readers/listeners find out more about you and your work?

My paintings can be seen at the South Wharf Gallery website or the Sylvia Antiques website . You can also listen to my voice over work by downloading STRANGE FORTUNE by you know who.