Interview: Narrator Rebecca McKernan

Rebecca Mckernan is a narrator of audiobooks who recently completed my book Shadowed Promise. 

Here's the transcript of her interview:

Yours was the loveliest voice I found among those who auditioned for my book. You're so talented and easy to work with. I really enjoyed working with you, and hope our next project together, my book Fighting for Tara will be as much fun.

Let's get started:

​1. How did you get into narrating for audiobooks?

I felt that I needed a change from my previous career, as a burlesque performer. One day, after leaving a voice message to a friends, she said to me, 'Bec, you have a really lovely voice- have you ever thought about narrating audio books?' So I looked into it, and that was that!

2. What's your favorite genre to narrate?

I'm not sure that I have a favourite genre per se- what I love to narrate are books which are told beautifully. I love evocative, romantic language, gorgeous imagery, writing which is quite poetic. Whether that's a factual account of the second world war, or a love story set in a fantasy universe, so long as the writing is beautiful, I love to narrate it.

3. What's your favorite genre to read in general? What do you do for fun?

I love a good dystopian novel. Something which takes me away whilst still having roots in reality- a distorted vision of things hopefully never to come. For fun, I'm a very social creature- I adore being surrounded by the people I love, cooking, drinking wine, entertaining. I'm also never happier than when soaking in the bath, surrounded by candles, reading Kazuo Ishiguro to my boyfriend.

4. What inspires you? 

People. Real situations which I can draw from and bring elements of into my work. Travel. I think travel is the most inspirational thing a person can do, a line to people you'd never meet, cultures you'd never experience, wonders you'd never see, if you didn't leave your own home, your own comfort zone. Barring that, any documentary narrated by David Attenborough.

5.You are classically trained vocalist. Tell us about that experience and how it helps you in narration.

In my (much) younger years I trained as an opera singer, and since then have trained and worked extensively in musical theatre, as well as straight theatre. I think my classical training allows me to make subtle differences to a character's voice, so that each is distinguishable without being caricatured. It allows me to respond to a director's desires in a thoughtful, realistic way, and produce something with authenticity, which, I hope, enables a listener to emotionally connect with. It's also really handy for when I'm required to sing in my audio books!

You can find her here:
Website
Facebook

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Here's the link to the book Rebecca narrated for me!

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