What are you listening to this summer? Meet an audiobook narrator!

Today I get to welcome Therese Plummer to my blog. Among other things, she's a book narrator, and I would love to see some of my books turned into audiobooks, so I was delighted to get this chance to "meet" her and learn a little more about what she does:

Please welcome Therese Plummer, Actor, Storyteller & Audiobook Narrator

What’s a day in the studio like for you, Therese?

I get to the studio to start my session at 10:00am. I will yuck it up with the engineers and whoever else is around and then get into my studio for a full day of performing. I love the pomodoro technique lately as it is fantastic for productivity and keeps my energy levels at a sustainable level. My typical recording day is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ummm, er, what's the pomodoro technique?

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management system that encourages people to work with the time they have—rather than against it. Using this method, you break your workday into 25-minute chunks separated by five-minute breaks. These intervals are referred to as pomodoros. After about four pomodoros, you take a longer break of about 15 to 20 minutes.

That sounds cool. Could be useful for writing as well as for speaking. Could you tell me a bit about transforming books into audiobooks. How do you prepare, and what do you most enjoy about the preparation? From one project to the next, how much do you change your approach to each audiobook?

I love this question! Each book is a new friend I have just met and in order to get to know her I need to really listen. The book tells me everything I need to know because the author has taken the time to create this world and the characters whose journeys I am lucky to go on and bring to life. Every story has its own personality and vibe. If I have questions regarding pronunciations I will submit a word list to my producers and also will collaborate with the authors if I am able to ask specific questions about how they ‘hear’ certain characters. My prepping means I read the entire book and will highlight ‘directions,’ I see (e.g. he whispered, she muttered, he said in a flat voice, she roared). I will have made a new friend so when I go into the studio to give the book a voice it is now a dialogue with my new friend.

That sounds so neat (and I feel kind of the same when I'm editing for someone). Does your work impact how you read outside of work?

When I am in the studio I record off of an iPad and will scroll to the next page. The other day I had a book on my lap and saw my finger go to the page to scroll it and I started laughing. Old habits!! My husband is very amused as I am always giving things a voice and a character. It’s kind of a habit now. I am definitely a faster reader.

I've done the same thing! And now I have a terrible confession for you--I'd much rather read than listen. What do audiobooks offer that a book can’t? And considering how much audiobooks are booming, why do you think we’re being drawn to this medium more and more?

So when I was twelve years old I remember reading a book called Tully by Paullina Simons and being absolutely mesmerized. I couldn’t focus in school as I kept thinking about Tully and the next chapter I would get to after school. I was fully invested in this story and these characters. It was so real for me. That’s what a good story does. If I were to guess, I think when a listener finds a voice that works for them telling them the story and bringing it to life, it is the ultimate escape and experience. I have had listeners tell me they won’t leave their car until the chapter ends. Storytelling is the oldest form of entertainment and connection and to have a voice perform a story to you is such an intimate and beautiful experience. It is a human connection and it is highly entertaining. It is a healthy way to detach from the noise of your commute and escape into a wonderful story. I have had other listeners tell me listening to an audiobook is equivalent to watching a movie in their head.

What do you believe are your greatest strengths as a narrator of books? What is the most rewarding or coolest thing you get to bring to this experience through your reading?

I believe my greatest strength as a storyteller is the ability to immerse my whole self into all of the characters and trust myself to then translate that vocally. I lose myself in the story and the characters and I think you have to do that to bring the authors world alive vocally. It is so fun to play crazy characters (lycans, vampires, gargoyles, etc) or little kids talking to their parents and to hear my voice just become what is in my head. I am one of eight kids in my family and I have 15 nephews and nieces to date so I have lots of inspiration:-)

What’s one thing people might not expect about your role as narrator?

It is exhausting! The pomodoro technique helps me with energy but at the end of a six or eight hour day I usually come home and crash. I am used to playing one character on stage and film but in the studio it is a one-woman show and sometimes up to 40 characters a book. I have so much respect for my community of storytellers!

How do you take care of your voice?

Sleep is my number one voice-care. The others are vocal/diaphragm warm ups before my session. Stretching my tongue, jaw, throat and face. Also lots of water, espresso (not sure that’s a good one but is my vice) and tea. I love soups. And Airborne in the beginning and end of a session.

The only other book narrator I've met was a guy, so, can you tell us a bit about being a woman in the audiobook industry. Do you face any particular challenges? How have things changed over time?

The biggest change has been our Union (Sag-Aftra) negotiating contracts with the publishers on our behalf to solidify our rates in the last 10 years or so. I think the biggest challenge as a woman is speaking up for a higher rate as time goes on. I know if I were a man it would be less intimidating but the good news is that my community of storytellers are filled with like-minded strong beautiful talented and fierce queens who band together in support and encouragement of each other. We know our worth and ask for what we want and need. The worst thing that can happen is they say no but it is worth the discomfort. As freelance artists it is really scary because if we ask and they say no we don’t want to lose work or be seen as greedy or annoying to work with so a lot of us stay quiet. The few times I advocated for myself and asked it was greeted with approval but my god, it was terrifying. I try to channel my inner vampire or werewolf strength at times. LOL.

Who in your life (besides the odd vampire or werewolf) has had the biggest impact on your work as a narrator?

My father. He was a professional actor in his younger days and growing up in my house he was always singing and bringing characters in his head to life. We never knew who would be serving us our French Toast. Was it a French man or an Italian man? Accents and characters galore. It was a one man show and incredibly entertaining. He performed a one man show of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and every year I sat in the audience and was mesmerized how he brought every character in that story to life! I was in awe. When he retired my brother and I took over the tradition and perform A Christmas Carol at Grey Towers in Milford Pa. the first weekend in December every year. What a gift.

So, I know you've narrated all 20 books in the Virgin River (by Robyn Carr) series and voiced every single character in each book (men, women and children)! ;I’d love to know more about reading Robyn Carr’s work! How do you approach romance in particular as a narrator?

I was asked to audition to narrate Virgin River in 2009 at Recorded Books in NYC. They chose my voice and none of us knew the journey we would all go on! The romance books are the same as any other story as it is a friend I have yet to meet. The thing I love about these stories though is that each book has so many mini stories going on that it felt like a soap opera or television show while I narrated. The love scenes are intimate, personal, passionate and sometimes funny so as the voice of the man and the woman and the narrator I have my work cut out for me. There is a way to soften my voice but get closer to the microphone so I am not too soft and bring the scene to life. I have cracked myself up when the groan I emit as the man comes out more like a croak and my engineer and I will have a good chuckle before going back and getting it right. Again I am bringing a story alive to your ears so the more natural and realistic I can get it the better for you. That is my goal.

I am blessed to call Robyn a friend and she is one of the funniest, most real, bad-ass queens I know. I was able to narrate all of her Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan’s Crossing series as well as her stand-alone novels. I adore these stories and characters. I was able to audition and landed a role on season one of Virgin River for Netflix. To walk on set and be in Jack’s bar after bringing it to life for so many years through audio was surreal and amazing. I think they did an amazing job with the series! The best part of Robyn’s books is that she writes about people all of us know. Everyone can relate and escape into a really good story for a while. Healthy escapism.

Thank you so much Therese. It was great to meet you and learn more about what you do. One final question - do you have any suggestions of audiobooks that we should listen to this summer? Therese’s Top Audiobook Picks for Summer 2020 perhaps?

During these uncertain times, mindfulness is key to sustaining social distancing and what better way to escape the news than to get lost in a classic or try out a new release? What is more, there are many services out there right now that are offering free audiobooks and subscription services!

One size fits all, they are easily portable (in your phone!), and you can listen while doing something else: driving, in the tub, working out, cooking the big meal, etc. Here are a few of my top picks for this summer reading/listening season:

1. Virgin River by Robyn Carr (Also on Netflix)

2. The Jetsetters by Amandaa Eyre Ward

3. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. Webb

4. The Country Guesthouse by Robyn Carr

5. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

6. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

7. The Baker’s Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan

8. Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

9. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

10. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

11. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

12. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes