Deep Waters Audiobook Now Available | A Peek Behind the Scenes
Dear Friends and Family,
The audiobook version of Deep Waters is now available at all major online distributors, including Audible.com/Amazon, Spotify, Barnes & Noble, Chirp, plus ~35 others, as well as at bookstores, and local libraries (through Hoopla)!
I loved working with classically trained actor and director Alex Picard through Findaway Voices/Spotify. In our first conversation, she mentioned that memoirs—in contrast to novels—offer a special challenge because some authors expect her to sound like them. Her goal, she emphasized, was instead to capture the emotional essence of each character.
Here’s Alex’s response when asked if there was anything unusual or special in her experience of narrating Deep Waters.
"It's a strange thing to climb into a character's shoes and spend time living their life, spending time in their memories, and feeling their feelings. It is stranger yet, when that person is very real—when you have talked with them, and you know that these stories she has collected truly happened. There's a responsibility there that is a bit different.
Beth's work is so vulnerable and raw and the people in her life are so clearly laid out on the page, that she made it easy to dive into the extraordinary day to day of her family and their lives. Much like readers and listeners—I could see it all play out in my head, and feel every trial they faced and celebration in which they took joy."
How did you choose your narrator?
To select a narrator at Findaway Voices, an audiobook publisher owned by Spotify, I listened to 23 audio samples from their list. My preliminary criteria were: 1) female—naturally since the book is from my perspective, 2) someone who could read male voices as well as female, and 3) someone who was a mother.
I found several excellent narrators who met those criteria. After listening to their audio samples, three made it to my finalist list.
Next, each finalist produced a 4-minute sample of the same scene from my book. When I heard Alex’s reading, I knew she was who I wanted to narrate my memoir.
Flashback Photo
Boating in Alaska after a salmon fishing expedition in Sweetheart Creek. Glen is wearing his wetsuit. Photo taken by Kurt S. Dzinich Sr., two years before the story in Deep Waters begins.
Sailing IJsselmeer in Glacier Bay, Alaska
What Readers are Saying
Deep Waters: A Memoir of Loss,
Alaska Adventure, and Love Rekindled
“Emotionally charged, inspiring, and unforgettable.”
—Laura K. Marré
“Gripping and suspenseful. A must read not only for medical laymen, but for any practicing physician who cares for stroke patients.”
—Dr. Max B Duncan, M.D. Neurologist
“Kept me spellbound chapter by chapter.”
—Margreet D. Fledderus
Deep Waters Audiobook Sample!
To hear a sample of Alex Picard’s narration, click on one of the audiobook store buttons below, where you’ll find a link to the first 4-minutes of Chapter One. I’d love to hear if you think Alex meets the challenge of capturing each character’s emotional essence.
Please forward this email to friends who might be interested in Deep Waters, especially if they enjoy or prefer audiobooks.
Best wishes always!
Beth
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