Summary
Highlights
Su Elise Freeman and Jennifer Jill Araya welcome viewers to their Facebook Live event, preceding the Audie Awards. They introduce their special guests, Lydia Rella, founder of Oral Fixation, and acclaimed narrators Andy Arndt and Andrew Eiden, both of whom are Audie finalists.
Lydia Rella discusses the origins and growth of Oral Fixation, a social media group dedicated to romance audiobooks. She explains how the community emerged from a need for a space to discuss audio-driven romance, emphasizing the narrator's impact, and how it has fostered a supportive environment for fans, authors, and narrators.
The hosts and guests explore why listeners are drawn to romance audiobooks. They highlight themes of hope, optimism, and escapism, particularly during challenging times. Andrew Eiden emphasizes that romance uniquely explores the dynamic relationships between people, which is a fundamental part of the human experience, and argues against the 'cheesy' stereotype of the genre.
Andy Arndt and Andrew Eiden discuss what makes narrating romance different from other genres. Andrew notes the depth of exploring human connection and understanding, while Andy points out the unique excitement of new love that narrators must capture. They also touch on the unexpected lessons learned about relationships and the representation of diverse experiences in romance.
The panel addresses a question about why narrators use pseudonyms. Andrew and Jennifer explain that pseudonyms help with branding and differentiating genres, especially when narrators perform in both children's books and romance. Andrew shares an anecdote about how his pseudonym, Teddy Hamilton, helped him secure major publisher work, despite the initial confusion.
The narrators discuss books that have particularly stuck with them. Andrew mentions the 'Him' and 'Us' series by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy as pivotal for his career and for introducing many to MM romance. Andy shares her affection for 'Play' by Kylie Scott, praising the character of Mal. Jennifer and Su Elise also share their own memorable experiences with books that elicited strong emotions.
The conversation shifts to the challenges of narrating highly emotional and intimate scenes. Narrators discuss methods for maintaining composure while delivering authentic performances, with Andrew talking about allowing real emotions to flow and Andy focusing on breathing through scenes to maintain storytelling integrity. They also address how to approach 'naughtier' scenes, emphasizing authenticity to the text while respecting the listener's experience.
The panelists offer advice for aspiring narrators, recommending resources like Andy's Narrator.Life. They stress the importance of understanding the publishing industry, listening to many audiobooks, and finding a balance between acting and reading to create an authentic, engaging listening experience, particularly for romance genres.
Andrew and Andy share details about their Audie-nominated titles. Andy discusses 'Reel' by Kennedy Ryan (as a producer) and 'Paws' by Kylie Scott (as a narrator). Andrew highlights 'Mind to Protect' by Kennedy L. Mitchell, emphasizing the emotional depth and character development. Lydia expresses her support for Andy's nomination and praises the growing recognition of independent romance audiobooks in the Audie Awards.