Romance Audiobooks discussion

I know that many here enjoy Phil Gigante's work, so...

Bob Reiss, an audiobook listener/reviewer/blogger whom I follow on Twitter, has posted a wonderful interview with narrator extraordinaire, Phil Gigante. The interview focuses mainly on Gigante's other genre work, but there is a nice nod to his work in the romance genre (including upcoming projects!) at the end.

http://bit.ly/jK6yo1

Bob himself is a wonderful reviewer and avid listener of audiobooks, going by the handle of @guildedearlobe on Twitter. If you are a listener of other genres, you might consider following him for the latest info on his reviews.

Personal narrator geeky moment: can I just say how amazing it would be to narrate a romance in tandem with Phil Gigante? Oh my...

Great interview. I sooo liked what he said about romance and I have to think we who supported him so strongly in his SOA interview, the Fever series and the giveaway are a little responsible for that.

definately an interesting interview - IIRC KMM had something on her website with him talking about how he started doing the highlander series...

have you guys found - out of curiosity - that if you find a narrator you like that you are more likely to go outside your comfort zone with what you listen to (i.e. thriller instead of romance)? seeing some of the other stuff he has narrated has intrigued me and i'm thinking about checking them out

Lea's Audiobooks wrote: "Great interview. I sooo liked what he said about romance and I have to think we who supported him so strongly in his SOA interview, the Fever series and the giveaway are a little responsible for t..."

I was thinking about that as I read it...I first heard of Gigante via the SOA interview (which was absolutely excellent, by the way!).

Dee wrote: "definately an interesting interview - IIRC KMM had something on her website with him talking about how he started doing the highlander series...

have you guys found - out of curiosity - that if ..."

So glad you asked that, Dee - I have the same question. As a narrator, I of course wonder about that! But as a listener, I'm pondering that. Hmm. I think I might, if I really love the narrator. Simon Vance, for instance - I adore him and would listen to just about anything he narrates.

Thanks for the link Xe, I'm going to enjoy reading this.

Personal narrator geeky moment: can I just say how amazing it would be to narrate a romance in tandem with Phil Gigante? Oh my...

This made me laugh, especially when thinking back to his answers when Lea interviewed him for the SOA column .... this line in particular, after she specifically asked him about dual narrations.

PG "It’s also great to have an extra ear in the studio, one that isn’t afraid to let you know what works…or what sucks! Then there’s all that laughing during the love scenes…"

And this one about narrating the "hot" scenes.

PG "The worst part is when I’m doing a love scene—really into it, nearing the climax of the scene (so to speak), and the engineer pops into my headphones with, “Uh, Phil? You said you love kissing her firm, pointed nickels. Wanna try that again?”"

All the laughing would be a blast but it might slow production down. LOL

Here's a link to that whole interview, it was so informative and funny. His personality definitely shines through. :)

http://www.likesbooks.com/blog/?p=5801

simon vance was one of the narrators I was thinking of, ditto with Davina Porter - I picked up Sex Lives of Cannibles mostly because it was narrated by Vance

Xe wrote: "Dee wrote: "definately an interesting interview - IIRC KMM had something on her website with him talking about how he started doing the highlander series...

have you guys found - out of curiosity ..."

Really interesting interview...thanks for posting!

I haven't listened to anything narrated by him but now I'm dying to! Luckily both my libraries have tons of his audiobooks...just need to figure out which one to listen. :)

Oh my, several of us were all typing at the same time, Xe's post was the only one when I clicked reply. LOL

have you guys found - out of curiosity - that if you find a narrator you like that you are more likely to go outside your comfort zone with what you listen

I would never in a million years have thought of picking up The Adventures of the Stainless Steel Rat until Phil Gigante mentioned that he loved the books and loved narrating them in his SOA interview. :)

Brenda wrote: "Thanks for the link Xe, I'm going to enjoy reading this.

PG: "The worst part is when I’m doing a love scene—really into it, nearing the climax of the scene (so to speak), and the engineer pops into my headphones with, “Uh, Phil? You said you love kissing her firm, pointed nickels. Wanna try that again?”"



OK, professional or no, I would blush to my toes if the engineer did that. Have to say that there are some definite benefits to recording solo in my home studio - LOL! When I biff a line in an, um, interesting scene...it's only me laughing at myself and recovering :)

I'm a picky listener but when it comes to this topic I have nothing but pure admiration for each and every one of the narrators of romance audiobooks.

I may know how I want to hear it in my head but I couldn't do it in a million years.

Hats off to you all... :)

Brenda wrote: "I'm a picky listener but when it comes to this topic I have nothing but pure admiration for each and every one of the narrators of romance audiobooks.

I may know how I want to hear it in my head b..."

Thanks so much for your kind words, Brenda! Means quite a bit.

Xe wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Thanks for the link Xe, I'm going to enjoy reading this.

PG: "The worst part is when I’m doing a love scene—really into it, nearing the climax of the scene (so to speak), and the en..."
The only thing about recording at home - I've been in the middle of one of those hot n heavy scenes, only to see a little (8 year old) head pop up in the window to my booth. Thank goodness she can't hear what's going on inside, but it's still a little unnerving!

Karen wrote: The only thing about recording at home - I've been in the middle of one of those hot n heavy scenes, only to see a little (8 year old) head pop up in the window to my booth. Thank goodness she can't hear what's going on inside, but it's still a little unnerving! "

Oh my goodness, yes! Happened to me recently...daughter and her friend popped up in the window to say they had arrived home safely. I had a hard time not blushing to my toes.

The pitfalls of working from home, too funny. :D

Thanks for the link! I LOVE reading about the narrator POV in recording audiobooks. I can't say whether I'd buy an audio totally OUTSIDE my interests based on narrator but I would TOTALLY buy one in my many interests (romance, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery/thriller, historical fiction, YA) based on narrator even if the author was unknown but the blurb sounded even remotely interesting. When a narrator can transform a story for me, esp. when he/she can make me appreciate the audio more than the print, I'll follow where they lead until I get disappointed and more discriminating.

LOL @ comments from work-at-home narrators and young heads popping up.

Vic wrote: "Thanks for the link! I LOVE reading about the narrator POV in recording audiobooks. I can't say whether I'd buy an audio totally OUTSIDE my interests based on narrator but I would TOTALLY buy one..."

Warms my hear to read that, Vic! I love the passion of listeners...I truly do. Keeps me constantly striving to live up to your expectations :)

As a total aside, since you mentioned your appreciation for hearing about the perils of working from home...I will share that while recording the other day (just AFTER a sexy bit, thank goodness), I looked down to find a spider on me. ON ME. Best part was that in my terror and panic to deal with it without toppling over all my equipment, left the mic on, recording away. Here's what it sounding like: http://bit.ly/mUJiZl

Xe - this is WAY TOO GOOD!!!

Xe - this was pretty funny. I listened the other day when someone tweated the link. I think you held it together pretty well. :)

Vic wrote: "Xe - this was pretty funny. I listened the other day when someone tweated the link. I think you held it together pretty well. :)"

:) Glad you both enjoyed it! I am completely arachnophobic, so my adrenaline was spiked through the roof after the incident. Posting the snippet was the best way I could think of to calm down...nothing heals like laughter, in my book.

Xe wrote: "Vic wrote: "Thanks for the link! I LOVE reading about the narrator POV in recording audiobooks. I can't say whether I'd buy an audio totally OUTSIDE my interests based on narrator but I would TOT..."
OMG Xe!!
That was soo funny!!

Xe, that was a hoot!!!! Thanks for sharing.

Xe that was hilarious!

And I could totally relate ... I was out weeding in my meager flower beds a couple days ago, I planted my hand on the ground to use the other hand to pull the weeds with and something moved. I looked down and saw I had missed planting said hand on a huge toad that had hunkered into a nice damp spot in the flower bed. If I had my reaction on tape or video I could make some big bucks, starting with what my kids would pay for the total freak out scene. :D

Brenda wrote: "Xe that was hilarious!

And I could totally relate ... I was out weeding in my meager flower beds a couple days ago, I planted my hand on the ground to use the other hand to pull the weeds with and..."

OMG a toad?? LOL! Yes, usually these moments only live on in our memory...it's rare that we get them captured on tape (showing my age...like there's "tape" anymore).

I'm just glad people are getting a kick out of it. It felt like a kind of therapy to share it - after laughing so hard I cried while listening back to it.

Although I was laughing out loud at your reactions it was all the "smacking" around that really had me rolling. I have so been there - spiders are too creepy ...

Brenda wrote: "Although I was laughing out loud at your reactions it was all the "smacking" around that really had me rolling. I have so been there - spiders are too creepy ..."

The funny part is that that's actually me jumping around just outside my studio, trying to make sure Mr. Spider wasn't still on my leg (he migrated from my arm at one point). But it sounds a whole lot like I'm jumping ON him, poor guy. I am phobic, but we still have a strict no-kill policy going at our house. But it was that part that made me laugh hardest as well, even though I knew what had been happening.

Oh dear, you wouldn't like it at my house here in the woods when it comes to all the various insects life's, that's for sure! Though the disgusting overly wart-ed, bigger than my hand, slimy toad was perfectly safe ... even with all the shuddering and shrieking. :)

Brenda wrote: "Oh dear, you wouldn't like it at my house here in the woods when it comes to all the various insects life's, that's for sure! Though the disgusting overly wart-ed, bigger than my hand, slimy toad w..."

*shudder* I don't think I would make it, Brenda!