Hearing from Audiobooks

Popularity of audiobooks is unquestionably on the rise. Our love for being read to might have begun in childhood, but it’s seen a resurgence in recent years. More traditional publishers are coordinating release of an audio version on or near the release day of the physical version of a book, providing readers/listeners options.

Some of us opt for the audio version of our favorite book or choose both audio and print, so we can toggle from one to the other depending on our circumstances. Painting the ceiling? Audio wins out over a paperback. Snuggled into a cozy reading chair? Paper is preferred. Getting in those 10,000 steps? Audio can make the task less onerous and is a lot safer than walking and reading at the same time.

Many readers and writers have questions about the voices that turn a book into a listening experience. Professional voice actor and audiobook narrator Libby McKnight, the voice behind books like Facing the Dawn and Christina Suzann Nelson’s More Than We Remember, and Tari Faris’s You Belong With Me and Until I Met You, graciously answered questions we’ve wanted to ask.

Books & Such:

Did you lead another life before becoming an audiobook voice actor, or was that a goal of yours since childhood? How winding was your path to what you’re doing today?

Libby McKnight:

I have always loved reading and everything about books. When I was young, I was the girl who finished my summer reading during the first month of vacation and read more for extra credit! I was in love with stories, and I was always off in a corner reading them. My love of stories led me to acting, and eventually, I got my MFA in acting from Juilliard. Starting in the audiobook world felt like coming home and combined so much of what I love. I feel like the stories I’m voicing behind the mic are really similar to the ones I had been telling on stage, just through a different format.

Books & Such:

Does an audiobook voice talent have the option to choose which books he or she will narrate? What process do you go through if the book you’re handed is not one that would appeal to you personally?

Libby McKnight:

There are ways for an actor to only audition for or narrate books that resonate with him or her, absolutely. I personally am very open to everything. My job and my goal are to do justice to the author’s words, the story, the characters–to really bring it all to life. I have no judgment about the books I have the opportunity to work on, and I’m really thankful to dig in to it all!

Books & Such:

What’s your normal method of preparation for recording? Do you read the book through in its entirety before beginning?

Libby McKnight:

I read the book through the first time very slowly, and I make notes along the way. These notes could be anything from character descriptions to places/events to research to tone and feel of a particular section. I am using this first read to really read the book without thinking too much about narrating the book. Then I do all the research for everything I’ve noted, and the amazing people I work with send me pronunciation notes, and then I sort of put together the technical and imaginative work and go through the book again thinking about narration.

Books & Such:

The average novel takes about ten hours to listen to at normal speed. How many hours does it take for the recording process? Days?

Libby McKnight:

I usually record between five to six hours a day for four or five days to voice an average novel.

Books & Such:

Many authors assume they are the perfect person to narrate their novel or nonfiction because they know their story or the characters or the message well. What factors often make a professional narrator a better option? What strengths does a professional narrator bring to the project?

Libby McKnight:

I completely understand an author’s desire to narrate their own book, and I agree that they would absolutely know their story, characters, and message better than anyone! I think if they choose to go this route, a professional narrator can bring so many wonderful and important things to the table, such as technique or years of experience. A professional narrator might also bring new life and a fresh take to the book, as they would be experiencing it for the first time with no set agenda of how it should sound. It could be that a professional narrator can voice the book in a way that is so  fresh that the author is able to see their own book from a new perspective.

Books & Such:

Thanks for that answer. One of our Books & Such author clients is also a professional narrator. Jill Monaco narrated, among many other projects, at least four of agent/author Wendy Lawton’s books (The Captive Princess, Almost Home, Shadow of His Hand, and The Tinker’s Daughter). Jill echoes what you said, Libby, and added, “Narrating a book takes as much skill as being an author. Professional voiceover actors know how to communicate a message with inflection, pauses, and nuance. Those  untrained may be surprised that it’s also exhausting if you’re not in vocal shape. Hiring a professional narrator ensures that your book will stack up against the number one best-sellers.”

Narrating a book takes as much skill as being an author. –Jill Monaco

Another question for you, Libby. Is this your day job or a side gig?

Libby McKnight:

Narrating is now my day job!

Books & Such:

What advice would you give for authors that, as they’re writing, will make a narrator’s job easier? (Crisper dialogue? Avoiding overly long sentences? Making characters and scenes and the emotional tone crystal clear and distinct as the story is written? Revealing within the narrative how certain uncommon words are pronounced? So, she wanted to be called ‘sheer’ like a curtain even though her name was spelled like Cher the singer? What was that all about? Arrogance? Rebellion against convention? Attention-seeking? Time would tell. It always does.)

Libby McKnight:

I think authors, at least the ones I’ve come across, do a great job of this. It is always helpful to have some way in to a character, and to be able to decipher how each character is different. What continues to amaze me every time I work on a book is how many ways an author achieves this! Character descriptions are great, but also really informative is how the character speaks, how often, their choice of words, who they speak to most, their internal dialogue, etc.

All of these clues really paint a picture of who this person is, and then it becomes easy to voice them to life. As for the uncommon words or pronunciations, I love when authors reveal this in the narrative. It always feels like I as the reader am being let in on a secret! I think if an author does not go this route but there is a very specific pronunciation, and they know the book will be narrated by someone else, it never hurts to send a note to the narrator or publishing house or put a note somewhere in the PDF for the narrator.

Books & Such:

How does a good narrator maintain the same inflection and tone from chapter to chapter, especially when coming back to the project after a scheduled or unscheduled delay?

Libby McKnight:

This is such a great question because some days this may be challenging depending on where the previous day ended and the new day is beginning. I always listen to a section of the previous day to ensure that I’m in the same zone for the new section. The flow, rhythm, and speed are important. I’m always thinking about the listener and trying to make sure I’m really talking to them and that everything is matching up and sounding consistent.

Books & Such:

What would you like authors and readers to know about the challenges of narrating?

Libby McKnight:

Every day I am in the booth to record, I am reminded of the stamina required to narrate each book. Even after tons of prep work, warming up vocally, and imaginatively jumping into the world of the book, the stamina required to sit in a quiet, often lightly lit room and speak with full emotional commitment for hours, while staying physically very still and staring at an iPad is exhilarating, but it’s hard work! Narrating feels like a marathon, but it is a marathon that I absolutely love running!

Books & Such:

The audiobook world is fascinating and becoming more so. Thanks for the insights, Libby. Blog readers, do you have any additional questions we can answer or pass on to Libby or Jill?