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B.K. Duncan:
I am thoroughly enjoying listening to the audiobook of Foul Trade read by Annie Aldington. I can't listen to many audiobook narrators, but I like Annie's voice. Did you choose her, or is that left to a publisher? Do you think your books might ever be made into radio or tv programmes? Do you read your writing out loud to yourself?
B.K. Duncan
Hi, Christine.
I'm so glad you are enjoying the audiobook of Foul Trade. I haven't listened to my own copy yet; I'm a little nervous in case my words don't live up to the voice of a professional actor. I do read my work aloud though in the final editing stages -- sometimes to myself, and sometimes to a close friend for feedback. It's very difficult to proofread your own work because you know what you meant to have written and see the words that ought to be there even when they aren't, but reading them out makes me concentrate on each one and I pick up a lot of mistakes and omissions that way. When I first started writing novels I used to record myself reading and then play it back; it was a little like having my work on the radio and helped me get some objectivity on the story. But I don't do that any more. Partially time pressures, but also because I'm a more accomplished self-editor these days.
Magna, who produced the audiobook, chose the actor and from your feedback they obviously did a very good job. Annie Aldington has said that she is Martina Cole's favourite reader, so I'm in good company.
I would love it if my books were made into either radio or television programmes. I suspect the latter would be more problematic because although I based my locations on thorough historical research (all the streets of Poplar and Limehouse were exactly where I said they were according to the 1916 Ordnance Survey maps) the docklands area of London was bombed heavily in the London Blitz, and has been extensively redeveloped over the past 30 years. But they can recreate Victorian Whitechapel for stories featuring Jack the Ripper so perhaps with the magic of television and computer imagery they can bring back the East End Map Keaps would recognise. Wouldn't it be fabulous if they could have some three-masted schooners sailing into West India Dock as well?
I'm so glad you are enjoying the audiobook of Foul Trade. I haven't listened to my own copy yet; I'm a little nervous in case my words don't live up to the voice of a professional actor. I do read my work aloud though in the final editing stages -- sometimes to myself, and sometimes to a close friend for feedback. It's very difficult to proofread your own work because you know what you meant to have written and see the words that ought to be there even when they aren't, but reading them out makes me concentrate on each one and I pick up a lot of mistakes and omissions that way. When I first started writing novels I used to record myself reading and then play it back; it was a little like having my work on the radio and helped me get some objectivity on the story. But I don't do that any more. Partially time pressures, but also because I'm a more accomplished self-editor these days.
Magna, who produced the audiobook, chose the actor and from your feedback they obviously did a very good job. Annie Aldington has said that she is Martina Cole's favourite reader, so I'm in good company.
I would love it if my books were made into either radio or television programmes. I suspect the latter would be more problematic because although I based my locations on thorough historical research (all the streets of Poplar and Limehouse were exactly where I said they were according to the 1916 Ordnance Survey maps) the docklands area of London was bombed heavily in the London Blitz, and has been extensively redeveloped over the past 30 years. But they can recreate Victorian Whitechapel for stories featuring Jack the Ripper so perhaps with the magic of television and computer imagery they can bring back the East End Map Keaps would recognise. Wouldn't it be fabulous if they could have some three-masted schooners sailing into West India Dock as well?
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