Tag Archives: J.R. Lowe Narrator

The Work Continues

I’ve completed several projects this winter.  Beverly’s Secret and Emma’s New Year written by Eden Glenn.  (See the books page for details on those projects)

Now I am working toward a wrap on Samsara Chronicles I, written by  Diana Kemp and  Gabriella Bradley.

Samsara Chronicles I

The first 7 stories of The Samsara Chronicles compiled into one volume.

Blending elements of futuristic, fantasy, science fiction and the paranormal, the Samsara Chronicles explores the duality of good and evil set against two worlds, Earth and Nirvana.

Guided by mystical beings, a human mother bears a daughter of alien royalty, Aislinn, destined to champion the future of two worlds.

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New Narration Studio.

I have been working on a new narration studio.

I started my career with a audio program, a headphone-microphone set and a comfortable quiet apartment.

In NC my office has a lot of hard surfaces. I upgraded my microphone and noticed I had considerable echo and background noises. I moved my office around to get to a solid inner wall.

I tried a pvc frame with heavy comforters over it to quiet the extra noise. I purchased a better quality condenser microphone. That gave me better sound quality.

I had a mixture of success. I made a sound box for the microphone. That helped too.

I continued to struggle for a way to improve my studio situation. So recently I sat and listened in my basement. It is much quieter down there. Up against the two solid walls in the back.  We have a bit of humidity and run a humidifyer down there.

So I got the bright idea of making a studio down there.  Being on a tight budget I had to work with materials that were cheap and readily available.

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I trimmed the cardboard refrigerator box down about a foot and a half with a jig saw. The bottom of the box was a little bit whimpy and lacked some integrity.

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I framed it on the outside with furrn strips 1″ X 2″. I stapled them with a power stapler from the inside.

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It made a nice tight frame. I screwed through the strips into the plywood floor I’d made from recycled materials I had around the garage. I used the jig saw to cut a door way in the smaller side of the box.

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Later I’m going to reinforce the door with a bit of the furring strip material. I also have to cut a window yet.

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I have some interesting plans for decorating the outside.  Of course inside needs a light. I still have to figure out air flow… I will need to make that window I mentioned so that I can see the computer monitor of the audio program from inside the “studio”. I will also need a shelf outside to hold the computer and monitor.  I will need some kind of shelf inside for the condenser mike. I also need something to hold the tablet with the script on it.  I have a chair that doesn’t squeek.  I will need some carpet for the floor.  I will also need to coat the inside with foam.  I have something like the textured foam (egg crate).  It should make a nice surface for live quiet recording.

The sky is the limit.

Tardis

 

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Progress

I’ve solved my technical issues. I am completely in love with the open source software, Audacity. There is a pretty good learning curve with any engineering software, especially for someone who hasn’t much experience in that area. However, we are making progress.  The Galloping Ghoul of Hockomock Swamp was finished for Eden Glenn.  I’ve wrapped up Deadliest Designs for Dale Mayer and shipped it off.  Darkest Designs is narrated and I am working on the engineering as we speak to get it shipped off.

I plan on doing quite a bit of work for that author Eden Glenn (smile) over the next few months. She wants to have all her titles available in audio book format, including the just released “Dragon Guardian”.

So heads up and moving full steam ahead!

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The Journey Continues

Hello everyone.

It has been an exciting technology FUBAR’d month. This fall I’ve had my laptop crash. This is a beloved laptop that I do my writing on and narration. The Z key no longer works so I have to plug in an external key board. The power cord only charges the battery if I set a rock on the cord to hold it in just the right position. Like I said beloved.

When I reinstalled my audio software things did not work properly. It sounded awful. After two weeks going back and forth with the software tech support I resolved that I’d blown the sound card.

That led me on a search for a new computer and limited funds. My partner purchased a cpu desk top model for my new set up. It is wonderful. I have two monitors all is great.

Then the next challenge. My second audio contract for ACX was rejected. Now I’ve spent two weeks on line with the quality control specialist there and the result was a new microphone set up for narrating.

It’s wonderful. I will probably have to go back and re narrate six chapters for one project and 9 chapters for a different project but it will be much better in the long run.

Problem one is it does pick up road traffic two blocks over and the click of my mouse wheel. That is while I am inside my PVC fort sound booth I built last week.

It never ends. LOL

So today I built a sound studio box for the new microphone to sit in and we’ll give it another go.

A big hug and thanks for my authors that are hanging in there while I stumble through this mess toward quality production for them.

Take a look at my new books tab for the books that I have narrated!

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The Zombie Story Audible Release

The Zombie Story written by M.M. Shelley and narrated by J.R. Lowe has released via Audible

 

Blurb:

Unfolding on the streets of Los Angeles is a new breed of monster…

Orlando, fresh from the mid west, arrives at his new high school on his Harley Davidson.

All he wants is to make it through the day, and begin his training as a Zombie Hunter.

But someone has different plans for him.

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M.M. Shelley agreed to an interview with me, her humble narrator.  I find her an interesting intelligent woman. I hope you enjoy this peek into Ms. Shelley’s talent. Check out the link above to hear samples of my narration.

Author Bio:

M.M. Shelley is a storyteller, wordsmith and dreamer. She has traveled the world extensively in search of the magic which is often overlooked in every day life. M.M. Shelley is a native of Southern California, and a student of mythology from which she gets much inspiration.

Who is your favorite character in this book and why?

My favorite character in this series is Elodie Juarez; she was a challenge to write and great to develop. Readers will see a lot more of what Elodie is capable of doing as the series progresses.

 

What inspires you for your stories?

What inspired me to begin working on The Zombie Story was an idea I had about a young man who witnessed a crime in front of the new house that he and his family moved into.

 

 

Tell us something no one else knows about you.

I never did learn how to swim. Yes, I know, I should have learned how years ago but I had a bad experience at a young age. I was six or seven and my brothers and my friend Claudia made swimming look so easy and I was convinced that I could swim just as well as they could. So I jumped into the deep end and quickly sank to the bottom. My mom came to my rescue and from than on I avoided the water.

 

When did you start writing and what kicked off your passion to be an author?

I have been writing since childhood, it’s a form of expression I have always enjoyed. I also enjoy traveling and I use the cities and places that I have been to as the backdrops of my stories because I like to share these places with others.

 

I also have to credit my aunt Cecelia, she has filled my ears with such wonderful stories as I grew up and she always encouraged me with my own.

 

What influenced you to move to the next step in media for producing your book in audio format?

I had the opportunity to work with The Killion Group Inc. I recommend them to any author who is interested in taking this next step with their work. The Killion Group has made it such an easy process that I have plans to work with them again. Plus I had a wonderful narrator who worked on my book.

 

 

 

Excerpt:

Orlando was out in the backyard. He was picking up junk that had been piled up there by the previous tenants. He had his headphones on and was listening to music. He needed to get more trash bags from the garage, and so he was making his way down the side of the house, when he saw two men out in the middle of the street. One had a gun; the other was on the ground. Orlando removed his headphones so that he could hear what they were saying.

He could hear them arguing. The man with the gun held it pointed at the other’s chest.

“Please! Don’t!” The man on the ground cried, he was a bit scraggly looking and unkempt. He was visibly shaking as he covered his head with both of his arms believing it would ward off the assailant.

Orlando scanned the block; there was no one else out to watch the drama unfolding before him. He crouched down against the house trying to keep out of sight.

The man with the gun began laughing, before taking aim and firing the gun. He fired at the scraggly man twice. The gunshots echoed throughout the quiet street.

 

 

 

 

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Author Spotlight

M. M. Shelly the author of my first Audiobook Narration is going to be a guest on the blog. So look for her interview once the audio version is available to purchase.  She’ll tell us the answers to all kinds of nosy questions I asked her. LOL  Stay tuned.

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The Zombie Story by M.M. Shelley

This weekend should see the final wrap up on The Zombie Story by M.M. Shelley narration project. I’ve learned some tough lessons along the way but it has been a very interesting process. All and all quite thrilling actually.

The Zombie Story is a young adult paranormal of novella length.  I’ll supply the link for the audiobook once it is finished with production. In the mean time visit http://www.mmshelley.com for more information.

Here is the blurb from Amazon

Unfolding on the streets of Los Angeles is a new breed of monster…

Orlando, fresh from the mid west, arrives at his new high school on his Harley Davidson.

All he wants is to make it through the day, and begin his training as a Zombie Hunter.

But someone has different plans for him.

The Zombie Story is the first novella in a young adult series.
Dead Relatives is the second book in the series

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Consistency is the Key (subtitle) Take 45

Well, I’ve made it through the open credits and all the way up through Chapter 3. This isn’t quite as easy as I thought it might be. LOL.

My original delusion was well, I have a pretty good voice, how hard can it be?

There in lies the key. HOW Frickin hard CAN it BE!  Well, pretty hard.

I’ve learned a whole lot about audio software. I have the elements locked in now. I’m going to go back and re do chapter one because it doesn’t sound the same as the following chapters.

Try it some time. Most of us have enjoyed reading a book out loud with our family. Sounds simple, right?

Now add performance anxiety….yes I went there. lol.

You have to read every word clear and clean. They don’t want the sssss that tag onto the words or the pops that pop with the p words. Pronounce names correction. Read slowly, pause before dialogue, made the characters sound different one from another. DID I SAY READ SLOWLY. LOL. The headphones and mic have to be positioned at the exact same place on your head each time you put them on or the volume levels are different. Did you know? The mic is so sensitive that it picks up the rustle of your clothes when you move your arm to pick up the tablet to read? Experiment with clothes to find the ones that don’t rustle when I move. OH DEAR!

I record. Stop, rewind record. OMG Did the cat just meow? Stop, Rewind Record. Dang it the dog shook his collar and jingled his tags. Oh Crap he picked up and dropped his bowl on the floor. So, stop. Go feed the dang dog in the other room. Rewind, re-record again for the 43 time.

Sounds pretty good!

Great we’ve finished the first paragraph.

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