​Does time really go more quickly as you get older? It certainly seems that way. Pup Freddy has celebrated his first birthday and is still chewing shoes and after a gloriously sunny summer, the leaves are beginning to turn and I have already bought my first Christmas present!

You always knew I was super organised didn’t you?

Here is my latest quarterly update:

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:
‘Life in the Garden’ by Penelope Lively has been published in the US by Penguin Audio.

‘I have no idea what Penelope Lively sounds like, but as far as I am concerned, narrator Helen Lloyd channels the 84 year old esteemed author perfectly. Her mellow, educated tone is just right… ’ Audiofile Magazine Review

‘Meet Me at The Museum’ by Anne Youngson.  Published in the UK by Random House & by MacMillan Audio in the US :  Sometimes it takes a stranger to really know who you are. 

'Helen Lloyd’s Trina is warm, thoughtful and seeking. The Curator, Anders, who has been fairly recently widowed, is writing to her in his second language, so Lars Knudsen’s Danish accent conveys the differences and distance between them, even as they come to trust and rely on each other as they acknowledge joys and face hard truths about their own lives … to deeply satisfying effect. ' Audiofile Magazine Review

‘Widow’s Wreath – A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery’ by Cynthia Riggs Published by Blackstone Audio.

‘The Allotment Girls’ by Kate Thompson. Published by Whole Story Audiobooks.

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IN PRODUCTION:
‘Lady Osbaldestone and the Missing Christmas Carols’ by Stephanie Laurens  This is the second 'Little Moseley' Christmas adventure for the redoubtable Lady O and her grandchildren. Published by Blackstone. 

‘The Hour of Death– A Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Murder Mystery’ by Jane Willan Published by Blackstone.


PREPPING:
‘But My Brain Had Other Ideas – A Memoir of Recovery from Brain Injury’ by Deb Brandon for Findaway.


AND IN OTHER NEWS:  The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that I have a new headshot.  This is a major thing for me, I hate being photographed, but it was comparatively painless. I also have a new logo, and am getting some new voice reels recorded next month.  

And due to demand, I am also now offering audiobook narrator personal coaching and am working one to one with a few select narrators.

And finally … after many years as an unrepresented actor, I am delighted to be represented by one of the UK’s foremost voice agencies, Suzy Wootton Voices

Till next time! 

February 2018 Update
 
Crikey it’s been cold here in Derbyshire! We’ve been in the grip of ‘The Beast from the East’ and storm Emma – and have had snow! Proper snow and -10C temperatures if you count in the wind chill factor.  Fortunately, I have heat and a cosy and toasty recording space.

​Here’s my latest news:

Published in February:

Fern Britton’s latest novel, ‘Coming Home’ – reached no 5 in the Sunday Times Best Seller list within four days of being published. The audiobook, read by me and produced in-house by the lovely folk at White House Sound for Harper Collins UK is now available on Audible.
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Coming Soon: 
Jung’s Psychology – An Introduction’ by Freda Fordham recorded for Ukemi Audiobooks. Something of a classic this one!

‘The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II’ by Karen Dolby recorded for W F Howes Ltd

In the Studio:
‘The Allotment Girls’ by Kate Thompson is a WW2 novel woven around the lives of the extraordinary women who worked at the iconic Bryant and May match factory in London’s East End. In production for Lamplight Audiobooks
 

Despite all the horrors of 2017 political and social,  professionally, 2017 was pretty good to me - and I am extremely grateful for that. 

• The year's undoubted highlight was attending The  APA (The Audio Publisher's Association) Conference in NYC in May. It was such a pleasure to meet so many colleagues and friends from the US, many of whom I have collaborated with on various projects over the past five years and to make many new friends from the Audiobook community. It was great to put names to faces and to catch up with the fellow Brits who were there, and to be inspired by some amazing narrators and performers at Johnny Heller's 4th Splendiferous Workshop. Of course APAC is about networking too and I met many audiobook producers and directors, some of whom I have subsequently worked with or have joined their roster of narrators. APAC (and New York itself) were extraordinary and I shall be returning in May this year - I have already booked my conference tickets, flight and hotel and look forward to making more friends and gaining more knowledge and inspiration later in the year.
  
  
• Alongside the jaunt to the US,  I also attended  The Voice Over Network Audiobook Weekend in London in early December, taking another opportunity to meet colleagues and to make new friends – as well as working in depth with Sean Pratt and Johnny Heller.  I look forward to being my continued involvement with VON over the coming year.
  
  
• Alongside all this gadding about, I have also been busy recording audiobooks for many major publishing houses and producers in the US and UK including Harper Audio, Audible US, Avon, BeeAudio, Clipper Audio, Lamplight, Quercus Publications, Rosa, Whole Story Audio, W F Howes Ltd., and Blackstone Audio – and received glowing reviews for ‘An Affair with a Notorious Heiress’ by Lorraine Heath recorded for Harper Audio  and   ‘Lady Osbaldestone’s Christmas Goose’ by Stephanie Laurens, produced by Blackstone Audio in Audiofile Magazine.

  

• Another memorable moment from 2017 was being interviewed for the Talking Audiobooks Podcast by Casey Trowbridge. If you missed it, or want to listen again, the link to the You Tube version is HERE

 
Thanks to everyone, producers, publishers, colleagues, coaches, friends - and readers of these blog pages - who helped to make 2017 so memorable.
 
I wish you all a productive, creative and very happy year in 2018. 

November saw two of my recent recordings published.

• ‘Life in The Garden’ by Penelope Lively – published by Whole Story Audiobooks A horticultural memoir that laces together the author’s two passions – gardening and literature.

 

• ‘A Summer House Party’ by Caro Fraser – set just before the beginning of WWII, this is a saga of secrecy, lies, unrequited love and a lot of stiff upper lips. Lamplight Audio
  
  

I think there’s something of a theme developing here as I have two more wartime audiobooks in production.

• ‘The Girls from the Local’ – by Rosie Archer coming very soon from Quercus
  
  
• ‘The Bomb Girls at Christmas’ – by Daisy Styles for Lamplight Audio

 
In other news

• ‘Lady Osbaldestone’s Christmas Goose’ by Stephanie Laurens which I recorded for Blackstone Audio in October has received a glowing review in Audiofile Magazine Click HERE TO READ

 

• I spent last weekend at the Voice Over Network Audiobook Weekend getting some in depth coaching from Sean Pratt and Johnny Heller. It was an exhausting but exhilarating experience and I look forward to putting all that inspiration and knowledge into practice in 2018.
  
  
• I am blogging again … mainly about audiobooks and voice training – but there are other nuggets in there too – please join me.

May I also take this opportunity to thank the authors, publishers, producers, production houses and colleagues that I have worked with over 2017. It has been my most productive year yet and I am looking forward to reading more great books in 2018.

Thanks also to everyone who has taken the time to read my blog posts ... I will be sharing many more audio insights soon.  
 
In the meantime -  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Peaceful and Productive New Year.