Author: Nicole Kilpatrick
Narrator: Cassandra Alling
Length: 7 hours and 44 minutes
Series: Clover, Book 1
Publisher: Nicole Kilpatrick
Released: Nov. 19, 2021
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
#YoungAdult #Fantasy #MustListen
#LoveAudiobooks #AudiobookTour
So much for the luck of the Irish.
When a handsome leprechaun reveals himself to Clover O’Leary on her 18th birthday, she is faced with three hard facts:In order to get her life back and undo the evil spell, she must travel to Ireland to seek the only creature who may be able to help: the Seelie Queen. With her intriguing leprechaun in tow, Clover crosses into the Faerie Realm, where fairies and mythical creatures abound and where finding her luck may ultimately lead to finding her love.
- He is the reason for her remarkably charmed life.
- Her luck has now taken a turn for the worse.
- Her name is a curse - a malicious gift from the powerful leprechaun who named her while she was still in the womb.
Nicole Kilpatrick is the author of the YA fantasy novels, Clover and Fae's Ascent. When not writing, she can be found lounging in a cabin by a river, curled up at home reading a book, or concocting recipes in her cozy kitchen in Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband.
Q&A with Author Nicole Kilpatrick
- Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.
- I knew I wanted Clover to be turned into an audiobook but at first I was clueless as to how to actually do it. My novel was published by a small press, but since I owned the audio rights, I was free to create an audiobook. I finally bit the bullet and got on the ACX/ Audible platform. After reviewing several auditions, I feel like I found the best possible narrator in Cassandra Alling. After that, the process was relatively seamless. She did such an amazing job that when I finished writing the sequel, Fae’s Ascent, I knew right away that she was the perfect choice to narrate the second book as well.
- Do you believe certain types of writing translate better into audiobook format?
- I feel like fantasy translates beautifully into audiobook format simply because world-building comes to life and rich descriptions are made even more lush by a powerful narrator.
- Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
- To be honest, when I wrote the first book in the series, Clover, a potential audiobook recording was the farthest thing from my mind. It was the first novel that I ever wrote and I think I was just focused on getting it written. I had no idea at the time that it would even get published, so an audiobook, at that time, seemed highly unlikely.
- How did you select your narrator?
- I closed my eyes and listened to all the auditions carefully. When I heard Cassandra narrate the first few lines, my little author's heart almost beat out of my chest. I knew right away that I wanted her to voice it. Thankfully, she agreed.
- How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
- Cassandra was extremely thorough. She requested character profiles, soundtracks that inspired me, and she was awesome with learning the perfect pronunciations for all the Irish names and words. In the end, I really let her take the reins on how she wanted to narrate it. As the author, I feel like I’m too close to the story. I wanted her to narrate it from her point of view as a reader.
- How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
- It’s hard sometimes to work a full-time job and still find the time to write. It’s a real challenge! I just try to remind myself that writing is my passion which brings me so much joy. Taking breaks and taking on the challenge one small step at a time has helped me immensely in avoiding burn-out.
- If you had the power to time travel, would you use it? If yes, when and where would you go?
- I’d go back to Shakespeare’s time and catch a play at the Globe. Wouldn’t that be so awesome?!
- What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
- I’d say that’s bullsh*t. Books are books. It doesn’t matter how you choose to consume them. Is braille not “real reading” then? The more that we can make the written word easily accessible to all, in whatever format, the better for everyone. This is what I believe.
- How did you celebrate after finishing this novel?
- I shed a tear of joy and drank (several) beers.
- What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?
- Don’t give up. Believing that you can accomplish something is half the battle. If your heart is telling you that it has a story to tell, then please go for it and follow your dreams. You won’t regret it.
- I knew I wanted Clover to be turned into an audiobook but at first I was clueless as to how to actually do it. My novel was published by a small press, but since I owned the audio rights, I was free to create an audiobook. I finally bit the bullet and got on the ACX/ Audible platform. After reviewing several auditions, I feel like I found the best possible narrator in Cassandra Alling. After that, the process was relatively seamless. She did such an amazing job that when I finished writing the sequel, Fae’s Ascent, I knew right away that she was the perfect choice to narrate the second book as well.
- I feel like fantasy translates beautifully into audiobook format simply because world-building comes to life and rich descriptions are made even more lush by a powerful narrator.
- To be honest, when I wrote the first book in the series, Clover, a potential audiobook recording was the farthest thing from my mind. It was the first novel that I ever wrote and I think I was just focused on getting it written. I had no idea at the time that it would even get published, so an audiobook, at that time, seemed highly unlikely.
- I closed my eyes and listened to all the auditions carefully. When I heard Cassandra narrate the first few lines, my little author's heart almost beat out of my chest. I knew right away that I wanted her to voice it. Thankfully, she agreed.
- Cassandra was extremely thorough. She requested character profiles, soundtracks that inspired me, and she was awesome with learning the perfect pronunciations for all the Irish names and words. In the end, I really let her take the reins on how she wanted to narrate it. As the author, I feel like I’m too close to the story. I wanted her to narrate it from her point of view as a reader.
- It’s hard sometimes to work a full-time job and still find the time to write. It’s a real challenge! I just try to remind myself that writing is my passion which brings me so much joy. Taking breaks and taking on the challenge one small step at a time has helped me immensely in avoiding burn-out.
- I’d go back to Shakespeare’s time and catch a play at the Globe. Wouldn’t that be so awesome?!
- I’d say that’s bullsh*t. Books are books. It doesn’t matter how you choose to consume them. Is braille not “real reading” then? The more that we can make the written word easily accessible to all, in whatever format, the better for everyone. This is what I believe.
- I shed a tear of joy and drank (several) beers.
- Don’t give up. Believing that you can accomplish something is half the battle. If your heart is telling you that it has a story to tell, then please go for it and follow your dreams. You won’t regret it.
Cassandra Alling loves vocal shapeshifting and finding a part of herself in entirely different characters. She lives in NYC, where she loves walking in Central Park, discovering traces of the creative process at the elegant Morgan Library, and catching the subway to see friends old and new.
Click here to view the full tour schedule!
Plugging you into the audio community since 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave your comments below.