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I love my narrator, Lia Frederick. She does a wonderful job on all my books but this one was AMAZING!
Good Morning Friends,
I hope your Mardi Gras celebrations were fun and safe and now, those of you who practice Lenten observation, are ready to settle in for the next six weeks. Years ago I wrote an article for TWJ Magazine titled, Lent Free that suggests maybe we shouldn't be so quick to toss out our Lenten practices. Check it out!
But enough about me. Please welcome today's guest, a brand-new-to-me-and-our-blog author, Kyle Bernier with his audiobook, Lazy Creativity which is on tour with Audio Bookworm Promotions!
I must say, the title intrigued me so I'm anxious to hear more about this book. Here's what Kyle has to say about it.....
How did you select your narrator?
I was in the unique position of being approached by my narrator, Joel. Joel had found my book and mentioned how he immediately connected with it as a creator himself. Joel narrated the first ten minutes or so of the book to give me a preview of what it might sound and feel like. I immediately knew Joel was the right fit for the book. There was no way in hell I was going to narrate my own book, but after listening to that preview, I knew I’d found someone who would capture my voice closely. I’m not talking about the actual voice, (although we’re not too dissimilar) but instead the inflection and feel for the text. Joel did a great job of capturing my inner voice.
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?
Joel was amazing throughout this whole process. We met a couple times before he started doing the recording in full. He’d record a section and then send over any questions. We didn’t have to change much as he nailed my personality and ‘voice’ right away. There were a couple instances where the translation from book to audiobook got a bit messy. Those instances allowed us to get creative in our edits. There is even an opportunity where Joel gets to break the fourth wall a bit which he mentioned was a new experience for him in his narration career!
Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?
There were many inspirations for my writing. Too many to name here. I drew from my work with clients in the art therapy realm, as well as from family and friends. This book was highly personal so it was important for me to be able to draw from personal experiences and stories. I talk a lot about my own creative journey and the mistakes I’ve made over the years.
How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
This is a great question for me to answer as it’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. Burnout is so pervasive and after two years of a pandemic, many of us are feeling it. For me, my creative work has been an outlet and is a form of self-care for me. That doesn’t mean my work hasn’t been impacted. My writing has slowed down a bit as feelings of burnout have increased. To push past this I think of how my work impacts my readers. Like Lazy Creativity, I write a lot about how we can use creativity as a tool for living better and fuller lives. That kind of writing feels good to write and it keeps me motivated. The stories I hear back from my readers about how they are using their creativity certainly adds fuel to the fire as well.
Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
I’m not much of an audiobook listener. I’ve done it a few times, but I like the feel of a physical book. I don’t have a Kindle or e-reader either because I don’t feel as attached to the material. I’ve recently started getting into audiobooks in the self-help genre, however, and found it’s been nice listening to them while I’m on the bike, cleaning, or doing yard work.
What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
I don’t do a lot of listening to audiobooks – it’s a personal preference. I absorb information and ideas in a different format. Everyone is different. I’d say find what works best for you. If you’re an auditory learner, audiobooks are great! There is no shame. I think some corners of the reading community look down at audiobook listeners, but that’s an antiquated way of thinking. From an accessibility perspective, do what works best for you and don’t feel bad about it!
What gets you out of a writing slump? What about a reading slump?
I write about this a little bit in Lazy Creativity – I write about the different stages within the creative process. One of the stages is the “rest” stage. This involves taking time away from your work to, well, rest. This could be a complete pause of creative work, or can be a shift in what you’re working on. If you’re finding you’re in a writing slump, my advice is to allow the period of rest to happen without fighting it – embrace it. You’ll come back recharged and you may be surprised by ideas coming back to you after taking a step back. The other option is to work on a different project in a different medium. For me this means printmaking, web design, or painting. Exercising different parts of your creative brain can help spark some inspiration for your writing. If you don’t have the luxury of completely taking time off to rest, then play around with what it feels like to do something else in addition to your writing. If you’re in a reading slump, try a new genre or a different format. I recently went to a comic store and bought a graphic novel. That helped get me out of my reading slump. It might be worth a try.
What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Look at the big picture, but don’t let it intimidate you. It was helpful for me to look at each page by itself. Also, if you really want to write a book, you need to adequately budget your resources. I’m not going to tell you you need to only take cold showers, get up at 4:30am each day, and work a 12 hour day. You don’t. I certainly didn’t. I wrote a book on laziness because, well, I can be very lazy. That’s okay if you are too. But, you do need to keep at it. Show up consistently and write even on days you don’t feel like it.
Do you have any tips for authors going through the process of turning their books into audiobooks?
The best advice I can give to authors looking to turn their books into an audiobook is to find a narrator you mesh with. That’s key. They are the voice to your words and ideas. It is important for the two of you to be on the same page. Listen to their work and get a feel for it. I lucked out and found someone who was personally interested in the message. If you have the luxury of doing that, I’d recommend it. It adds a certain level of excitement to the project.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on my second formal book, which is also about the creative process. It will be called Ugly Creativity. Additionally, I’m writing a blog about my own writing process, keeping up with my other mediums, such as printmaking, and playing around with some other potentially smaller-scale projects.
My Top 10 Literary Inspirations
Jenny Lawson
Elizabeth Gilbert
Jonah Lehrer
Carl Rogers
Todd Henry
Kazuo Ishiguro
Catherine Moon
Matt Haig
Manoush Zomorodi
Stephen King
Reasons to listen to this book
Lazy Creativity meets you where you’re at
For inspiration
Perhaps a little more than inspiration, this book can be a creative kick in the butt if you need one
It’s pretty damn funny (I’m very modest)
There is no judgement involved
The narrator, Joel, has a very soothing voice
I walk you through steps for getting started or for continuing your work
It’s for everyone – established creators or for those looking to get started
There are some quick exercises to get your creative process started
I include a list of creative ideas to spark your creativity
Good Morning and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I pray your TG week has been going well. I'm making potato salad and banana pudding to go with Gumbo for family meals this week. Yeah, I know, Gumbo is not traditional Thanksgiving meals but it's what everyone wants. Except me. I'll eat it but Gumbo is not my favorite food. No worries though, just being with family makes any meal wonderful.
Speaking of wonderful, it's such a pleasure to introduces today's guest. Karen visited in April so please welcome her back.
Psalm 118:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Last
year I wrote a devotional about how Thanksgiving was different in 2020. No big
family gatherings, no mismatched tables strewn end to end across the dining
room with aunts and uncles and cousins. A year later, we’re in a different
place. Still not back to where we were in 2019, but not where we were last
year, either. We all have nostalgia from Thanksgivings past. Many of those
we’ve celebrated with in past years are no longer with us. Our reasons to be
grateful are still present, however. God is faithful, and is in control, and
deserves our gratitude for the blessings we still enjoy.
Gratitude
has been scientifically proven to make us happier, increase our self-esteem,
improve our relationships – with family, friends, and even make us more
effective at work. In addition, gratitude improves our health – reducing
depressive symptoms, reducing blood pressure, and improving our sleep! With all
these benefits, God certainly knew what he was talking about when he said:
1
Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice
always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for
this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
No
matter what your Thanksgiving looks like this year, take the time to be
grateful.
As the apostle Paul said in 1 Colossians
3:15-17, help us to remember the following:
Let
the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one
body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message
of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another
with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,
singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether
in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God the Father through him.
Praying
you have a blessed Thanksgiving, no matter what it looks like!
Here’s a short Thanksgiving excerpt from my latest novel, Sunflowers and Suspicions:
Thanksgiving morning, Julie packed up the pies she baked the previous evening and made the thirty-minute drive to her parent’s house. Yes, Matt’s family invited her, as Mia foretold, but today represented a turning point in her family, and she couldn’t miss it. When was the last holiday Amy was home? It was hard to remember.
When
she opened the front door, the smell of roasted turkey greeted her. Her father
rose from his recliner and squeezed her tight. “It’s so good to have all my
girls here.” Julie hugged him back and peered over his shoulder into the
kitchen beyond.
“Amy’s
already here?”
“She
came last night. Said she wanted to help out.” Harold nodded at the ladies in
the kitchen. “She and your mother worked together all morning.”
A
twinge of guilt flitted through Julie’s stomach. “I’m sorry. I should’ve come
earlier.”
“Nonsense,”
Harold said. “This is good for them.”
He
was right. Amy never spent time in the kitchen with their mother. Julie carried
the bag with the pies into the kitchen and hugged her mother and sister. “It
smells great, you two. What can I do to help?”
Soon
Julie was peeling potatoes and the small family started reminiscing about
Thanksgivings when the girls were growing up. Even Harold left his recliner to
help, despite the close quarters of the kitchen.
When
the meal preparations were over, the Wagners carried the food to the dining
room table and Harold asked the blessing.
“Dear
Heavenly Father, thank you for this bounty of food, and thank you for
surrounding me with these three lovely ladies. Thank you for bringing our girls
home. Amen.”
Blurb for Sunflowers and Suspicions
A Deception Revealed ...
When Julie Wagner's
identical twin Jade goes missing, Julie travels to New York pretending to be
her sister so she can discover the truth. There, she meets the only person who
has ever been able to tell them apart. Together, can she and her sister's
neighbor unravel a shady restaurant owner's mysteries and find Jade?
A Fractured Family Healed ...
Matt Callahan has lived across the hall from
Jade Wagner for a year, but never understood the pain behind her eyes. When her
sister appears in his apartment building, he is amazed at the differences he
sees in the twins. As he helps Julie find her twin, he discovers she just might
be the answer to helping his own fractured family.
Sunflowers and Suspicions is the third book of the Pine Springs Series, but all the books can be read as standalone novels. Get your copy at Pelican Book Group or Amazon.
Thank you for the lovely post and excerpt Karen. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings in all things.
And, Thank You, Friends for stopping by. Oh, btw, Keri's Christmas Wish is available in audio! I have free codes for anyone who will review the book. Comment here or email me.
Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT
Good Morning,
I'm currently sitting at the table in a brand new camper looking out as the sun rises over the trees at Indian Creek campground in Woodworth, LA. Such a beautiful place!
Since I joined Bryan Cohen's Amazon Ad School, life has been filled with learning a whole lot about covers and sales pages, writing ad copy and researching then setting up ads. Whew!
Therefore, this post will be a short and sweet update.
Tempered Truth is now available in Audio and I have codes for a free audiobook in return for a review.
