Each June, audiophiles from around the country celebrate all things audiobook. Since we love to listen and review audiobooks here at That’s What I’m Talking About, we are participating in our own Audiobook celebration.
What would an audiobook be without a narrator? As part of Audiobook Month, we are spotlighting various narrators so you can learn a bit more about who they are and what they do.
Narrator Spotlights!
Today we shine the spotlight on:
Erin Bennett
Tell us how long have you been narrating books?
Since 2012, when a producer stuck his head in the room of the studio where I was recording, and asked if I narrated audiobooks. I was doing a radio play at the time, but had always wanted to try audiobook narration. I haven’t stopped since!
What genres do you cover? Do you have a favorite?
I’m a lover of multiple genres. From literary fiction to cozy mysteries. Sometimes you just want to curl up with some hot tea and a purring kitty and solve a mystery, you know? Sometimes you get to fight for social justice with an incisive nonfiction book. Sometimes I get to dive deep into someone’s emotional experience in a personal memoir. And sometimes it’s about the guy and the girl putting aside their differences and realizing they really do like each other, falling in love, and a happy ending. I love it all.
Do you do any other voice work or acting?
Yup, I do commercial VO and videogames.
What is your favorite job to date?
That’s a tough one. I just did a great one for Hachette, an Elin Hilderbrand book out in June, called The Perfect Couple. I have gotten to narrate so many of her books, the characters feel like family.
How do prepare for a job? Does the preparation depend on the genre or type of book?
I settle down with my iPad and my research! Lucky me in that my genres vary pretty widely so I’m never bored. Sometimes the author wants to be involved and can give me important information. I narrated Caitlyn Jenner’s book, and there is so much information about her and since she’s a real person, a lot of media and audio exist that I can utilize! When narrating Joan Rivers’ biography, I laughed so hard watching her clips I cried! It makes me feel very close to the material.
If you could narrate any book or work with any author past or present, what would you choose? Why?
What a great question! A personal favorite of mine is C.S. Lewis’s Till We Have Faces – I’d love to narrate that audiobook and go back in time and get to sit in on a session of the Inklings! Or it would be fantastic to have dinner with Donna Tartt and narrate her novel The Secret History – I’d love to peek over her shoulder as she types!
Anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you so much for having me! Currently I’m working on some terrific nonfiction, a biography of George and Barbara Bush’s love story, and a thriller/suspense novel, and I may have a fun romance on the horizon. You can check out some of my work at www.erinbennettvo.com and wish me luck at the Audies – I’m nominated in the History/Biography category for my narration of CODE GIRLS by Liza Mundy, an inspiring true story of the women code breakers of WWII!
About the Narrator:
Erin Bennett is a narrator, actress, singer, and voice-over artist whose passion for storytelling informs her love of narrating audiobooks. Winner of multiple Earphones and Audie nominated, her genres vary widely, with over 200 titles ranging from contemporary fiction to mysteries, to science fiction and romance. As an actress she has performed in regional theatres on both coasts, and her voice-over work spans animation, radio plays for the BBC, video games, and commercials for radio & television.
Social Media Links:
@theerinbennett
https://www.facebook.com/erinebennett
Instagram: erinbennett111
website: erinbennettvo.com