Changelings, Golems and Dragons: Three Stories from Lightspeed Magazine

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Changelings and fairy worlds, a wizard and her golem, a dragon and a cast-off princess, and portals to other worlds… 🔮

This month I had the absolute honor and joy of narrating three incredible stories for the October 2026 issue of Lightspeed Magazine. ✨

🧚 Uncanny Jack by Susan Palwick is such a poignant tale that I had to stop recording numerous times to pull myself together.  Its title comes in part from the old changeling belief in British, Irish and Scandinavian folklore: fairies were believed to steal human babies from their cradles and leave one of their own in their place.  In this story they steal adults too.  Lucy takes on this belief because it’s easier to bear than the dementia that has claimed her once brilliant engineer husband, Jack.  So she breaks him out to trade him back and is transported to a fairy world, where she finds her real Jack.  Then, echoing Orpheus and Eurydice, Jack tells her he’ll follow her back to their world as long as she doesn’t look back…

🐉 All the Shapes We Have Ever Been by Kehkashan Khalid centers on a Dev, a shapeshifting spirit chained for years as a serpent to guard a tower where orphaned girls are left as prizes for princes.  This is not a tale about Rapunzel by any means.  One cast-off princess grows up loving the Dev and begins to plan how to set them both free, a journey that takes her to another world and returns her forever changed by fire.

🪄 Until the Cure by Marissa Lingen introduces us to Mehi, a wizard desperately trying to cure the heterokontic plague that has taken hold of her mother.  Until she finds a cure, she builds a golem to give her mother the patience and care she feels she can’t, and the golem slowly becomes someone in its own right.  This story shines a light on caregiving, guilt and needing to do something that actually helps.

At their heart, each of these stories is about love that has to change shape in order to survive, and each holds the power to transform whoever comes across them.  Open that portal door and head on over to Issue 197, where these stories are waiting for you to read, or to listen on the Lightspeed Magazine podcast. 🌀

Heartfelt thanks to Lightspeed Magazine and Skyboat Media for sending these beautiful stories my way. 💜

An October Treat: Featured in Voices to Know!

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What a sweet October treat! 🧡

So thrilled to be featured in the Voices to Know October 2026 newsletter, alongside such wonderful company.

And what a joy it is to see our Writers of the Future, Volume 42 audiobook and cast included for the lovely review we received from Library Journal! Btw, if you haven’t listened yet 😉 it’s available wherever you get your audiobooks. 📚🎧

Such exciting news to learn that Voices to Know has expanded their coverage to Library Journal, The Guardian, and Booklist, alongside Kirkus audiobook reviews. This couldn’t be sweeter for our audiobook community, as it means more voices and stories will get heard, highlighted, and recognized.

Getting to share this passion for storytelling with this beautiful cast and community is a real gift and one I’m so grateful for.

Thank you Voices to Know for celebrating human voices and shining a light on the work we get to do.

Congratulations to all!

You can read the full Voices to Know newsletter here.

Happy October! 🧡

High Praise from Library Journal for Writers of the Future, Vol. 42

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So happy to share that L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Vol. 42 just received a lovely review from Library Journal! This delightful news means all the more — not just because of the dragons (though… the dragons! 😉) — but because of the generosity, kindness and talent of everyone who came together to make Volume 42 so special.

Here’s what they had to say:

“A cast of nine narrators vividly brings this collection of 15 short stories to life, offering an auditory treat for fans of science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction. Joseph Sidari’s ‘A Girl and Her Dragon,’ narrated by Susan Hanfield, is divided into four parts, while the remaining stories are designed to be heard in one sitting, including Orson Scott Card’s ‘Skinny-Shins,’ read by a baritone-voiced Stefan Rudnicki, which interrogates the tropes of fantasy art. S. J. Stevenson’s intriguing take on time-travel, ‘The Triceratops Effect,’ narrated with gravitas by the decorated John Lee, is told from a supervisor’s point of view on the night before the Cretaceous Period’s end. ‘Thickly’ by Dorothy de Kok, expressively narrated by Janina Edwards, makes a compelling case against idealized portraits of femininity, while Mike Strickland’s ‘As Long As You Both Shall Live,’ read by the ever-engaging Kirby Heyborne, plays up love in the virtual realm. Listeners will find everything from a most unusual noir mystery to a story of AI gone wrong to a tale about neighborhood-watch participants.”

VERDICT: “An impressive sci-fi/fantasy collection that offers aspiring writers and enthusiastic fans of these genres a meaningful journey through the works of the Writers of the Future contest winners, with accompanying illustrations available via PDF.”
— Reviewed by Sharon Sherman, Library Journal, Sept 2026

Thank you, Library Journal, for this lovely review! Congratulations to Galaxy Press, Skyboat Media, our talented writers, and our incredible cast — thrilled to be among you!

Available now wherever you get your audiobooks. 🎧📚

 

Slide 2 Alt Text: A graphic styled like a vintage library card showing headshots of the full narrator cast and the Library Journal verdict review quote.

When Two Valentines Meet: My First Worldcon with Skyboat Media

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Worldcon —have you ever been? Well, I can now say I have! This was my first time, and wow, what an entrance. Not only did I get to spend the weekend with some of my favorite people — Gabrielle de Cuir, Stefan Rudnicki, and Alison Belle Bews of Skyboat Media — they also invited me to perform with them in Stefan’s spoken word program, Mightier Than The Sword. More on that in a sec!

The whole weekend was a blast. So many great conversations with authors, audiobook listeners, and passionate readers. Costumes everywhere, books taking the mainstage, written and audio, and so much love for storytelling. The vibe was electric.

Now, back to the show 😉 Mightier Than The Sword, led by AudioFile Golden Voice Stefan Rudnicki, is a journey through the power of the written word — from Shakespeare to Bova. Being part of it was special on two counts: it was the first time Gabrielle, Stefan, and I had ever performed together live, in front of an audience — and I got to revisit my role of Valentine from Orson Scott Card’s multi-Audie-nominated Ender’s Game Alive: The Full Cast Audioplay. Here’s the magic: Gabrielle originated Valentine and Stefan originated Ender in the original audiobook of Card’s novel, so as the audiobook and audioplay merged, our two Valentines met — with Stefan crossing between them as Colonel Graff and Ender. What an incredible joy to be part of. 🎭

And next year? Worldcon 2027 heads to Montreal — O Canada, how fantastic! 🇨🇦

Last thing — if you’re an author looking to turn your book into an audiobook, definitely head over to Skyboat Media and check them out. You can find them at skyboatmedia.com.

From the Valley to the Mountaintop — “Victory in the Valley” is Now on Audio!

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Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a valley?

It may be in your health, finances, relationships, career, or perhaps your faith.

My guess is yes — so have I.

Valleys don’t have to be a place of fear. Yes, they can be a time of struggle and battle — but they can also be a time of rest, peace, rejuvenation, and growth. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. If we reframe what being in a valley looks like, that time of slowing down, pausing, and catching our breath can become the springboard to our next breakthrough. So keep going. ✨

I’m always so grateful whenever I have the opportunity to narrate one of Jane Hamon’s books — and Victory in the Valley is truly a lifeline for the soul. This book is about finding hope, purpose, and God’s presence right in the middle of our spiritual battles. Jane leads us through scripture and into the hills and valleys of our own lives, and shows us how God’s gentle Spirit walks us through them — from the low places to the mountaintops — giving us the tools to let this valley season lead to our greatest joy and breakthrough.

✨Congratulations on your new release, Jane Hamon — and thank you to ChristianAudio and RB Media for trusting me with this powerful book.

Victory in the Valley is now available wherever you get your audiobooks! 🎧

A Joyful July: Featured in the Voices To Know Newsletter

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So honored to be featured this month in the Voices To Know July 2026 Newsletter! What a delight to be in the company of so many talented colleagues and friends. 💫

And I’m still smiling over the Earphones Award our cast received for L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume 42! Being an audiobook narrator and getting to share so many beautiful, inspiring stories is such a gift — one I’m truly grateful for.

Thank you, Voices To Know, for celebrating the work we get to do each day.

Congratulations to all! ✨

Writers of the Future, Volume 42 Wins an Earphones Award

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So happy to share that Writers of the Future, Volume 42 has earned an Earphones Award from Kirkus Audiobook Reviews! 🎧

What an honor and a thrill to be one of the nine narrators bringing this anthology of fifteen science fiction and fantasy stories to life — the work of twelve bold new writers alongside three masters of the genre. Each story invites us into worlds where anything is possible — and for us narrators, that’s the joy: crafting the voices that live inside them, from distant worlds and otherworldly beings to dragons longing to fly free.

And wow, has it ever taken flight — L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume 42 debuted at No. 1 in sci-fi & fantasy and has now released worldwide. Every story also features stunning full-color art from a new illustrator — and the audiobook comes with the illustrated PDF, so you can listen and take in the artwork along the way.

Thank you to Skyboat Media, Galaxy Press, and Author Services for inviting me along on this magical voyage. Congratulations to the writers, illustrators, and my fellow narrators — what a joy to share this collection with you all — and thank you, Kirkus Audiobook Reviews, for this beautiful honor. 💫

Come fly with us — available now wherever you get your audiobooks. 🐉

Episode 378: Meet the Cast of the Writers of the Future Volume 42 Audiobook

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What makes a science fiction or fantasy story unforgettable?

I got to explore this question (and so much more!) on the Writers & Illustrators of the Future podcast with host John Goodwin and several of my fellow narrators from the Writers of the Future Volume 42 audiobook: Stefan Rudnicki, Gabrielle de Cuir, Orson Scott Card, Jim Meskimen, and Scott Peterson.

We talked shop about science fiction, fantasy, and the stories that move us—diving into everything from how we got our start in audiobooks to what makes this anthology so special. Being surrounded by colleagues and friends, many of whom I’ve known since my earliest days behind the mic, was a true gift. What an honor it was to be a part of this conversation!

Writers of the Future Volume 42, written by L. Ron Hubbard, published by Galaxy Press and produced by Skyboat Media, just debuted as #1 on Audible and Amazon’s Hot New Releases in Science Fiction Anthology.

Tune into Podcast Episode 378 below:

Episode 378

Listen to Writers of the Future Volume 42 on Audible.

A Night of Magic at the 42nd Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards Gala

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My heart is still so full from attending the 42nd Annual Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards Gala last Thursday evening. To be in a room surrounded by so much love, joy and kindness, celebrating this year’s award-winning writers and illustrators from all over the world, was truly special.

As one of the audiobook narrators for Writers of the Future, Volume 42, published by Galaxy Press (releases April 28, 2026), I was so honored to be included in this magical night. A highlight of the evening was meeting the writers whose stories I had the joy of bringing to life: Canary by Brenda Posey and illustrated by Roddy Taylor; and A Girl and Her Dragon: A Life in Four Parts by Joseph Sidari and illustrated by Josie Moore, which I co-narrated with Stefan Rudniki. Reconnecting with dear audiobook colleagues and celebrating with friends both old and new made the evening even more meaningful.

Here’s a glimpse into this unforgettable night!

Thank you to the amazing team at Author Services, Inc. and to L. Ron Hubbard for founding these life-changing contests. Here’s to dragons, distant worlds, and the power of imagination! ✨

The Matchmaker Gets Matched: Marrying the Matchmaker is Here! 💘

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Happy Release Day to Marrying the Matchmaker, the final book in Jody Hedlund’s A Shanahan Match series! My heart has been so full narrating this series and bringing Jody’s richly written characters to life.  Heartfelt thanks to Tantor Media for inviting me along on this beautiful journey.

In Marrying the Matchmaker, we follow Zaira, the middle Shanahan sibling who secretly dreams of becoming a published author.  When her publisher tells her that her romance novel lacks “depth of emotion,” Zaira decides she needs to do some research in the kissing department to experience romance for herself.  Who better to help her than her secret crush, the devastatingly handsome matchmaker, Bellamy McKenna?

Bellamy has always adored Zaira, though he’d never admit it.  He’s got his own secrets to guard, one of which is that he dreams of becoming an accomplished painter under his own name, not the pseudonym he’s hiding behind. 

When Bellamy needs intel on a difficult match, Zaira strikes a deal: the information he needs in exchange for a kiss. That kiss ends up being far from textbook, and sparks from their “kissing research” start the town tongues wagging. To protect the Shanahan family name, the two embark on a “fake” match to still the rumors.  

As Zaira and Bellamy navigate this pretend relationship, their real feelings take flight. But will they have the courage to let this match finally happen – and with it, give in to their hearts, both in love and career?

Marrying the Matchmaker is now available wherever you get your audiobooks – and with it, the complete A Shanahan Match series is ready to binge. 💘