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:
Gary Furlong
Tell us how long have you been narrating books?
2.5 years.
What genres do you cover? Do you have a favorite?
Most genres. My favorite is anything with magic in it!
Do you do any other voice work or acting?
I do the occasional e-learning project and various other voice over jobs. But audiobooks take up 97% of my time.
What is your favorite job to date?
That is a tough one! I have been lucky enough to work with lots of great authors on some really great projects.
How do prepare for a job? Does the preparation depend on the genre or type of book?
I read the book first. I usually ask the author if there is anything they particularly wanted as part of the narration (a certain accent for a character, a particular personality tick they want to convey) and I try my best to work it into the performance. Depending on the genre I will take notes and mark up the text. Sometimes it helps to chat with the Author and see how they interact with their audience on Facebook, YouTube, their blog etc. This can help with the tone of the book. At the end of the day we are trying to convey the author’s message as truthfully as possible.
If you could narrate any book or work with any author past or present, what would you choose? Why?
This may be a boring answer but I would love to have a crack at the Harry Potter series. It was my gateway into the audiobook world (I never read the print versions) and I love the story so.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I am currently working on a great book with Tantor Audio! My latest releases are “Murder Takes the High Road” by Josh Lanyon for Harlequin Audio and “Sweet Thing” by Isobel Starling for Decent Fellows Press.
About the Narrator:
Gary is an Irish Audiobook narrator and Voice Actor. He has a true flair for accents and dialects and has lived all over the world including Japan, Ireland and Texas. He can make listeners laugh, cry, seethe, think and feel and loves working with authors and writers to bring their message to audio! Gary has over a decade of experience as an actor and improv artist. Do not be fooled by his rugged handsome exterior, on the inside he is even more rugged… too rugged really. It’s becoming a problem.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100017808072854
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gary_furlong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gary_furlong_voice/?hl=en