Hello all! Thank you for joining me here at the fab Love Bytes Reviews for my monthly author column. Recently, Rise & Fall, the fourth book in the THIRDS series was released in audiobook format. Although audiobooks have been around for quite a while, I have to admit that my first experience with them was with my own book Hell & High Water (THIRDS, Book1). Before then, I didn’t really consider audiobooks when making my book purchases. When I lived in London and rode the tube to work, I listened to music or read a paperback. I didn’t even own a Kindle at the time. Once I was back in the states and behind the wheel, I listened to music. After I became published and my reading list exploded, along with my eBook library, I invested in a Kindle Fire.
When my publisher informed me the THIRDS series was going to be released in audiobook, I was so excited. Seeing my work translated into different mediums is always thrilling, whether it’s in Fan Art or a foreign language translation. Right now the series is being translated in three different languages (more on that soon!) with Hell & High Water being released on June 30th in French. Dex speaking French? Can’t wait!
I had no clue how the audiobook process worked. I was so nervous. As the author, I wanted my boys to be in good hands. Thanks to my awesome publisher, I was given several sound files from different narrators. If none of them worked for me, I’d be sent some more. Luckily, I never had to look beyond the first batch. It was a really tough decision to make. I would be entrusting Dex and the fellas to whichever narrator I ended up choosing. The sound files were also only a few minutes long with some reading the prologue to Hell & High Water and a few paragraphs from the first chapter. I listened to all of them and narrowed it down.
By the end, I was left with three voices. As I listened to them over and over again, I had to imagine them not just narrating the story or doing Dex’s voice, but that of a whole ensemble cast. As it stands, the THIRDS initial series has a large number of core characters who appear in every book. That’s at least ten male characters and four female. Then we have secondary characters, bad guys, other agents, scientist number three, perps, and the rest. I had ten male characters, all who needed their own distinct voice, especially one blond haired menace in particular. Whoever I chose as a narrator had to get Dex right. Without him, the rest would fall apart. No pressure, right?
Oh, and on top of that, I know what my guys sound like. In my head, I hear their voices clearly. What if I chose someone and when I listened to my books, the guys sounded nothing like they did in my head? What would that do for my readers? In the end, I narrowed it down to three voices, but no matter how many times I listened to them, I kept getting drawn back to one in particular. There was something about his voice.
Well, I have to say that I couldn’t have been happier with my narrator Mark Westfield than if I’d plucked him from my own thoughts. Not only is he the perfect Dex, and the sexiest Sloane, but he’s done an amazing job with the rest of the cast. Plus, he’s added fantastic little touches to the books that I wouldn’t have even considered. These little extras make the books even more fun, and I’m just in awe of Mark’s talent. So today, I’m giving two lucky readers their choice of THIRDS audiobook.
For a chance to win your choice of THIRDS audiobook (1, 2, 3, or 4), just leave a comment below. Do you enjoy audiobooks? Do you have a favorite audiobook or narrator? What do you love most about audiobooks?
*** Contest ends Monday, June 29th at midnight Eastern US time. Winners will be announced in the comments section. ***
Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!
Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
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I usually don’t listen to audiobooks. When I do, I really don’t like the narrator. THIRDS series is the one I really do appreciate the book and audiobook also. I love how Mark Westfield does with the characters I love how he voiced, Dex, Ash, Cael and Calvin. I love about this audiobooks is how the narrator gave life to the characters and through his voice you can easily picture the scenes on the books.
I absolutely adore audio books! I listen to them at the gym or while driving or even doing housework. Mark Westfield does an awesome job with the THIRDS books, I can’t imagine any other voice for them. My other favourites are Greg Tremblay and Tristan James who voice Rhys Fords work so well. I like others but these three are by far the best ( in my strictly listener opinion.)
Ps I’m not entering I have all the books already. Good luck to the winners,
I love listening to books in my car. It is a great way to get some’reading’done. My favorite narrator is Jim Dale.
The Thirds series was my first experience with audio books and I love the job Mark Westfield has done on these books! He really brings the characters to life, especially Sloane and Dex!
I have never listen to an audio book. So this would be my first.
Never had the pleasure of listening to an audio book. Having heard of the narator for the THIRD series, I have to give it a go!
I recently discovered audiobooks and so far my favorite narrators include Jack LeFleur, Gomez Pugh, Tristan James, Paul Morey and Greg Tremblay. Thanks for the chance at your giveaway.
I have started listening to audio books while at work…i needs noise to keep me focused. And I am pretty sure that I am a little odd because I only tend to get audio books of books I have already read and know that I love. I love the Thirds audio books…and book 4 is currently on my wishlist! Thanks for the chance.
A narrator makes or breaks the listening experience for you. I, too, have voices in my head how characters sound (and look!). I would love to hear Sloanes sexy growl through my earphones, because I can’t listen “out loud” because my kids might over hear the sexy parts!. I love the Thirds series, and thank you for giving us something each week to tide us over until the next books come out!
I love audiobooks. I must have about 400 in my audible.com library. My husband hates to read but now he listens to audiobooks too and it makes me happy that he can enjoy something I love too.
I was not a big audio fan, but I absolutely love the Thirds in audio. Thanks for the chance to win.
ashlovesbooks at yahoo dot com
Love listening when driving! Thanks for the chance with this giveaway!
I like audiobooks. They are awesome to listen to when I’m doing chores. I don’t really have a favorite narrator.
I enjoy audio books when the narrator is awesome. I’ve listened to some that totally destroyed the book for me. I have heard great things about this one, however!
I’m still on the fence about audio books. I tend to get so involved in the story that I forget what I’m doing (which on a treadmill or out walking isn’t a good thing)
I’m new to audio books and listened to my first one a couple months ago. It was an interesting experience. Thanks for a chance to win!
I’ve been listening to audio books for some time now. I like to hear a story whilst crocheting and only listen to music if the pattern involves a lot of counting 😀 As to a favourite I guess I make my choice by the narrator rather than the author like I would for reading. My favourite narrators are Sean Crisden, Paul Morey and Max Lehnen. I have got the first three or THIRDS and listened to the first two and I will admit to loving Mark’s voice and will probably look out for him reading other books now.
I don’t get to listen to as many audio books as I would like! But I do think there are some great ones! But I’ve enjoyed quite a few different narrators!
I prefer to read but I do listen to audiobooks on occasion. I enjoyed Iggy Toma’s narration of Heidi Cullinan’s Love Lessons and Fever Pitch. I will definitely have to check out Mark Westerfield’s work on the THIRDS. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I love audiobooks especially on long flights like next week or on long car rides.
I have just started listening to audiobooks regularly. Previously, I loved listening to the entire Harry Potter series, and that was it!
I love audio books, with a book being read to you, you can have a better imagination because the voice in your head is not your’s.
Loved Tyler Stevens narrations of the Belladonna Arms series and Lane Hayes, Better Than series.
I haven’t listened to many audiobooks but of those I have listened to I’ve found I like the voices of Jason Frazier and Paul Morey.
My first experience with an audiobook was two months ago, when I stumbled upon a read along book for Japanese learners. Since I’m still learning the language, I didn’t last long, and decided to shut the audio and haven’t touched any eversince. However, I’d been pondering on trying to listen to an audiobook again in English for sometime now. Figured that if I listened to it in a language that I understand, then I might just get hooked. I also think trying it out with one of my favorite books would heighten the experience more.
i havent tried audio books yet
Hi I have all of the thirds series books and audiobooks I’m just comenting to say how glad I am you chose mark he is probably one of the best narrators I have ever heard and he really adds more to the characters.
I have never listened to an audiobook but I love your Thirds series so can imagine how fun it would be to hear the story while driving. Thanks for this awesome chance to win one of your audiobooks.
I love audiobooks, but I’m fairly new to them. I don’t have a favorite narrator, but I K.C. Kelly narrated two of my favorites, Kim Fielding’s Brute and Ryan Loveless’ Ethan, Who Loved Carter, and did a fantastic job with both. When I have a lot of driving to do, audiobooks are just perfect. Sometimes I don’t want to arrive because I’d rather keep reading, and you can’t say that with paper or ebooks. 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us, Charlie!
I am quite new to audio books, so I cannot compare the narrators. Although I do enjoy listening to the narrators skills for interchanging between the characters and have been amused with the attempts (successful and not so) of different accents. Thank you for the chance of winning one of your audio books.
Thank you all so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts on audiobooks! So many books, so little time! Via Random.org, the winners of the audiobook giveaways are:
Susan Hass and Juliana! Congrats! I’ll be in touch shortly to discuss delivery of your prize.
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. And thank you to those who’ve already picked up the THIRDS in audio. If you didn’t win now, don’t worry, there will be plenty of goodies up for grabs soon! Have a fabulous week! <3