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:
Laurel Schroeder
Do you have a pseudonym you’d like to share?
Tracy Marks
Tell us how long have you been narrating books?
I’ve been narrating for the past 4 years, and went full time with it in February of 2016. My birthday is in February, and taking that leap was my present to myself.
What genres do you cover? Do you have a favorite?
I narrate a wide variety of genres! I do a lot of young adult and new adult fantasy, and I love it. I also narrate a lot of romance and really enjoy that genre as well. This year I got to delve into my first few mystery and suspense novels, and that was really fun! I’ve only narrated one horror novel, and I scared the pants off myself. 🙂
Do you do any other voice work or acting?
I’ve been a stage actor for many years, and do some TV and film acting as well. I do a little bit of commercial voice work, but audiobooks are my true love.
What is your favorite job to date?
I can’t choose! It’s too hard!
How do prepare for a job? Does the preparation depend on the genre or type of book?
It definitely depends on the book. If there are a lot of words or names I’m not familiar with, part of my prep will be to look those up. But generally, the first thing I’ll do is read through the book, and mark it up in preparation to record. I make notes on the characters, and keep them separate so that when I finish reading I can refer back to them. If possible, I always like to touch base with the author before I head into the booth. But in a well-written book, all the info I need is already on the page, so it’s just my job to honor the words!
If you could narrate any book or work with any author past or present, what would you choose? Why?
Oooh, good question! I actually got to narrate one of my favorite books last year — Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery. Being in the booth with that book was magical. Her writing is so gentle and sweet, and it made me nostalgic for my childhood.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I’m currently working on a series called Dragon’s Gift: The Druid for Linsey Hall, and it’s been such a fun series to work on. Linsey was a nautical archeologist before becoming an author, and her love of history and interesting settings shines in her writing. My favorite thing when I’m prepping a book of hers is to Google all the places the characters visit and daydream about traveling there myself someday!
About the Narrator:
Laurel Schroeder is a classically trained actor who received her MFA in Acting from the University of Houston. She’s narrated over 100 audiobooks, and although her genres vary widely, she’s particularly fond of narrating young adult, fantasy, and romance novels. When not in the booth working on her latest project, she can sometimes be seen in film or onstage, most recently in the world premiere of Good for Otto, by Tony Award winning playwright David Rabe. A Colorado native, she now lives in Chicago with her boyfriend and their dog, the cutest little troublemaker you ever did see.
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