Audiobooks discussion
Narrators' Corner
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Guest Narrator Simon Vance 1-14-16
Jeanie wrote: "My assumption above made me think of another question... has anyone ever “recognized” your voice and then complimented you on a book you didn’t read? What did you do. Just say, “Yes, I enjoyed read..."I can't think of any specific instances, though I have a vague recollection of it having happened before.
I think I simply put them right - As I say, I don't ever want to take credit for something I didn't do, however flattering that might be. :)
Jeanie wrote: "This post went astray so I'm re-posting it on behalf of Julie.Simon
Can you tell us if you stay on a strict routine while recording , or can you choose how many and what hours you work each day ?..."
I work mostly from home and so can dictate my work hours (I should be recording now!). I try to keep a fixed routine in terms of how much I get completed in a day when I have a project, but exactly when I do those hours can vary. It used to be that I'd aim at 3+ completed hours a day, but my voice needs more care these days and I tend to aim at two or so, unless the project demands more.
I mentioned above that I'm about to start on The Last Mortal Bond by Brian Stavely and it looks to be about 30 hours long. I need to do it in two weeks so I'll have to push myself to 3 hours complete every day. Usually two in the morning and a third early afternoon.
Jeanie wrote: "This post went astray so I'm re-posting it on behalf of Julie.Simon
Can you tell us if you stay on a strict routine while recording , or can you choose how many and what hours you work each day ?..."
As regards acting - I'm really just settling in here in LA - They say it takles 2-3 years before people recognise that you're serious about being in LA and you start gaining attention.... I'm lucky enough to have had two small roles so far - one in Criminal Minds (really that was just before I came down here) and another very brief line in Showtime's Masters of Sex.
Koeeoaddi wrote: "I'm also interested in the 'pick and choose' question. If you are asked to read something that doesn't resonate, do you turn it down?...and among many other books I've had the pleasure of hearing..."
I think I mentioned that the nature of the business means I generally take everything I'm offered.
I'd love to be in the position of turning down something that 'didn't resonate' but I can't be that choosy. Just as a regular actor takes on the roles he's offered I find a way into every book I'm given... I only turn down something because I haven't the time.
Julie wrote: "Simon Have you always loved to read, and if so, where did you get that gift ?
Do you prefer ,when reading for your own enjoyment, to read print books or listen to audio ?"
I've always had a facility for reading aloud... and I do enjoy it, very much. There's a recording in existence somewhere in my family of me reading from Winnie the Pooh when I was 6. Perhaps it's something my family encouraged.
I don't have much time for listening or reading outside of the work... It tends to be a quick read just before lights out or a listen when I'm on the road between LA and San Francisco. In the former case I've been know to read Neil Gaiman's graphic novel series 'Sandman' as a rest from words, words, words. On the road I like the long biographies - particularly those narrated by Grover Gardner :)
Beside my bed right now is a copy of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's 'Good Omens' - fun!
Julie wrote: "Which book out of all the Classics you've done ,has been your favorite to do, or that you think turned out the best ?"Tough question because I don't have perfect recall of my reactions to each book - I do the best I can for each and leave the judging to others :)
I always loved recording Charles Dickens, and I think any of those stand up well. Of course the one's that stick in my mind are the one's that won awards, though I think some of the others are just as good - so Great Expectations and Nicholas Nickleby, perhaps... but then... Tale of Two Cities... Bleak House... and on...and on. Loved them all.
And I don't want to forget Anthony Trollope - particularly The Warden in the Barsetshire series (probably the shortest and neatest of those books)... and, oh, Thomas Hardy... I love Thomas Hardy.
I'm no help here, am I?
Simon wrote: "Julie wrote: "Which book out of all the Classics you've done ,has been your favorite to do, or that you think turned out the best ?"Tough question because I don't have perfect recall of my reacti..."
Now it's time for me to go into the studio - I'll be back in an hour or so!
Welcome Simon,There are few narrators that impact my decision to read a book. You are one of them. If I'm considering a book and I see you are the narrator, I'm sold.
Like Julie, I've listened to all of the Troost books and enjoyed your work in them. My question for you is regarding you're preference in narrating fiction vs. non-fiction. If you had to choose one of those for the rest of your career, which would you prefer?
Thanks for taking the time to join us and answering our member's questions.
Hi and thanks so much for sharing your time with all of us here. Since you've been in the industry a while, have many recorded books to your credit, you must have seen a lot of changes as well. Can you share a few of the things that are different today as compared to when you began? Such as some of the improvements? Or anything that's easier or harder than when you first started?
You narrate the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, which is often called a cross between Dragonriders of Pern and the Aubrey/Maturin series—the latter of which you already mentioned having narrated… Did you feel the similarities yourself and work to either play off them or to avoid duplication?
A new book in the series is coming out this year. Will you be doing the narration or is it too soon to know?
Hi Simon. Long time listener first time caller. Ok ok no more stupid jokes. No questions at this time but welcome and thanks for stopping by. Really enjoyed Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson to name one.
The above comment by Travis reminds me of how much Sherlock Holmes you have narrated. Your narration of The Collected Stories of Sherlock Holmes, Heirloom Edition was a major accomplishment--I enjoyed it tremendously. I noted a new release that is another Holmsian story, only this time with Sherlock as the pov character. And Dust and Shadow was another Holmsian work that was fabulous... super job! There may be more Holmes books I haven't found... any come to mind?Were you a big Holmes fan prior to narrating all these Holmes books?
When you receive a book from a category you have previously done as with the Holmes books, do you try to continue the characters as previously done or approach it as any new work?
Hi Simon. I first experienced your narration in Casino Royale and have been a huge fan ever since. Simon wrote: "[The Last Mortal Bond] looks to be about 30 hours long. I need to do it in two weeks so I'll have to push myself to 3 hours complete every day ..."
It sounds like you don't need very many retakes. Has your need for retakes reduced over the years?
Do you read the whole book before you start recording? If not, do you ever realize that you want to change the tone part of the way through your narration? What do you do about that?
Thanks for answering our questions.
Welcome Simon.You have such a wonderful voice, I've been listening to you for years. My favorite narration to date is probably Dracula. I was wondering how such multicast productions work.
I picture you all huddled around a single microphone like in the early days of radio, but I know that isn't the case.
Do you all record at seperate locations?
Is it therefore difficult to "react" to dialogue?
Julie wrote: "Not a book question, but :I used to watch Criminal Minds all the time . Were you pretty star -struck, working on that big of a hit show with so many great actors ? That would be exciting !"
I think the best part was being at the pre-read when there were one or two actors I had seen before and admired... I'm not a follower of the series and I was there to do a job - what I was able to admire on the day was the professionalism of all concerned. It had been a while since I'd done TV (I was in four episodes of Nash Bridges many moons ago... and a couple of other things since) but I'm always impressed by how something like that can be made to run like clockwork - from the camera operators and set designers right down to the catering. So many people working toward this one object... then packing up and doing it all again next week.
Grumpus wrote: "Welcome Simon,There are few narrators that impact my decision to read a book. You are one of them. If I'm considering a book and I see you are the narrator, I'm sold.
Like Julie, I've listened t..."
That's a very tough question and I'd be hard put to decide which of those I'd give up if you held my feet to the fire.
Sad to say, I think laziness would get the better of me. I find non-fiction requires less absolute work in the reading than fiction. There may be research and so on, but I don't have to be constantly monitoring where I am in the story and which character is which... As I get older I'm probably looking to reduce the amount of time and stress involved in recording books...and I love both F and NonF so much that's probably the direction I'd go.
But in the absence of a fire to which you might hold my feet I'm going to be very, very happy to continue doing both.
Julie wrote: "Yes, you are doing great ! I agree, you read Dickens so well, since his humor in his stories and descriptions of characters really shines through in the way you read them . Terrific job !
I'm ..."
I've had the honor to be asked for on a couple of occasions... It's very flattering :)
I don't go out of my way to actually meet authors unless they happen to be where I am, or where I'm visiting. (Chris Ewan is coming to town this week and I'm meeting him for dinner later on - lovely guy - met him before on a book tour - see 'The Good Thief's Guide To...' series - and a couple of thrillers).
I do reach out if I can (with publisher's approval, of course) especially if it's a book with a lot of pronunciations of words created by the author, or there's an element of mystery about how to portray certain characters and I want to understand where the author wants it to go. Sometimes it's just to say 'Hi, I loved your book'!
Hugely difficult book I just narrated was 'The Wake' by Paul Kingsnorth - we missed each other in London a couple of months ago by just a day, but we ended up hooking up over Skype... If you ever get to see that book you'll understand why I absolutely HAD to talk to him first!!
Julie wrote: "Yes, you are doing great ! I agree, you read Dickens so well, since his humor in his stories and descriptions of characters really shines through in the way you read them . Terrific job !
I'm ..."
Other careers? Hmmm. The major one was as a BBC Radio 4 newsreader in the 1980s to early 90s in London. But I've done a bunch of things including being a bus driver after graduating from university, because it seemed like fun (and it was).
Pamela wrote: "Hi and thanks so much for sharing your time with all of us here. Since you've been in the industry a while, have many recorded books to your credit, you must have seen a lot of changes as well. C..."
Sticky ground here as I do have strong opinions on how the audiobook industry has changed over my time here...
I'll try to be as politic as I can.
Obviously the technology has improved tremendously, the quality of recording that we're able to provide is so much better than it was 20 years ago and the ability to make recordings for minimal cost has meant that it's easier to enter this industry than in the past. That said...
[long pause for thought]
A few years back there was a huge expansion in the number of books being put out for narration (one new publisher of audiobooks with enormous resources decided 'never mind the quality, feel the width...' to coin a phrase). Because there were only so many top-tier narrators it drew in so many more would-be narrators from the fringes... people who really had no business being giving books so early in their careers and who, in many cases, were not up to it. The results showed.
Of course a lot of the new voices were cheaper (and willing to work for peanuts) so everything became diluted. But it was noticed by everyone who had an interest and I recall a number of book bloggers being most upset by the drop in standards.
That moment has passed (thankfully) and I believe sanity, and stability, has returned.
Fortunately the cream has risen to the top and those voices with talent and perseverance have survived and those who were really only meant to read for their kids at bedtime have moved on to the next get rich quick idea... (I think I stopped being politic).
There were some dodgy years there when I wondered about staying in the industry, but it's looking good now and I have no plans (beyond the TV and film thing) to do anything else.
...I had written more, but I think enough is enough... I still love the work and that's what matters!
Jeanie wrote: "You narrate the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, which is often called a cross between Dragonriders of Pern and the Aubrey/Maturin series—the latter of which you already mentioned having narrated… ..."I believe I am the selected narrator!
I always consider each book on it's own merits and don't either 'play off' or 'avoid' any comparison. That that comparison can be made is something, I believe, for the audience to reflect on. As the narrator I am in the world as written by the author and nothing exists beyond those boundaries.
Travis of NNY wrote: "Hi Simon. Long time listener first time caller. Ok ok no more stupid jokes. No questions at this time but welcome and thanks for stopping by. Really enjoyed [book:Dust and Shadow: An Account of the..."That was fun :)
Jeanie wrote: "The above comment by Travis reminds me of how much Sherlock Holmes you have narrated. Your narration of The Collected Stories of Sherlock Holmes, Heirloom Edition was a major accomplishment--I enjo..."I've always been a fan of Holmes, especially the Jeremy Brett TV portrayal. Even through to Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller (I love Elementary. I think because it's just different enough and works well in the US TV drama genre).
I was fortunate enough to narrate a biography of Conan Doyle many moons ago and being asked to narrate 'The Complete Works' was such a joy... though his writing definitely improved as the stories emerged and it was fun to follow that development.
There is a small book of Holmes stories I was asked to narrate recently created by a 'fan'. But... I won't say more in a public forum. Again, maybe they'll find an audience, but not amongst purists.
In my mind Holmes will always be Holmes and will probably sound the same. Watson might vary depending on how the author perceives him (younger or older) but Holmes will not change.
Generally if it's the same character exactly I will attempt to continue the characterization in the same vein.
Because I love fantasy, most of the books I've read that were narrated by you are in that genre. What is your favourite genre to narrate? What is your favourite genre to read for fun and relaxation, or do you combine reading for work and reading for fun? Thanks for joining us and for being willing to answer all our burning questions. :)
There are often books, hidden gems, that for whatever reason aren’t discovered by the public to the degree they deserve. What of your books would you like more people to discover that haven’t already found an audience?
Barth wrote: "Hi Simon. I first experienced your narration in Casino Royale and have been a huge fan ever since. Simon wrote: "[The Last Mortal Bond] looks to be about 30 hours long. I need to ..."
It's a pleasure to be here (though I shall have to excuse myself for my next recording session shortly)...
I haven't kept track of my overall retake rate over the years but it tends to vary dramatically from book to book depending on how difficult it is to read. It's quite possible I've got worse as, either, I get older or I get more judgmental.
I've only once stopped and restarted a book and that was with The Prestige by Christopher Priest (bloody marvelous book, that). I had tried to contact him before starting because it was a book with a complicated structure, but he was on vacation. When we finally touched base he gave me enough new information on his thoughts about the book that I ditched the 5 hours I had done and started again.
I can do that being a one-man operation with no studio hours to be billed or engineers to pay. But it's not something I would like to do a lot.
I do pre-read and I hope to get enough of a sense of the book from that such that there is no call to change my mind halfway through... indeed, as I say, I can't recall any other instance of doing that.
Simon, We here in the group were recently treated to an article that talked of the difficulty a narrator had with one particular phrase… it was “pocketed it” btw.
Have you ever encountered particular words or phrases that just didn’t seem to want to come out of your mouth?
I noticed that you have narrated several multi-narrator books. Which do you prefer - multi-narrator books or being the sole narrator?
Janice wrote: "Because I love fantasy, most of the books I've read that were narrated by you are in that genre. What is your favourite genre to narrate? What is your favourite genre to read for fun and relaxation..."I enjoy well written fantasy too... but then, I enjoy anything that written well (and believe me I've read some stinkers too).
I cannot say there is any one genre I'd be content to stay in or prefer over any other - although perhaps the Classics I've mentioned before like Dickens, Trollope and Hardy... but I think they've done writing for now and there probably won't be any new books from them for me to record.
I don't have much time for 'fun' reading since I have my narration work to prep and most spare time outside of that is spent keeping up to date with what is produced on TV and in film, given that I'm also focussed on getting work there.
I do pick up the odd thing for late night reading but it's hard to take on any major literary works in that time. I've mentioned that I worked through Neil Gaiman's graphic novel 'Sandman' over some months and it generally has to be something that can be digested in small lumps...
Jeanie wrote: "There are often books, hidden gems, that for whatever reason aren’t discovered by the public to the degree they deserve. What of your books would you like more people to discover that haven’t alrea..."It's so hard for me to say since I usually have no idea what kind of audience the books I read have already found... and anyway I'm not always confident that my tastes equate to those of the audience at large.
I love the thrillers of Deon Meyer and the fantasy of Brent Weeks... but I think they're already selling well amongst those genres.
Simon wrote: "I enjoy well written fantasy too... but then, I enjoy anything that written well (and believe me I've read some stinkers too)...."We've recently been discussing whether a good narrator can improve on a poorly written book. I think the general consensus was that a good narrator can improve the experience of listening to a poorly written book, though not the book itself. Do you have any strategies to enhance the listeners' experiences when one of those stinkers appears under your microphone?
Simon, You've been so interesting and entertaining. We totally understand your need to go record--wouldn't interfere with that for the world--and will patiently wait for you to return... stacking up questions all the while. ;)
If you could advise authors, and if they would listen, what things would you want them to pay attention to, to do or not to do, to make your job as a narrator easier?
Jeanie wrote: "Simon, We here in the group were recently treated to an article that talked of the difficulty a narrator had with one particular phrase… it was “pocketed it” btw.
Have you ever encountered parti..."
Yup... all the time... it takes perseverance. Usually slowing down will fix it.
I would NEVER ask a writer to change something because I couldn't say it first time... but then I'm not as famous as that other fellow ;)
Simon, Do you do public readings of books you've narrated? Other public appearances promoting your book work? What were these experiences like for you and would you like to do more or less public appearances?
Janice wrote: "I noticed that you have narrated several multi-narrator books. Which do you prefer - multi-narrator books or being the sole narrator?"Sole narration is more satisfying generally - but I also really enjoy interweaving my story with others... makes for fascinating discoveries (for me and the listener).
Julie wrote: "Simon You touched on this topic a bit ago , regarding how things have changed throughout the years in your business .
I'm wondering if you think it would be easier or harder for a new person int..."
Easier from the standpoint of putting the equipment together but much, much harder to become noticed. I spent much of the 80's recording for the RNIB's Talking Book Service for the Blind in London and that was my apprenticeship... I never had any expectation of making money let alone having a career in this industry (didn't even know there was an industry).
These days people want to get in and earning as soon as possible without having done the basic learning process ... and this is where I become the grumpy old man complaining about the younger generation (it's scary how easily I fall into that character)...
Seriously though I understand where you are coming form and there are several people out there who offer classes in narration: Johnny Heller, Scott Brick, Sean Allen Pratt amongst many others - and they'd have a better perspective on what it takes to get started these days. Join the public Facebook groups that are open to audiobook narrators and look back at past posts.
So much depends on luck as well as having the ability ...and being in the right place at the right time - just ask RC Bray (who narrated The Martian).
Taking a break now - back later this afternoon. :)
Simon, Do you read reviews for books you’ve narrated?
What has been the most helpful criticism you’ve been given? (either in a review or other source such as publisher, vocal coach, author, etc.)
Have you ever read a review that made you vow that if you ever encountered the reviewer in person that you would put superglue on their earbuds?
Simon, you are one of my favorite narrators and it is so exciting to have you here! I loved your narrations of Bring Up the Bodies and A Tale of Two Cities. I am trying to work my way through Dickens' other books and I have your narrations on my to-listen list, as well as many of your other titles.One of my favorite audiobooks is the multi-voice narration of Dracula. How does it work when you record a book like that with multiple narrators? Do you each record your parts separately, or is there some collaboration involved?
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us!
Hi Simon and welcome!I was going to ask if you would be recording book 5 of what was originally the trilogy but it looks like you've already answered my question. I enjoyed book 4 despite it having been written by another writer and, believe me, I'll be there if there's a book 5 and you're the narrator!
All the best,
Lee Ann
Hi, again, Simon. I've now read through the entire thread (some chore, that haha! No seriously, it was very interesting).I, too, will be influenced to try an audiobook if you are one of the narrators. I've listened to lots of books you've narrated (mostly fiction). Favorites include Euphoria, The Devil of Nanking, and Under Heaven
Here's my question for you. I have noticed that you are generally very engaged with whatever you are reading.
Forgive me if i'm asking about something that is difficult to verbalize, but I'm curious. How do you get into character? How do you get into the skin of the different characters in a novel.
Thanks!
Hi Simon,Welcome and thank you! Would you share a book or two you've narrated that have had a lasting impact on you? And why? (I'm an English teacher and always ask the dreaded 'why' question.)
Jeanie wrote: "Simon, Do you do public readings of books you've narrated? Other public appearances promoting your book work? What were these experiences like for you and would you like to do more or less public..."
I haven't been asked all that much, but I enjoy it when I do - it's usually part of a Q&A at a local library. I've probably done 2 or 3 of those in my entire career.
The problem is probably time more than anything. I'm very busy these days. There's also the issue of getting me to where I need to be - if it's local, that's fine. But any further afield and there are all kinds of costs associated even if I don't ask for a fee.
I'm actually going to speak at a Charles Dickens conference in Reykjavik (yes, Iceland) in July. They'll get me there and put me up. They asked what my fee is... I said, hey, just the honor of being asked, and you paying for the travel and hotel is plenty :) I know that almost anyone connected with books isn't going to have a whole lot of money.
By the way - I love them...
So many of your narrations have turned into favorites,some I would highly recommendThe King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy
Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson
Euphoria with Xe Sands
Safe House
Do you have anything exciting coming up that you can tell us about?
Jeanie wrote: "Simon, Do you read reviews for books you’ve narrated?
What has been the most helpful criticism you’ve been given? (either in a review or other source such as publisher, vocal coach, author, etc.)..."
I will read a review if it's in front of me - but I don't generally go looking. AudioFile Magazine reviews may be a bit different - I have a lot of respect for them.
Well over a decade ago I got to record in New York with Paul Alan Ruben (a very good teacher now) and he opened my eyes to the subtlety that was possible if I slowed down and softened my presentation... But that's probably the only advice I specifically recall. I don't think we ever really know how much we pick up from listening to our fellow narrators, or just observing discussions about technique.
This may be the result of not reading every single review, but I can only remember one specific review that was completely negative. It was written by the much admired producer (and occasional reviewer, sadly now passed) Yuri Rasovsky. He suggested I wasn't completely in the moment or connected to the text in this one book I narrated in 2001. Strangely it was the one book I recorded at the time not constantly interrupted by planes flying over - I recorded it just after 9/11 in Oakland and we lived on the flight path to the airport where everything had been grounded. I had complete silence for once and was so, I thought, 'in' the book. I felt most offended by his review.
I met him one day some years later and he said he longed to work with me... so I guess he didn't dislike everything about the book.
Mona wrote: "Hi, again, Simon. I've now read through the entire thread (some chore, that haha! No seriously, it was very interesting).I, too, will be influenced to try an audiobook if you are one of the narra..."
That's a difficult question to be specific about. Some years back I would have said I 'Just Do It'. But I suppose it's much more than that. It's akin to an actor waiting in the wings, or waiting for the red light on the camera. There's no one specific thing to be done at that stage - the work has all been done already in the research and becoming familiar with the story.
The difference with Audiobooks, I suppose... and the real skill that makes it different from that other kind of acting, is that you have to hold so many character 'profiles' in your head at the same time and remain true to each one individually.
But it's just the film in my head... I can 'see' everyone and I know who they are and they just come out naturally. Yup, very difficult to explain :)
Christine wrote: "Simon, you are one of my favorite narrators and it is so exciting to have you here! I loved your narrations of Bring Up the Bodies and A Tale of Two Cities. I am trying to work my way through Dicke..."Multivoice is generally recorded by each narrator separately. I don't recall ever being in a studio with another narrator. Of course, there often needs to be some collaboration in that pronunciations of charcters names might need to be consostent throughout.
In 'Dune' Scott Brick had contact with Frank Herbert's son and shared the 'correct' pronunciations with everyone else.
In 'Dracula' there were words that had to be the same from everyone (boy, wouldn't I have loved to share studio time with Tim Curry or Alan Cumming!!).
Similarly in the most recent award winner 'Euphoria', Xe and I chatted at length about our thoughts on the characters.
Lee wrote: "Hi Simon and welcome!I was going to ask if you would be recording book 5 of what was originally the trilogy but it looks like you've already answered my question. I enjoyed book 4 despite it havi..."
Looks like we have a date...
Simon wrote: "Mona wrote: "Hi, again, Simon. I've now read through the entire thread (some chore, that haha! No seriously, it was very interesting).I, too, will be influenced to try an audiobook if you are one..."
Thanks, Simon, great answer. Have you ever encountered a character you found impossible to understand or become?
Welcome, Simon! I'm in the no-questions-but-want-to-join-my-squeeing-to-the-throng crowd. Your Holmes in Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson is probably my favorite reading of his deer-stalkeredness. Thank you, for that and all the other wonderful books!
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I always read ahead. It's only the extent and detail of that reading that changes from book to book - I find fiction requires much more work because... characters.
I was once a newsreader on BBC Radio 4 and I remember the boss explaining how marking a script meant you paid attention to the marks rather than the content of the news story you were telling. I find myself not wanting to make any marks on my script beyond absolutely essential ones (for a difficult pronunciation usually). I know some people mark dialogue by different characters but, again, I do nothing of that sort. It can occasionally be a challenge to keep in mind who is talking - but it requires you to be completely in the story... and that's where I want to be. If there are signposts along the way (outside of the text itself) telling me who is talking and even marking how they are supposed to say something then part of my brain is being given time off and I'm not as 'in' the story as I should be to get the best out of it....
So, no marks for me!