2016 AUDIOBOOK NEWS

 

Wow, January has come and it’s almost gone. What are the goals this year? Are they huge or are they simple as the question: Will I be better at blogging this year? Vedremo = We’ll see.

I am always excited about recording titles; however two recent titles are relevant to Black History month. Scheduled to be released any day: Our Auntie Rosa: The Family Of Rosa Parks Remembers Her Life and Lessons by Sheila McCauley Keys and Eddie B. Allen Jr.  A noteworthy moment: My very first day recording this title was on the 60th Anniversary of the Montgomery Alabama Act Of Civil Disobedience.  Talk about serendipity!  There are interesting facts written about Rosa Parks that many do not know about. Did you know she was already a member of the NAACP before the historical boycott? Did you know she took up yoga later in life? How cool is that!

Already released: A Night On Fire by Ronald Kidd. (grades 4-12) The author was inspired by his research on the Freedom Riders and the act of kindness by a 12 year old girl, Janie Forsythe during the firebombing of a bus in Anniston, AL.

A Night On Fire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audiobook News Part 3- Celebrating a Friend’s Good News

There’s an extraordinary feeling about witnessing a friend’s dream come to fruition.  I’m thrilled to celebrate my friend and colleague Amy Rubinate.  Along with being an incredibly hardworking audiobook narrator, Amy just launched her new company Ideal Audiobooks.  Her slogan, Stories With Heart is a perfect description for Amy.  She has one of the most generous hearts that I have ever encountered. I’m blessed to have been a recipient of her incredible generosity.  Cheers to Amy’s new journey!  Drop by Ideal Audiobooks and grab one of these titles to add to your listening list.  These titles are read by extraordinary women narrators. Check it out: idealaudiobooks.com

AUDIOBOOK NEWS: PART 2 OF 3

And along came this memoir about life with Motown legend, Marvin Gaye. After The Dance: My Life With Marvin Gaye by Jan Gaye (with David Ritz) – As a fan of Motown music and music history, I couldn’t help but be thrilled about narrating this book. I was getting a history lesson about Marvin Gaye!  Marvin’s ex-wife, Janis Hunter, was the muse during the making of Marvin’s hit album, Let’s Get It On.  It takes great courage to share such intimate details about one’s husband who was held in such high regard by his fans. Geeking out because Jay Gaye tweeted to me: “Thank you, Robin! Wonderful Job!”

The beauty of my job is the new experience that occurs with every book. Grazie Harper Audio for another music journey! First Toni Braxton and now Marvin Gaye.

AUDIOBOOK NEWS: Part 1 of 3

I’M SO BEHIND WITH NEWS:

The year is halfway over and it has truly been a whirlwind. Aside from juggling work – thank goodness, I got distracted by life’s challenges. I admire those who can handle it all and still post on their blogs. Care to share your secrets? 🙂 I’m so serious!!

In the spirit of June being Audiobook Month. #JIAM2015, I’ll attempt to take the time to post the books that were part of these six months of 2015:  FIRST ON TAP: The 90 lb weight-loss journey, THINspired written by ABC News correspondent Mara Schiavocampo.  

It takes great courage to confess one’s weaknesses for food and even greater courage to stand up every time one falls off the wagon of any diet.  I love that Mara has a great sense of humor; which can only help her readers identify with her struggles. I’m certain Mara is inspiring a number of women on their weight loss journeys. She has inspired me to find the courage to take a soul cycle class.  I’m still working on finding the time. 😳  Cycling or taking a spin class has never been my preferred exercise. Other than riding the exercise bike for 20-45 minutes in a gym,  I have always preferred exercise with more movement e.g. dance or yoga.  Regardless of my exercise preferences, I really want to try a soul cycle class. Who knows, I could surprise myself.  I digress.

Because Mara is a journalist, she presents interesting information about sugar being addictive and the research done on rats to prove this point. She also presents interesting points of view that a diverse group of women had regarding self-image. I’m always grateful to Tantor Media for giving me such interesting titles to read.  https://tantor.com/thinspired-mara-schiavocampo.htmlhttps://tantor-site-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/books/238×238/F0838_ThinspiredLost-238×238.jpg

JUNE IS AUDIOBOOK MONTH

Did you know June is Audiobook Month?  If you’ve never listened to an audiobook, this month is a perfect time to start. Go ahead, I dare you to have a new experience. Get caught listening to an audiobook.

If you have an audiobook on your mobile device, tell me what you’re listening to right now OR divulge the names of your favorites.  I enjoy meeting new people. On Twitter, join the many discussions about audiobooks or simply tweet your favorites using the hashtags #audiobookmonth #JIAM2015.

WORKING NEWS- WALMART COMMERCIAL

I’ve been so busy recording books that I haven’t had the chance to share my news. (updates on audiobooks coming)

NEWS: I have a Walmart national commercial that has been running for the past two weeks. I suspect you will see it a lot in the next couple of days because it was themed around Easter (‘Pasqua” in Italian). There could be other versions of the commercial to be shown off season. Fingers crossed.  In the meantime, I’ll continue to sit in gratitude for one of the “avails” turning into a booking in my favor. 🙂  It’s always the luck of the draw.  #GRATEFUL  My friend Lisa caught the spot on NBC, took a still with her phone, then posted this pic on Facebook.  I’m thrilled she took the time to post this because I was not paying attention. Friends are truly a treasure that can never be taken for granted. Click on the title and take a peek at my Walmart TV Spot  GRAZIE!

Audiobook News- Part 2

Part 2 of My Audiobook News:  I had the privilege to narrate  a compelling memoir of  an 8 year old girl sold into slavery by her parents. The book is called “Hidden Girl by Shyima Hall with Lisa Wysocky (Tantor Media).  When I began to do research about this author, her story sounded familiar to me.  After seeing Shyima’s interview on the Tavis Smiley show, her story became even more familiar to me.  I finally put the pieces together and recalled reading an article in the L.A. Times about the arrest of this girl’s captors.  I had some pronunciation questions and Tantor Media arranged for me to speak with Shyima on the phone.  I confess to being extremely excited about my first “narrator-author” contact.  What a Geek.. I know!!  Through our conversation, it was discovered that Shyima and I had someone in common.  This discovery brought an added ease and comfort for two strangers.  She was very kind and extremely helpful in answering my questions.

This painful story changed the course of a young girl’s life in a way that most could never understand. We have choices in our country that some take for granted.  The fact that this book was given to me not long after the tragedy of the missing school girls in Nigeria, felt like a gift in a strange way.  Like many, I was up in arms about the lack of media coverage regarding this horrible act.  I even sent an email to the editor of the L.A. Times to express myself about the lack of  newsworthy stories in our paper.

With social media today, one voice can make a difference. It has been demonstrated every day what a number of voices can do with social media use.  By sharing an incredibly courageous woman’s story, I hope to help her inform and educate others.  If there are other stories like Shyima’s to be told, perhaps her story will inspire others to tell theirs.  Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery does exist. It’s a worldwide problem that most adults aren’t aware of.  May Shyima’s story continue to enlighten, educate and empower many.  The publication for the audiobook is on June 25th.  June is #audiobookmonth. What are you listening to? Here’s the link on the Tantor Media site. http://www.tantor.com/BookDetail.asp?Product=F0350_HiddenGirl

Read by Robin Eller