I'll Read What She's Reading

The Voice of SJM’s Worlds: Elizabeth Evans!

September 10, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Audiobook narration is a complex performance art requiring extensive preparation, vocal stamina, and a deep understanding of character arcs and narrative pacing, often involving a meticulous process of pre-reading, note-taking, and vocal warm-ups. 
  • The success of an audiobook narrator, particularly for popular fantasy series, relies on a collaborative relationship with the author to ensure authentic character voices and narrative integrity, while also navigating the pressures of a large and engaged fandom. 
  • The journey to becoming an audiobook narrator can be serendipitous, with early opportunities and consistent dedication leading to a fulfilling career that blends technical skill with a genuine passion for storytelling. 
  • The author's recording schedule and production timelines are often dictated by external factors, leading to rapid turnaround times for audiobook production. 
  • The author expresses genuine appreciation for listeners who are also passionate about the books, highlighting the rewarding nature of connecting with fans. 
  • The conversation reveals the intense and fast-paced nature of audiobook production, especially when accommodating an author's schedule and release demands. 

Segments

Narrator’s Journey and Audition
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(00:02:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Elizabeth Evans’ audiobook narration career began unexpectedly after attending an Audible workshop at NYU, leading to an audition and her first book within weeks.
  • Summary: The conversation delves into how Elizabeth Evans stumbled into audiobook narration, detailing her initial audition process which involved reading passages from different genres to showcase versatility.
Recording Process and Challenges
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(00:06:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Narrating a full-length novel like ‘Throne of Glass’ can take as little as three to four days of intense, focused recording, with narrators often reading ahead to maintain flow and minimize mistakes.
  • Summary: This segment explores the practicalities of audiobook recording, including the time commitment, vocal care, pacing considerations, and the mental multitasking required to read ahead and maintain character consistency.
Character Voice Development
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(00:19:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Developing distinct character voices involves a deep dive into the text for character descriptions and authorial intent, often requiring consultation with the author to ensure accuracy and consistency across a series.
  • Summary: Elizabeth discusses the challenges of voicing multiple characters, the importance of author collaboration in defining voices, and the process of maintaining consistency, especially when re-recording or continuing a series.
Narrator’s Preparation and Notes
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(00:43:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Meticulous preparation for narration involves creating detailed personal notes on character descriptions, pronunciations, and plot points, and re-reading upcoming chapters the night before recording to ensure fresh delivery.
  • Summary: The discussion highlights the extensive organizational efforts of an audiobook narrator, including creating comprehensive notes on characters and plot, and the practice of re-reading material to prepare for each recording session.
Audiobook Production Timeline
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(00:57:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Audiobook production timelines can be compressed significantly due to author schedules, requiring rapid recording and quality control processes.
  • Summary: The discussion covers the setup time for recording, the period of recording, and the tight deadlines for delivering all five books, as well as the subsequent release schedule and potential delays.
Fast Turnaround Production
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(00:57:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The Temper series audiobook production is being expedited due to the author’s schedule, necessitating back-to-back recording and QC to meet a March release.
  • Summary: This segment details the rapid turnaround for a specific series, explaining the need to record during the day and have QC immediately follow to meet a quick release date in March.
Appreciation and Listener Excitement
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(00:58:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts express deep admiration for the author’s productivity and share their excitement about the upcoming audiobook, anticipating listener enthusiasm.
  • Summary: The hosts convey their impressiveness with the author and express their personal excitement about listening to the audiobook, noting how the conversation has enhanced their anticipation.
Shared Love for Books
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(00:59:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Connecting with people who share a passion for books creates a particularly enjoyable and fulfilling experience for the author.
  • Summary: The author reflects on the pleasure of conversing with individuals who also love the books, emphasizing the positive nature of such interactions.