Charlaine Harris & Johanna Parker: an audiobook author/narrator pair extraordinaire. It’s no mystery why audiobook series have such passionate followers – the Sookie Stackhouse audios are a prime example of the connection between the reader’s voice and the continuing characters. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Parker about her voicing of the supernatural Southern Vampire mysteries, a perfect tie-in to Booklist’s Mystery Month.

Thanks for visiting Audiobooker, Johanna! You and Charlaine are one of the most popular pairings on the audiobook shelf. Have you ever spoken or emailed with the other half of your duo? 

Yes. I spoke to Charlaine first in 2005, when I was about to narrate my first of her books - Dead as a Doornail for Recorded Books – which was the fifth of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I needed to confirm that I was about to use the correct pronunciation the name Sookie and her hometown, Bon Temps. I subsequently met Charlaine at a librarians’ convention in Chicago, where Charlaine spoke to the attendees about her work – the creative process, her writing style, etc. – and I read selected passages from several of her novels. Charlaine touched the crowd by relating that her mother had recently developed macular degeneration, and could no longer read her daughter’s work. The audiobooks, Charlaine, said, provided a happy solution to this dilemma, allowing her to “read” them by listening.

Charlaine and I immediately clicked, and have had a close working relationship ever since. I have now narrated all of the Sookie series to date. We’ve met a number of times since, at various promotional events around the country; and we often communicate by email, not only regarding the Sookie series, but regarding our other shared interests as well.

One particularly moving event took place immediately following a public reading in Iowa City, IA. As the reading was ending, a gay couple approached us, and told us that together Charlaine and I were responsible for saving their marriage. We were incredulous until the couple explained. It seemed that one of the men was a voracious reader who was fanatical about the Sookie series. He couldn’t share his literary obsession with his partner, however, because his partner didn’t like to read books! This put a severe strain on their relationship, and, they contended, nearly led to the breakup of their marriage. Their salvation came when the reader managed to persuade the non-reader to listen to the audiobook versions. Suddenly they were both Sookie fans. Marriage saved.

Has your crafting of character or plot action changed due to your author / narrator connection?

Absolutely. My relationship with Charlaine has provided me with a deeper, more intimate understanding of Sookie’s character and world, and as a result, has enhanced my performance.

How do you retain the mood & vocal characterizations of a series over time?

I record a sample of my rendition of each character’ voice on my iPhone. That way, when I return to any character, even a minor character, even years later, I’m able to recreate him or her with precise continuity. Though Charlaine has been known to surprise me with a minor character coming back years later and stumping me. I get all the cd’s and go track by track trying to find that voice! Most listeners may not notice but it niggles me not to get it right.

What are your thoughts on the continuity of retaining the same narrator throughout a series? 

Not only does it make sense – same character, same voice – but many of the fans demand it.

Does a long-term role as the voice of a series help or hinder your acting career?

It’s a double-edged sword. It helps by giving me greater exposure and accolades.  This was particularly the case after the HBO series True Blood, based on the series,  premiered. On the other hand, it hinders by typecasting me in certain people’s eyes. Or ears. I’ve auditioned for a videogame or two while recording  a Sookie book and had the producer ask if I can drop the “twang.” I’ve gotten better over the years with the transition.

Final thoughts?

The opportunity to meet Charlaine and to become the voice of her Sookie Stackhouse series has been, and continues to be, a joy and an honor for me. I look forward to working with and for Charlaine in the coming years. It’s as if our paths were meant to have crossed.

Thanks so much sharing your thoughts with us, Johanna!

Stay tuned for more interviews with perfect partners in crime for Mystery Month – next Thursday I’ll feature both author Louise Penny & narrator Ralph Cosham who will discuss the Three Pines audiobooks, followed on May 24th by author Lee Child & narrator Dick Hill, who pair up to bring Jack Reacher to life.

Try these 2012 Audies nominees – from cozy to hard-boiled, there’s something for everyone. May is Mystery Month on BooklistOnline and in Booklist magazine. I’ll be featuring audio mysteries here each Thursday, and often in-between. There’s nothing better than a great detective story in the car CD player on your way to your next heist or on the cell phone while shadowing a suspect. The Audio Publishers Association narrowed down over 1,250 entries to the cream of the crop in preparation for the June 5th Audies Award Gala, where the winners will be announced. There’s great listening in many of the Audies categories…

• Like your mysteries straight up? Sample the MYSTERY nominees:

Feast Day of Fools, by James Lee Burke, Narrated by Will Patton, Simon & Schuster Audio

Naughty in Nice: A Royal Spyness Mystery, by Rhys Bowen, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren, Audible, Inc.

One Dog Night, by David Rosenfelt, Narrated by Grover Gardner, Listen & Live Audio

Return to Marshall’s Bayou: A Dassas Cormier Mystery, by S.H. Baker, Narrated by a full cast, Siren Audio Studios

Rogue Island, by Bruce DeSilva, Narrated by Jeff Woodman, Audible, Inc

• Prefer a twist of trouble? These THRILLER/SUSPENSE nominees are for you:

Adrenaline, by Jeff Abbott, Narrated by Kevin T. Collins, Hachette Audio /AudioGo

The Bone House, by Brian Freeman, Narrated by Joe Barrett, Blackstone Audio

A Kiss Before Dying, by Ira Levin, Narrated by Mauro Hantman, AudioGO

The Nightmare Thief, by Meg Gardiner, Narrated by Susan Ericksen, Brilliance Audio

Out of My Head, by Didier van Cauwelaert, Narrated by Bronson Pinchot, Blackstone Audio

Silent Screams, by Karen Rose, Narrated by Marguerite Gavin, Blackstone Audio

• Got a taste for Country Noir? The CLASSIC category has a sure-fire favorite:

Deliverance, by James Dickey, Narrated by Will Patton, Audible, Inc.

• Snack-sized bites? SHORT STORIES/COLLECTIONS classic tales:

Black Mask: Doors in the Dark, Edited by Otto Penzler, Narrated by Eric Conger, Oliver Wyman, Alan Sklar, Pete Larkin and Jeff Gurner, HighBridge Company

• How about a fresh take on a classic character? Try this ORIGINAL WORK:

The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, Vol. 3, by Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane, Narrated by Stacy Keach and a full cast, Blackstone Audio

• Savoring a science fiction genre-bender? The FANTASY category includes:

The Automatic Detective, by A. Lee Martinez, Narrated by Marc Vietor, Audible, Inc.

• Craving true crime? This meaty NON-FICTION listen is for you:

The Murder of the Century, by Paul Collins, Narrated by William Dufris, AudioGO

• Deliciously fun and doubly good – this title is a nominee in both the PARANORMAL & SOLO NARRATION—FEMALE categories:

First Grave on the Right, by Darynda Jones, Narrated by Lorelei King, Macmillan Audio/AudioGo

• Got a taste for Sherlock? Sample this SOLO NARRATION – MALE nominee:

The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 3, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Narrated by Charlton Griffin, Audio Connoisseur

• And the kid’s menu includes two titles for CHILDREN AGES 8-12:

The Hidden Gallery: The Incorrigible Children of Aston Place: Book II, by Maryrose Wood, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren, HarperAudio/Listening Library

A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz, Narrated by Johnny Heller, Recorded Books, LLC

I’ll be back next Thursday with interviews featuring Johanna Parker, narrator of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse mysteries;  Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series, along with narrator Dick Hill; and Louise Penny, author of the Three Pines mystery series, plus narrator Ralph Cosham.

On recording the audiobook of her memoir A Natural Woman: “Acting, and writing, and singing without the music.” Wish I could embed the short exclusive Entertainment Weekly video where Ms. King reflects on creating the audiobook version of her life story. Click here to read Stephan Lee’s descriptive snippit and to play the video – this Hachette Audio title looks to be packed full of bonus extras!

Audiobooker’s big weekend roundup of articles & links of interest to listeners and librarians.

Audiobooks: Are They Really the Same as Reading? Great article from the Chicago Tribune – not those the same old weary arguments. Author Jenni Laidman has gathered some great quotes, and includes her pick of five really great listens. Here’s my favorite quote from the article:

Arnold L. Glass, a professor of cognitive psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, studies the ways in which reading and listening differ. But if one mode is superior to the other, it’s not quite clear.

Listening has one outstanding advantage over reading, his research shows. When we listen, the theater in our head is in full operation. When we read, the screen may flicker. Reading monopolizes the visual part of our brain, the place where we form mental images, his 1980 study shows. He asked subjects to determine the accuracy of sentences loaded with imagery and sentences with little imagery. He found that reading slowed judgment on high-imagery sentences. But if subjects listened to the sentences instead, judgment time was the same, no matter the level of imagery.

Finding a Gateway to Audio: Fantastic suggestions from Maris Kreizman on ways to hook first-time audiobook listeners. Focused on consumer purchases, but just substitute library patrons as needed in the quote below:

I’m often asked by new buyers of audiobooks for recommendations. Their most common concern? That their Internet-addled minds will wander at the slightest provocation. So that gorgeous 34-hour recording of Anna Karenina? Not for them. Those who are just getting started in the world of audiobooks need a nonintimidating entry point.

“Gateway audiobooks” are an important category for the audiobook industry to consider. They’re the books that help a company like eMusic expand our consumer base and reach new users who are still unsure whether listening to books is for them. Once new users get hooked, they’ll be ready for that 57-hour recording of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich in no time.

Catalist Digital: New kid on the block digital audiobook download provider for school & public libraries. A joint project of Barker & Taylor, Findaway World (Playaway’s parent company), and Follett – there’s not many details to be had, but you may want to put this vendor on your list for investigation. I’ll be checking things out at ALA Annual. I am very curious about the note-taking feature mentioned in the student-use mobile-app FAQs:

Why should I use the Catalist Digital Mobile App?

The Catalist Digital Mobile App is the only way for you to save your place, take notes, or keep an audiobook checked out for an extended period of time. Plus, it’s the only way to take audiobooks on-the-go.

AudioGopher: Speaking of note-taking combined with audiobook listening, check out this PR link, which includes the quote below:

“AudioGopher is perfect if you’re listening to a long podcast and want to mark favorite songs or segments and skip directly to those spots,” said Roger Caplan, President of Helical Software. “AudioGopher is also great for students who want to note portions of audiobooks or lectures to instantly call up key quotes or sections.”

A Few Thoughts on Narration: Mark Turetsky reflects on the power of Newbery Honor title Breaking Stalin’s Nose as he prepares for narrating the title. Here’s a quote from his post on the Nerdy Book Club blog:

The book was tremendous, but it was also enormously unsettling. When I was done, I was in a daze. My girlfriend looked up at me from across the table and said, “Are you done already?” “Yeah,” I said, “this book is a killer.”

I’m supposed to record the book in just a few days, and it’s still giving me the willies. Despite that, I’m going to take every opportunity I have this to read through this book, to get familiar and comfortable with thoughts and ideas which couldn’t be more alien and disturbing to me. After answering these questions, and putting someone else’s words into my mouth, I’ll find myself changed by the experience. And change never comes easy.

Thanks to Open Culture for the link!

This first in the Jane Whitefield mystery series is a free download from Tantor Audio. Vanishing Act is narrated by Joyce Bean, and is 10 1/2 hours long – looks like a great road trip listen! No word on how long this freebie will last, so grab this one from Edgar-award winner Perry quick – just set up a free account on the Tantor website here. Here’s what Booklist had to say when the book was first published:

A battered wife needs a safe haven from her violent husband. A card shark who has gone too far craves the safety of anonymity. A young boy, tired of being a pawn in a bitter custody battle, wants to escape into a new identity. Jane Whitefield, a tough, smart, resourceful woman with a strong Native American heritage, can help. She knows all the tricks it takes to make someone disappear. Her latest case is one John Felker, who has been accused of ripping off big bucks from his employer and needs to acquire a new identity, at least until things cool off. Even though Felker’s story doesn’t quite add up, Jane finds herself strongly attracted to him. Unfortunately, her attraction overwhelms her judgment, and it’s only after Felker has disappeared that she finds he’s not been completely honest about his background. Jane sets out on a journey to find the truth about Felker–a journey that will take her from Canada to California and that will end in violence in the dark forests of upstate New York. A suspenseful and satisfying thriller.