A new Year, a new view. My view this year involves the Rocky Mountains. After spending a few years in the North Woods of Maine, we have transplanted to Utah.

 

My hubby helped me set up our recording booth. I'm excited to get back into narrating audiobooks, as well as doing commercials.

I've been pretty quiet on the narration side of things--or at least posting things you can listen to. I've been using my energy for strengthening my foundation. Becoming a narrator (or voice actor) is similar to starting a business. As I have gotten into it, I have realized that I wanted a few things to be structurally set up before continuing. Some of the things I want to have in place:

• Website that showcased my voice and contact info
• A studio that could be used for group projects
• Ironing out my mission statement 
• Get some training and finish some things that have been keeping my mind occupied
• Take care of a shoulder issue that was making work in the booth inefficient

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This what I've been doing:

• Taking training from Caroline Cole
• Simplifying and streamlining things in my house and in my business to make
• I creating a recording space that was more welcoming to others who wanted to work on projects with me.
• Fine-tuning this website to fit my personality and narration style
• Addressing some voice care and general health needs

I am happy to report that my foundation is stronger than ever and I am so excited to be working on projects again!

It has been a while since I did anything with the website. I took a hiatus to work with my Amish neighbors as their communications person. They sell produce and if they need to make calls or communicate through email, they come use my phone and internet.

When asked if I would take the job, I was hesitant because I've never worked with farmers (except for weeding our garden and taking care of chickens), and I've never lived around Amish communities either. I felt I had a lot to learn. I agreed because they needed someone, and I do love learning about other cultures. I was also thinking it could be a great way to research a new accent and earn some money to support my narrating business. So thank you to Golden Ridge Produce for providing the means for me to have this website :)

The school year is coming to a close. In my house that means bored kids in the future. So, I am thinking about doing a kids' program this summer. Something to get kids together having fun; but in my way I will sneak in some funducation (fun education) and a way that I can keep doing cool voice over projects. Watch for updates!
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I started telling stories on YouTube as a way to get more experience and click traffic. 
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Erika is a prolific writer and an excellent partner.
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Check some out at youtu.be/ObrXU9q4EYU
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youtu.be/wb-lpHSCbLM
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youtu.be/fkKqYwrfvpM
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Virginia Creeper is a pretty vine that grows in a lot of different places.

The Heber Creeper is what we used to call the old train that ran through the mountains between the Utah towns of Heber and Park City.
Today I'm talking about a different creeper---Mission Creep.

I had an idea to help the kids learn to love books. Wouldn't that be fun to let them record their own story?
And when the kids didn't want to record their own stories, I talked with an author friend who loves to collaborate. What if the kids did one of her children's books and she put it up on her website? In that way, the kids could even be famous for a few minutes.

And when recording started, it was obvious that there is a difference between narrating a book and learning to love a book by recording it. When the kids record for fun, their voice is lively and they add their own natural sound effects and inflections--it's magical. 

Narrating an audiobook is boring and perfectionistic; while reading a book in the recorder and bringing a book to life is exciting. Maybe instead of producing audiobooks, we should be practicing reading aloud to other kids. 

So, back to the creeper. My goal was to help kids love books. I guess working with creative kids and my personal style of 'let the kids lead,' Book Club is a bit of a creeper or meanderer. While kids show up and want to draw, we draw stories; when kids show up and want to read books, we read books; and when kids show up and want to have fun recording, we do that.

Jaqueline Woodson is one of my favorite kids' author. In this clip, I read a bit of Before the Ever After . It's about a football star dad and his son. Wonderful story! 

I had a great conversation with Shawn Borup of showmehealthyliving.com/. What foods really would help promote a healthy voice? She does workshops around the US on her "Take Back Your Kitchen" tour. Wouldn't that be cool if she could come to my house and do a workshop and show how to make good healthy foods? A healthier lifestyle will only improve my narrations.