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:
Jayne Entwistle
Tell us how long have you been narrating books?
Give or take 12 years.
What genres do you cover? Do you have a favorite?
I narrate a fair amount of children’s books and YA but have delved into science fiction, historical fiction and chic lit. I love children’s books for the wildness of them, where else am I going to get to be a talking tree or a wolf?
Do you do any other voice work or acting?
I do commercials, t.v., film and am currently in a rowdy play heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival called, “Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist!”
What is your favorite job to date?
Hands-down the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. I narrated book nine a few months ago and spending that long with a set of characters means your family. Crazy? Yes!
How do prepare for a job? Does the preparation depend on the genre or type of book?
First and foremost, I read the book! Surprising how often I am asked that question. I use A LOT of annotation tools; highlighting in every colour available, underlining, arrows, circles, typed words spelled phonetically near the highlighted words I don’t know how to say. I spend a lot of time researching pronunciation. Science fiction and YA tend to have loads of made-up words so the author becomes an invaluable resource.
If you could narrate any book or work with any author past or present, what would you choose? Why?
Oh boy! I read an excerpt of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” at a fundraiser a few years ago – that appeals to me. I’d love to narrate something by Alice Hoffman as I’m a big fan. Also Ann Patchett and Kent Haruf. Shakespeare, is that weird?
Anything else you’d like to share?
Readers, if you’re in Edinburgh in August, come see the play and we’ll have a pint! Also, check out “Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All” written by some of the top YA authors and narrated by a full cast including myself, Fiona Hardingham and Katharine McEwan.
About the Narrator:
Originally from Blackpool, England Jayne lives in Los Angeles where she uses her bidialectal (term she lifted from Gillian Anderson’s bio) skills to narrate award-winning audiobooks with her native British accent and work in film and television in primarily her American accent.
Social Media Links:
@thejayneshow