My name is Therese Plummer and I started narrating Audiobooks about 9 years ago. I have narrated over two hundred books. Some of my favorites have been The Virgin River and Thunder Point series by Robyn Carr, Tender is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Want Not by Jonathan Miles, Faith by Jennifer Haigh, The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson to name a few. I feel so lucky to have narrated so many amazing stories!
So a typical narration day for me starts with a really good nights sleep and plenty of it, 8-9 hours ideally. I will wake up and in the shower I will use a netti pot which clears out the sinus passages and do my vocal warm ups which include a variety of facial exercises, tongue-twisters and diaphragmatic breathing. I drink a liter of water. I will eat a light breakfast of a banana or oatmeal and have an almond milk cappuccino. Once I am at my studio, if it is going to be a six-hour day, I will ask my engineer if he/she will arrange the microphone so I can stand. I find my breath support is better on longer days if I stand. I will usually work an hour or hour and a half before taking a break. After two or three hours we will break for lunch and go back and work another few hours. A normal recording day is from 10am until 4pm. When I am done I usually don’t talk much for the rest of the night. If I have other prepping to do I will do that at home or just relax and get another good night’s sleep for the next days session.
What I enjoy most about the narration process is bringing this entire story and cast of characters alive. It’s like a one woman show every day. It’s amazing when I have been able to narrate with other actors on a story. It really is such a creative process. All of the theatrical experience I have has to come through my voice in the sound booth and it is imperative that I am able to convey that emotion vocally since that is all my audience has to go on. I am in someone’s earbud for hours at a time and as such the volume and intensity of stage acting must be minimized but just as effective to transport them through the story. It is such a creative challenge learning how to do this from book to book. I learn from every book I have recorded.
The other thing I love about my job is the community of actors I get to work with every day. The Audiobook community from the actors, engineers, producers, bloggers and publishers are the nicest group of people I have ever met and worked with. It is a big family and I hope I get to tell stories with all of them for a long time.
Check out more on Therese at her website: http://www.thereseplummer.com/
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Sheila, this is such a cool post. It’s so fascinating to read about a day in the life of an audiobook narrator. Thanks!
Thanks! This was a fun one to do! I was also curious if there were certain foods they ate or avoided, etc…
I’ve always wondered how many hours in a row a narrator will read for. When my husband and I read aloud to each other, we get pooped after an hour or two! Thanks to Therese for sharing and Sheila for posting!
Right? I can not imagine talking for two hours straight now stop – let alone with expression and voices 😀
I thoroughly enjoyed this post, it is interesting to gain insight into a narrator’s day. It sounds very challenging – 15 minutes reading aloud a day does it for me. Thinking of all the prep they must do as well, as so many narrators have different voices for each character.
I dont read out loud. I have a friend who would record herself reading for a man who was losing his eye sight. I have always been impressed with that.
It was fun to walk in her shoes for a day.
Right? And she looks like she is having such a great time!
Awesome to know what it is like. I’ve always wondered. It seems so seamless though I know it’s not. I’ve only listened to one book where I could tell it was a different session, other than that, it just sounds like they are sitting there reading for hours and hours. I LOVE VR & TP, though I haven’t listened to the audiobooks. I’ll have to now, just to hear hers. 🙂
When you love a book I highly encourage trying it again in audio format…. a whole different experience!
Love this post!
Thanks Beth 😀
Wow! I never thought about how many hours a day a narrator must talk. Don’t think I could do it! I have a new appreciation for all narrators!!
I think it would be an amazing job but one I am not talented for 🙂
I had no idea there was so much vocal prep but it makes total sense. I would struggle with the good night’s sleep part.
Me too Kathy – I stay up late quite often… too late 😛
Reading about Therese’s day was very enjoyable and interesting 🙂 So thank you both for that! I couldn’t help thinking it would probably be better if she didn’t stand the whole time, but had a high stool to semi-sit on periodically for some relief without constricting anything.
I would hate to stand in one spot that long too… I think I would shift around and thus make the audio waver… she must know what works 😀
Great post, Sheila! I love my neti pot, too, Therese!
Thanks Karen! Good to know thats a thing! LD
What a fascinating post! I never gave it much though before, as I haven’t listened to an audiobook yet (I hope to soon!) but it’s really intriguing to see what goes into making these.
Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
OOH you must! Soon I will be posting about AWESOME audio – you will have to pop in for that 🙂
i’ve always wondered what a day in the life of a narrator would be like – fabulous insight into a working narrator’s life! thanks for sharing
btw, I noticed you’re reading Andy Stanley’s book for study ~ I attend the main NorthPoint campus!
Do you really go th the Northpoint Campus? That is so awesome Stacy! We are studying this at work. I really enjoy his writing!
Fantastic post! Great job, Therese and Sheila!!
I hadn’t thought about the standing part being better for a long day. I would imagine when you sit for too long a period of time you tend to slump down a little more in your chair as time goes on.
Good point Angie!
what, I had no idea! a lot of hard work!
Fascinating stuff!
What an amazing job. I had never thought about the process before.
I really hadn’t thought about it either!
Wow, she has quite the process she goes through!
Its interesting to read about that!
Loved this post. I’ve enjoyed Therese Plummer’s narration of Robyn Carr’s Grace Valley series. She’s one of my favorite narrators.
Wonderful – I am going to have to listen to her!
It is so interesting to know what goes on behind the scenes! It is much more complicated than I ever realized. Great post!
I love it – I am so excited these awesome narrators decided to share their talent here 😉
I think standing would definitely be helpful. Related to why choirs stand?
Good though Hannah! I didn’t think of that.
Wow! I didn’t realize all the prep that went into narrating, and how standing, rather than sitting, gives more breath control. Very interesting!
I am enjoying their responses to my questions… I have a TON of questions about audio narrators 😀
I agree that the audiobook community is awesome.
So true – I cant wait to see what a meet up will look like next year 😀
Wow! I can’t imagine reading for that long, it’s smart how she prepares for her day and rarely talks after all the work. What a great post!
I imagine the work is strenuous and exhausting!
May I ask – Is Therese related to Christopher Plummer, Tammy Grimes, Amanda Plummer? I grew up listening to Tammy Grimes on the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. I’m very interested if anybody can fill me in. Can’t find the answer myself online. Thank you.