Who would read your story?

[Bramblethorn]

So, you've got the audiobook contract for your Great Erotic Story and the publisher asks if you have any thoughts on who you'd like to read it. Who do you choose?

I'm sorely tempted to pick Stoya on the strength of this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQuT-Xfyk3o&feature=youtu.be but mine really needs an Australian accent.

Maybe Noni Hazlehurst. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xtcB457jqQ

 

[sr71plt]

Question is an interesting one, but I don't know of any publishers who consult with the author on who should read the audio book. My preferred reader would change from book to book. I suppose most of them would be by a male reader with a resonating baritone--and I wouldn't want it to be a famous voice, because then I'm afraid readers would be concentrating on the voice more than the text.

 

[lovecraft68]

I wouldn't care about an audio book, but in my fantasies if my Circle novel was ever made into a nasty late night showtime show, I know I'd want my female lead to be Lucy Lawless (the redheaded Spartacus version) I had her firmly in place as a visual for that character the entire time I wrote the book.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Question is an interesting one, but I don't know of any publishers who consult with the author on who should read the audio book.

Sure. Not intended to be a realistic scenario here!

Charles Stross has a neat essay on what authors do and don't control in the publication process: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2010/03/cmap-6-why-did-you-pick-such-a.html

The other essays in his "Common Misconceptions About Publishing" are also worth a look.

 

[sr71plt]

Any comment on my suggestion that you might not want a famous voice doing it--because it would drain attention away from the text?

In the mainstream, I've had others do reading from my works at book events, and invariably I think they are emphasizing the wrong words. But I have a block against reading my own work in public.

 

[lovecraft68]

^^^^^

 

[sr71plt]

This message is hidden because lovecraft68 is on your ignore list.

 

[lovecraft68]

This message is hidden because lovecraft68 is on your ignore list.

^^^^

 

[Bramblethorn]

Any comment on my suggestion that you might not want a famous voice doing it--because it would drain attention away from the text?

It's an interesting point; I don't think it'd be an issue for me personally, because I'm not the sort to recognise speaking voices unless they're quite distinctive - Will Shatner, Brian Blessed, that sort of level - and those aren't people I'd be choosing in the first place. May well differ for other listeners.

 

[Phantasy_Star]

Hmm

I'm torn. I would almost want to do it radio play-style, where the commanding female characters would be voiced by someone like Uma Thurman, or the more "innocent" ones voiced by someone quirky like Kristen Schaal.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Wilford Brimley.

 

[lovecraft68]

I want to write a father/daughter story and have Woody Allen be the father.

 

[TxRad]

This lady I know in south Africa. Talk about a sexy accent.

 

[mikey2much]

James Lee Burke has the best reader

He and Will Patton have made the perfect team of writer and reader.
Patton makes reading an art in itself.

I think he reads all of Burks stuff, he must have a contract.

 

[ms.read]

David tennant. *swoon*

 

[Stella_Omega]

Jamie Lee Curtis, maybe?

 

[PennLady]

David tennant. *swoon*

But with which accent? His own Scottish one, or his British Dr Who accent?

 

[ms.read]

But with which accent? His own Scottish one, or his British Dr Who accent?

his own scottish one. I think he is just adorable. He's very good at what he does. But unfortunately my stories don't include the male first person POV as of yet.

 

[datedsoul]

This might seem a little weird, and it's cracking me up thinking of the visual, but the man has a fantastic voice.

ESPN radio commentator "Duke" Dan Davis

With a female voice to do the female roles, of course. Morena Baccarin maybe.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

It would vary depending upon the particular story, but for most, Antonio Banderas using his "Puss in Boots" voice.