VOAtlanta's very own Lynn Norris & Jessica Merchant joined us in 2025 to talk through the ins and outs of organising a conference of this magnitude: what it entails and how it all works

They talk us through what’s new. The Key note, Audiobooks, and everything VOATLANTA

Details of this year's conference can be found here:

https://www.voatlanta.me/voa2026/Home

https://www.voatlanta.me/voa2026/AudiobookSpeakers

We were also joined by Joel Froomkin and Sean Pratt who popped in tp share details of their Audiobook X-Sessions

This is episode 27-3 and was recorded in February 2025

If you have any questions about this episode or would like more information on audiobook narration coaching, please get in touch

Https://www.anaclements.co.uk/coaching

In this episode we talk about what your headshots and website photographs say about you.

Sean Pratt is a well respected coach and prolific audiobook narrator. He shared his career story: acting in film, TV and theatre and then his journey into fiction and then non-fiction audiobooks, narrating 50 books a year

Sean teaches a curriculum of classes on audiobook narration that are 1:1 online. They cover narration, non fiction and the business and marketing of the industry

He encourages us to ask: what are you selling? Discusses promotional materials. References an Audiofile magazine marketing webinar on youtube with Sean and Michelle https://youtu.be/66rCZPv4CSI?si=a34yESbY3_U00Pht

He talks us through how to experiment and crowdsource your 3 words, Personality, Energy and Attitude, and how to use that in your search for work

How to come up with ideas for your photo shoot; and he mentions these artists websites: JRodney Turner, Lillian VO, Jennifer Jill Arraya, Gary Furlong

Sean talks about the difference between a Commercial Photographer and a Head Shot photographer. The importance of preparation and the visual representation of our brand

How do you transfer those thoughts into pictures?

Awareness of self. Let Sean describe his vision in pictures

This episode 26-3 was recorded live in January 2025

If you' d like more information about this episode or about audiobook narration coaching, get in touch

Https://www.anaclements.co.uk/coaching

A Prose and Convs. session with actor and coach, Steve Corona who produced his first audiobook in 2007 and then stepped away for a while. He says he wished he had come back to it sooner, but acting, the theatre and dialect coaching kept him busy.

Linda Hughes, now a full time author of 4 years, with 27 books to her name, shares her story. Voiceover work in radio advertising. Seminar leader - life balance, team building, communication skills) and flying around the world.

They talk us through the 37 characters in her book, Gold mountain and discuss their connection and collaboration.

The Alaskan Gold rush inspired book is the second in the series

https://www.lindahughes.com

https://www.coronaproductions.org/audiobooks

Episode 25 started off our 2025. This conversation was recorded on Clubhouse in January 2025

Part of our Prose & Convs series, narrator Rosemary Cline brought along author, Kelly Brakenhoff to discuss their project.

They talked about their meeting and working together

Rosemary shared her passion for narration and the other projects she is involved in

Kelly shared her books, her love of all things creative and her incredible experiences with Sign Language

Kelly Brakenhoff

https://www.facebook.com/kellybrakenhoffauthor/

Clifton Strengths

https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253715/34-cliftonstrengths-themes.aspx

Kelly’s website

https://kellybrakenhoff.com/product/cassandra-sato-mystery-series-audiobook-bundle-books-1-4/

Episode 24 recorded Dec 2024

If you have any thoughts about the podcast or have any questions about audiobook narration or production, please get in touch:

Https://www.anaclements.co.uk/coaching

Another of our Prose and Convs sessions Audio in Color is a nonprofit grant program helping independent romance authors fund and create their first self-published audiobook.

We are joined by Andi Arndt and Nan Malone to talk about funding debut audiobooks and championing New Voices in Romance.

They talked to us about how they met, about STEAMY Lit

and we are joined by

Nana Malone, Author, promoter, mentor and life lover

Andi Arndt, Narrator, Coach, Owner of Narrator.life

Katie Robinson (Lyric Audio) PRODUCTION

Ronyelle Baker - application form, JUDGES

Ann Rachelle Jones organised the FALL INTO ROMANCE auction

Also Gabrielle Redmond (CPA) treasurer

Amy Oliveira can speak to the grantee experience

As a community we value diversity and we need to share the importance of championing it.

TO BE WELCOMED IS TO BE SEEN

https://audioincolor.org

If you have any questions about this podcast or about audiobook narration our production, please get in touch

www.anaclements.co.uk/coaching

Join Your Publishing BFF our Editor in residence, Dayna talks with us about life and the why of editing

Their job as a Feature writer for local newspapers for 14 years - copy editing

Interviewing families and centenarians. Their lives and their stories. Burn out - retraining in Fiction editing and starting Your Publishing BFF

Their work, authors and their lives. The importance of hearing people’s stories and of representation.

Book reading - romance & children’s books

Book writing - inclusive, representation

The different types of editing: ARC and plot threads

Line and Copy editing

Proof reading Character work and their story throughout the book

How to find someone you trust: referrals from other authors & asking for samples

ACE’s and EFA (editor membership)

CIEP Chartered Institute for Editing and ProofReading - Ranked membership

Dayna is Chair of CRW Contemporary Romance Writers and their Online Accessible Conference

Writing Contests: Stiletto awards with narrators!!

Also on committee for Northern Hearts (Toronto) writing conference NHC

Dayna gives us a take on independent author conferences. How the different angles of approach allow narrators to understand viewpoints. Formats/schedules can give you new perspective and an openness to the industry

Understanding how authors tick allows us to be empathic and more in tune

Re-writing your Demo script. Abridging.

Dayna also LOVES working on website copy! So ,reach out!

https://www.yourpublishingbff.com

This was recorded June 2024

If you have any questions about this podcast or would like more information on Audiobook Production or Narration ...

Https://www.anaclements.co.uk/coaching

Join us as we chat with Tim Pabon.

Born in Madrid, Spain he talks to us about his life on the East Coast of America. He talks us through his MFA Programme, life as an actor … his theatre company and becoming a steward of your own stories.

His introduction and commitment to audiobooks.

His work as an acting coach and working with Andi Arndt on 3rd person narration at Narrator.Life

www.TimAPabon.com

Trigger Warnings:

Mentions of Cancer, therapy and recovery

Join us to talk to BRAD SHAW, the owner of WONDERLAND VO

Brad shared his career highlights and inspiration for WONDERLAND VO ⁠www.wonderlandvo.com⁠⁠

In December 2023, Brad launched a charity audiobook as a podcast, sharing "Alice Through The Looking Glass" one chapter at a time.

Every donation to Cancer Research UK gets us one step closer to our goal. CRUK to help save lives.

Alice in Wonderland (175 voices) ⁠www.bradshawvoice.com⁠

Alice through the Looking Glass ⁠www.wonderlandvo.com⁠

#WonderlandChallenge2 #DonateForACause

If you have any questions about this podcast or about AUDIOBOOK production, narration or the industry, get in touch with Https://www.anaclements.co.uk/coaching

Thank you