***
Before we begin, I have to praise you again for doing such a superb job on The Battle Lord's Lady When I listen to it, you make me laugh and cry. You’ve
brought the book to life! What was it about the book that caught your attention,
and made you want to narrate it?
Thank you
Linda! That is good to hear. I always feel such a responsibility to an author.
it's scary! Well first of course - our
blue haired heroine. Her combination of
courage, passion, skill and
vulnerability is appealing to me. And of course the way the relationship
between her and Yulen is one of equals.
In
general, I find all the characters and relationships nuanced and complex.
The world
you have created is so fun and interesting - Ferrets! I am always excited to see what is coming around the
corner. The animals are just the best. I am a big nature girl myself, so I
enjoy all the time in the woods.
>
>
What was the biggest challenge in performing the story?
The
biggest challenge? I find
keeping all the tough guys distinct. Tough, soldierly, but distinct. You can't
just use stereotypes. I have to make them individuals in my mind.
>
>
You once commented to me that you were “seriously in love with Yulen”. Care
to elaborate?
Oh,
Yulen! He is what we want, isn't he? Masculine - but not a clod! He has enough
of the dark brooding quality that appeals to me - but he is not a dysfunctional
idiot. Sexy, smart, capable, physical. Hmmm.
>
>
Do you keep notes as you read aloud? Like descriptive reminders as to which
voice was for whom, etc?
Do I keep
Notes. No, the
story is in my mind, so as long as I remember what everybody looks like and a
sense of their personality I am ok. The
voice comes from that - I have tried to do it technically - this person has
these vocal characteristics, but then I find I lose sight of why they are
saying what they are saying and it doesn't work. It is easier to create a
picture in my mind - Karv has mean little eyes, squat, and suspicious and then
I imagine I look like that and the voice comes. I am constantly morphing in my
recording studio!
>
>
As a narrator, you have a large repertoire of voices, and I love the way
you act out each point of dialogue to where I can almost envision that character
on the screen. I especially love how you performed Liam MaGrath. Do you prefer
male voices over female voices?
Male
voices are much harder. I think women have a lot more vocal permission - we can
be high or low, squeaky or scratchy. In general, men are culturally encouraged
to be duller!
I am
constantly working on how to voice characters. The challenge is to make them
believable, sustainable and nuanced. Lately, I have been trying to listen to
men having conversations around me. I am listening for what - other than pitch
- makes it sound male. One of my teachers always tells me to make it flat -
that most male American English speakers don't use much variety when they speak. I am curious about
that so I am listening for it. How do they express themselves?
>
Okay, one final question: what started you on the path of narrating books
for ACX?
It is such a pleasure to live in my imagination and get lost in the story. It is, I suppose, the same way I feel when I read for pleasure. I never thought about that before! What is the difference between reading aloud and reading silently? It seems to me that when I started out I found that I did the best job when I wasn't "reading aloud" i.e. just saying the words that were on the page but living the story, "being" the story. I suppose it is what I do when I "read to myself". I am creating the story inside me. So, I think the verb "read" is wrong. As I think about it, I think the only thing I "read" are those instructions from Ikea! Wait a minute, they just have those funny little people and useless pictures!!!
***
If you'd like to hear more of Kate Udall, check out THE CURIOSITY, and this fabulous review!
THE CURIOSITY
Stephen Kiernan
Read by Kate Udall, George Guidall, Jason Culp, Erik Bergmann
This mesmerizing book is well written and superbly narrated--a possible best audiobook of the year. Scientists are shocked to find a man frozen in a massive iceberg. The story is told from the perspective of the four major characters, with the flawless narrators alternating chapters. Massachusetts Judge Jeremiah Rice perished in a 1906 Arctic expedition and is eventually reanimated. Experiencing Boston through his eyes is deeply moving. Highlights include hearing Jeremiah's 1900s vocabulary and perspective, and Dr. Kate Philo's bittersweet romance with him. Portraying the doctor, narrator Kate Udall is astonishing as Kate acts as Jeremiah's protector. Her delivery is deeply moving yet believable. When Udall portrays Jeremiah, his voice is deliberate and dignified, an approach that makes his quaint words sound perfectly in context. This splendid account is perfect for audio. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2013]
Stephen Kiernan
Read by Kate Udall, George Guidall, Jason Culp, Erik Bergmann
This mesmerizing book is well written and superbly narrated--a possible best audiobook of the year. Scientists are shocked to find a man frozen in a massive iceberg. The story is told from the perspective of the four major characters, with the flawless narrators alternating chapters. Massachusetts Judge Jeremiah Rice perished in a 1906 Arctic expedition and is eventually reanimated. Experiencing Boston through his eyes is deeply moving. Highlights include hearing Jeremiah's 1900s vocabulary and perspective, and Dr. Kate Philo's bittersweet romance with him. Portraying the doctor, narrator Kate Udall is astonishing as Kate acts as Jeremiah's protector. Her delivery is deeply moving yet believable. When Udall portrays Jeremiah, his voice is deliberate and dignified, an approach that makes his quaint words sound perfectly in context. This splendid account is perfect for audio. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2013]
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