Beside Me Always – Now Available On Audio!

I am excited to celebrate with Judy Unger the audiobook release of her poignant memoir Beside Me Always  recorded at Studio City Sound and produced by Punch Audio.  I met Judy a year prior to recording her memoir and it’s been an absolute joy getting to know her and hearing how she was able to move past the pain and tragic loss of losing her young child to a severe congenital heart defect, to eventually being able to find joy and happiness once again through her love of music.

As a narrator, this was the first time I’ve experienced recording a book with the author sitting in on the recording session and it was a deeply moving experience for myself, Judy and our incredible engineer Jeff Ryon, as we traveled through the heartfelt pages of this intimate memoir.

Judy’s hope when she began writing Beside Me Always  was that her words and music would be able to comfort and uplift others who are also journeying through grief. I have no doubt that she achieved that goal. Judy’s music can be found at her website judyungermusic.com.

You can find Beside Me Always at audible.com.

 

 

 

TOGETHER FOREVER, Orphan Train Series, Book 2 – Releasing Today on Audio!

Together Forever

 

Happy Release Day to TOGETHER FOREVER, Orphan Train Series, Book 2 written by the incredibly talented Jody Hedlund!

I truly treasured every moment of narrating this beautiful, heartwarming story.

In Together Forever, Jody again creates a world filled with much heart, soul and a wide array of multi-faceted characters that I had the immense pleasure of bringing to life. Published by the wonderful team at Tantor Audio!

Available today on Audible and Amazon.com!

JE SUIS – Screening Today, Tomorrow and Sunday at The Cinequest Film Festival!

Je SuisJE SUIS – a compelling short film that I had the pleasure of working on – will be screening March 9, 10 and 11th at The Cinequest Film Festival! Directed by the very talented Faith Strongheart.  If you’re in San Jose, stop by and check us out!  Here’s a link to access all the info & tickets!

 

Audiobook Meets App Meets Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha!

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So excited to share the launch of a really cool new platform! I love audiobooks in the way we have come to know them, but this cutting-edge approach combines the best of audiobooks and mobile apps.

Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha is the first of three literary classics to be launched this year on a new interactive platform—backed by an impressive array of entrepreneurs and an Emmy, Audie Finalist, BAFTA and Golden Reel award-winning cast. It was such a joy to be a part of this team and to narrate Siddhartha, alongside the talented Sean Pratt.

In the app, as you listen to the story, you can follow along with the text interactively in a platform that supports fonts optimized for dyslexic readers, while also enabling soothing background music, background imagery, sound effects, and even a guided meditation. Everything about the experience is designed to help even reluctant readers immerse themselves in books through audio and visual stimulation.

Go download the free app to see what I’m talking about and to experience Siddhartha in a whole new way!

 

1-2-3 Parenting with Heart – now available on Audio!

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I so enjoyed narrating 1-2-3 Parenting with Heart  by Thomas W. Phelan, PhD and Chris Webb, published by Tantor Media. This incredibly helpful and informative book is packed full of great tips and suggestions to help guide parents into creating a calm and godly household while using a proven three-step discipline to lovingly care for their children.

One of my favorite aspects of 1-2-3 Parenting with Heart are the parent / child scenarios used to illustrate the ideas contained within.  One scenario, which still makes me smile, is when a six-year-old boy threatens to run away from home, packing a bag and walking out the front door. Five minutes later, this frustrated little boy returns to tell his parents that he can’t run away after all…because he’s not allowed to cross the street! A parenting win.

Now available on Amazon and at Audible.com!

Who Was Harriet Beecher Stowe? Now available on Audio!

51y4N3UOxIL._AC_UL320_SR224,320_Who Was Harriet Beecher Stowe?  – Harriet Beecher Stowe was many things – but the word amazing is the first image that comes to my mind when I think of  her and all that she accomplished and stood for.

I’m excited to have had the opportunity to narrate this fantastic book for Penguin Random House Listening Library. Who Was Harriet Beecher Stowe?  written by Dana Meachen Rau, is part of a super fun non-fiction kid’s series called Who Was? While this series is aimed at children, these books are so packed with interesting and exciting facts, they truly make learning history – fun – for all ages!

If you’d like to learn more about Who Was Harriet Beecher Stowe? Simply click on the link to have a listen here.  I’ve also included a brief description about Harriet’s life below, taken from the book cover:

“Harriet Beecher Stowe was an abolitionist, an author, and a playwright. Slavery was a major industry in the American South, and Stowe worked with the Underground Railroad to help escaped slaves head north toward. The publication of her book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a scathing antislavery novel, fanned the flames that started the Civil War.”  ©2015 Dana Meachen Rau (P)2016 Listening Library

Who Was Harriet Beecher Stowe? in audiobook format is now available everywhere!  Including Audible.com and Amazon.com.

She is running for her life. He has run from his life. Meet Nancy & Jake in – The Cabin!

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It’s 1930 and the Sierra Nevada Mountains are home to a town of renegade Mormons.  On Nancy’s 18th birthday, her father tells her she has to marry her cousin Abner, who already has 3 wives. Nancy refuses and runs away, spending a fearful night in the woods until she stumbles upon what will ultimately change her life –  THE CABIN

Today is the audiobook release day for The Cabin, book 3 of the Manhattan Stories, by Donna Mabry!  I’ve had so much fun narrating this series for Dreamscape Media. Part of the joy for me, has been getting to know these wonderfully drawn characters that Donna Mabry has so beautifully created, and then having the opportunity to travel through the generations with each of them. From Jessica, to Pillsbury Crossing to The Cabin. It’s been an incredible journey that I won’t soon forget.

The Cabin is now available on Audible.com and at Amazon!

JESSICA – Book One of The Manhattan Stories – Have a listen …

Jessica

I have been having such a wonderful time narrating this beautiful series!

Here is a sample from the newly released audiobook JESSICA. Jessica is Book 1 of The Manhattan Stories written by Donna Mabry for Dreamscape Media.  Now available on Amazon and at Audible.com.

Have a listen…

Next up:  Pillsbury Crossing to be released August 18th, 2015.  Jessica takes us into to the heartland, where a new generation takes the stage.

The Audies and Two New Books!

StarsIt’s been a super busy but exciting month! The 2015 Audie Awards are tonight and I’m thrilled to be nominated for STARS: Original Stories Based On The Songs Of Janis Ian. In addition to being nominated, I am also deeply honored to be presenting at the awards this evening.

On the recording front, I just finished recording a new release called Both Sides Now by Barbara Ferrer.  It’s an incredibly moving book about grief, love and loss.  The print and audiobook version will be released on June 23, 2015.

In addition, I have recorded my second book for author Ryan Skinner, which will also be coming out in June 2015. This is a non-fiction book called Skinwalker Ranch: Tales of the Skinwalker. It is a collection of true to life paranormal experiences that occurred near and around areas of Utah, Phoenix and Nevada.

Lastly, congratulations to all the nominees this year! It’s going to be an exciting night!

The Lonely Heart … Just In Time For Valentine’s Day!

B7PPZ1lCIAE2B4tAlthough not your typical Valentine’s Day love story… The Lonely Heart  is a story sure to capture your heart.  I had so much fun recording this hauntingly disturbing tale, mainly because the writing of Aliette de Bodard is so good!! The story is now available at Lightspeed Magazine and it is a retelling of the “The Painted Skin” from Pu Songling’s Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.

The Lonely Heart is graphic, explicit, dark and all the while completely compelling. Part of the fun for me as a narrator is learning about the places & traditions of the characters that I get to portray. To get into the right mind-space for this particular story, I spent a lot of time researching the area of China where the story took place, most specifically the “Ghost City” of old Fengdu. It’s incredibly fascinating! In case you’re interested, here is an article on some of the historic facts & myths of this old city located on the bank of the Yangtze River. Enjoy! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fengdu_Ghost_City