A Biography/Memoir to end the year!

 My recording of a biography/memoir to see out 2023! From WiDo Publishing -- In The Mirror: A Memoir of Shattered Secrets by Ann Carbine Best is now on Audible. 

"The critically acclaimed memoir of award-winning author and poet, Ann Carbine Best.

When Ann Carbine marries Larry Best in the Salt Lake temple in 1961, she's certain their marriage will last forever. Eleven years later, she learns that he's been having affairs with men. Devastated by the revelation, Ann feels betrayed and abandoned. She still loves Larry and wants to save their marriage. However, powerful emotions pull Larry away from his family, just as AIDS is beginning its relentless march through the gay community. As a single parent, Ann is faced with four grieving children who don't want to leave their father and their home in Utah. But Ann needs to start a new life in a new place. In the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, she at last makes peace with the past."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here. 

Pre-order of a children's classic now on Audible!

 

I was very happy to contribute to this full cast production as a member of Voices of Today to this children's classic! Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne features 35 poems. 

"This collection of 35 short poems was first published in 1927, and is a sequel to When We Were Very Young, which was the first anthology of verse dealing with the domestic adventures of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh.

As the author explains in the introduction: “We have been nearly three years writing this book. We began it when we were very young … and now we are six. So, of course, bits of it seem rather baby-ish to us, almost as if they had slipped out of some other book by mistake. So we want you to know that the name of the book doesn’t mean that this is us being six all the time, but that it is about as far as we’ve got at present, and we half think of stopping there.”

Featuring Bob Gonzalez, Daniela Acitelli, Emma Faye, JD Sutter, Cath Bilson, Kendra Murray, Erin Grassie, Ted Wenskus, Shane Hughes, Lucy Bacaller, Terah Tucker, Graham Scott, Jennie Litt, Susan Iannucci, Aisling Gray, Jennifer Fournier, Marty Krz, Lee Ann Howlett, Melissa Green, Rebecca H. Lee, Sarah Bacaller, Kris Keppeler, and others."

Due to be published January 16, 2024, you can pre-order the book on Audible here.

New book out on Audible!

My latest recording debuted on Audible today. Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West is by Sara Dant with a foreword by Tom S. Udall. 

"In Losing Eden award-winning historian Sara Dant debunks the myth of the American West as “Eden” and instead embraces a more realistic and complex understanding of a region that has been inhabited and altered by people for tens of thousands of years.

In this lively narrative Dant discusses the key events and topics in the environmental history of the American West, from the Beringia migration, Columbian Exchange, and federal territorial acquisition to post–World War II expansion, resource exploitation, and current climate change issues. Losing Eden is structured around three important themes: balancing economic success and ecological destruction, creating and protecting public lands, and achieving sustainability.

This revised and updated edition incorporates the latest science and thinking. It also features a new chapter on climate change in the American West, a larger reflection on the region’s multicultural history and updated current events. Cohesive and compelling, Losing Eden recognizes the central role of the natural world in the history of the American West and provides important analysis on the continually evolving relationship between the land and its inhabitants."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here. 

 

New book on horse racing now on Audible!

 

My latest recording just debuted on Audible.  This one is nonfiction and covers a part of American horse racing history.  It's called: The Foxes of Belair: Gallant Fox, Omaha, and the Quest for the Triple Crown and is by Jennifer S. Kelly.  

"The story of one of racing's earliest dynasties, the historic Belair Stud, began with William Woodward's childhood memories of grand days at the racetrack, inspiring dreams of breeding a champion or two of his own. Woodward turned those dreams into reality, building Belair Stud on his family's Maryland estate, launching what would become the preeminent thoroughbred breeding and racing empire in America and chasing racing's biggest prizes in both the United States and England.

The defining moment for Belair came when Woodward bred the imported stallion Sir Gallahad III to his mare Marguerite. Their colt, Gallant Fox, became only the second horse in history to win the Preakness Stakes, the Kentucky Derby, and the Belmont Stakes in the same year. In 1935, the farm cemented the Triple Crown as the gold standard for three-year-olds when Gallant Fox's son, Omaha, duplicated his sire's trio of victories, a sweep that sealed the farm's legacy and carved its name in the annals of racing history.

In The Foxes of Belair: Gallant Fox, Omaha, and the Quest for the Triple Crown, Jennifer Kelly examines the racing legacies of Gallant Fox and Omaha and how William Woodward's service to racing during the 20th century forever changed the landscape of the American thoroughbred industry."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here.

New history book out on Audible

 

My latest recording just debuted on Audible today!  Black Walden: Slavery and Its Aftermath in Concord, Massachusetts is by Elise Lemire. 

"Concord, Massachusetts has long been heralded as the birthplace of American liberty and American letters. It was here that the first military engagement of the Revolutionary War was fought, and here that Thoreau came to "live deliberately" on the shores of Walden Pond. Between the Revolution and the settlement of the little cabin with the bean rows, however, Walden Woods was home to several generations of freed slaves and their children.

In Black Walden: Slavery and Its Aftermath in Concord, Massachusetts, Elise Lemire brings to life the former slaves of Walden Woods, and the men and women who held them in bondage during the 18th century. After charting the rise of Concord slaveholder John Cuming, Black Walden follows the struggles of Cuming's slave, Brister, as he attempts to build a life for himself after 35 years of enslavement. 

Brister Freeman, as he came to call himself, and some of the town's slaves were able to leverage the political tensions that fueled the American Revolution and force their owners into relinquishing them. Once emancipated, however, the former slaves were permitted to squat on only the most remote and infertile places. Walden Woods was one of them. Here, Freeman and his neighbors farmed, spun linen, made baskets, told fortunes, and otherwise tried to survive in spite of poverty and harassment."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here. 

Another true crime book on Audible!

 

My latest recording to debut on Audible is another book in the true crime genre.  Precious Few Clues: The True Crime Investigation of Kansas City's "Precious Doe" Murder is by Marla Bernard and was published by Wildblue Press. 

"On an unseasonably warm April evening in 2001, the headless body of a tiny girl was found discarded in a makeshift dump site in the woods on the southeast side of Kansas City, Missouri.

One long night turned into four long years for Sgt. David Bernard and the Kansas City Police Department’s 1020 Squad. They followed 1,500 leads, had a replica of the child’s head sculpted from her skull, and ultimately conducted the single most extensive area canvass in the KCPD's history.

Erica Michelle Marie Green, a.k.a. “Precious Doe”, captured the hearts of not only the dedicated detectives who fought tirelessly to identify her and her killer, but of an entire community.

Precious Few Clues is a candid and touching account of the painful impact that this brutal murder had on Sgt. Bernard, his family, and the KCPD’s 1020 squad. It chronicles the all too frequent story of child abuse, failed social services, a flawed court system, and battered women who sacrificed their own children to shield their abusive lovers, echoing the same preposterous explanations of “...but I love him”."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here. 

New true crime book on Audible!

 

My latest recording on Audible is a mixture of a true crime book and a biography/memoir.  A Mind for Murder: The Real Life Files of a Psychic Investigator is by Noreen Renier and was published by Crossroad Press.

"The only psychic ever to lecture at the FBI Academy, Noreen Renier has assisted law-enforcement officials all over the world, working on more than 400 criminal cases. From the discovery and development of her unique talents to becoming a respected figure in the police community, this is the true account of Noreen Renier's remarkable life and career.

Included here are the stories of:

• Her prediction of the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan.
• The client who was a professional mercenary.
• The police officer suspected of being a rapist and murderer.
• Her involvement in the Laci Peterson murder (she told the police where to find the body).

A Mind for Murder has all the elements of true crime, memoir, and psychic mystery."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here.

New nonfiction book on Audible

 

Another one of my recordings just went up for sale on Audible today.  This one is nonfiction and is called Older and Wiser: New Ideas for Youth Mentoring in the 21st Century by Jean E. Rhodes.  

"Youth mentoring is one of the most popular forms of volunteering in the world today, but does it work? Drawing on over 30 years of research and her own experience in the field, Jean Rhodes reveals that most mentoring programs fail to deliver what young people actually need. Many prioritize building emotional bonds between mentors and mentees. But research shows that effective programs go far beyond this, developing specific social, emotional, and intellectual skills.

Most mentoring programs rely on volunteers, who rarely have the training to teach these skills. Their one-size-fits-all models struggle to meet the diverse needs of mentees, and rarely take account of the psychological effects of poverty on children. Rhodes doesn’t think we should give up on mentoring—far from it. Instead, she recommends “organic” mentorship opportunities—in schools, youth sports leagues, and community organizations—and shares specific approaches that can spark meaningful change in young people’s lives.

The book is published by Harvard University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here.

New cozy mystery on Audible!

My latest recording -- a cozy mystery -- is now for sale on Audible.

The Dame's Demise is by Donna Muse.  It's the first book in the new series, A Macey & Mugsy Mystery.  The was a fun book to narrate.

"Macey Spade has always loved mysteries. As a girl, she read every crime novel in the school library, and memorized the plots of her favorite British detective shows. A brainy, awkward girl with few friends and a knack for getting into trouble, she dreamed of becoming a sleuth like the heroes of her beloved Agatha Christie novels. But when her mother is murdered in a seemingly random shooting and Macey is no longer guaranteed shelter or food, she’s forced to put away her childish dreams.

That is, until 13 years later, when a string of killings reunites her with her best friend from high school, Christa Bailey—a ditzy, vivacious woman. Whaler’s Bay is still reeling from the murder of Betty Bunkle, who ran pottery classes out of her tourist shop by the sea. There are any number of people who had reason to kill her—the hunky young art student who had taken a fancy to the lady, the online therapist whose advice she routinely ignored, and the piano teacher who blames Betty for a failed marriage.

When a second person is murdered, Macey, Christa, and Macey's beloved beagle Mugsy must face the likelihood they’re dealing with a serial murderer—and find the man or woman responsible before they kill again."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here.

New true-crime book available for pre-order on Audible!

 

My latest recording is now available for pre-order on Audible with publication scheduled for May 2, 2023.  This is a different sort of true-crime book written by a woman who unwittingly played a part in the story.  True Crime Redux by Stephanie Kane is a product of Bancroft Press. 

"More than a witness but less than an active participant, I was a bit actor whose role in the crime shaped my life.” So writes Stephanie Kane, who here recounts the dramatic events that forever fractured the lives of the Frye family, as well as her own.

The murder of Betty Frye goes unpunished for decades. Kane, ex-wife of Betty's son Doug, finally decides to tell her story by fictionalizing the events she witnessed, as well as those about which she simply speculated. The result is the novel Quiet Time. She shortly finds out, however, that fiction can oftentimes accurately mirror reality.

In her new true-crime non-fiction, True Crime Redux, Kane artfully describes the chain of events that followed the publication of her novel and brings a forgotten cold case back to life. She dives deep into the inner-workings of modern crime and punishment through the retelling of events she played an involuntary role in.

This strikingly transparent report of a brutal homicide engulfs listeners from the very first line. True Crime Redux is thus a perfect pick for true-crime fans looking for a compelling, true story that leaves no stones unturned."

To listen to the sample and/or pre-order the book, head to Audible here.

New western romance on Audible

My latest recording on Audible is a sweet mail-order bride western romance. It's called Learning to Trust Again by Susannah Calloway.

"Fearful and frightened, Lacey Harper must learn to save herself. When her father plans to marry her off to enrich himself, she answers an advert for a Mail Order Bride. She boards a train to Colorado Territory to marry a man named Neil Thompson.

But Neil doesn’t want or need a wife. He’d buried his beloved Maggie four years earlier and cannot move on from her death. His daughter, Darcy, now six, needs the mother Neil refuses to provide.

Lacey arrives in Miner’s Gulch, Colorado, and learns that Neil’s family had asked for a Mail Order Bride for him; Neil has no knowledge of the arrangement. Lacey agrees to stay on only until she finds a new husband. Except Lacey is attracted to Neil, and Neil to Lacey.

But Neil declares he’ll never marry again. Lacey writes the Mail Order Bride Agency to find a man who truly wants her, but Darcy’s sudden illness prevents Lacey from leaving.

Neil realizes he’s fallen for Lacey, but has he lost her? When Lacey’s father arrives to take her home to marry another, Neil fights for her. Then a mysterious event binds Lacey and Neil together for all time."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here.
 

A fun sci-fi short story now on Audible

I had the opportunity to record a classic sci-fi short story by William Tenn for Audible. Venus is a Man's World is a fun read. 

"In the future, Earth is ruled by women and many of the men have fled to other planets. Ferdinand is a boy on a spaceship headed to Venus where the men are said to be plentiful. He's with his older sister, Evelyn, who decided to leave Earth in search of a husband. After Ferdinand stumbles on a stowaway named Butt Lee Brown, a battle of the sexes ensues. Satire and humor abound in this tale from William Tenn."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the recording, head to Audible here.
 

New collection from Voices of Today!

I was very happy to be a part of these full-cast productions as a member of Voices of Today! A Gene Stratton-Porter Collection by Gene Stratton-Porter was produced via Spoken Realms. 

"Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost are two of Gene Stratton Porter's most famous novels. Set primarily in the Limberlost Swamp of Indiana, USA, Freckles follows the story of Freckles, a lame orphan whose innate character rises above his circumstances. A Girl of the Limberlost is the story of Elnora, blamed for her father's death by her mother, who nevertheless meets every challenge that comes her way with admirable resilience. Uplifting and encouraging family listening!

Narration by Susan Iannucci. Also featuring the voices of David Shears, Sarah Bacaller, Ben Stevens, Linda Barrans, Graham Scott, Marty Krz, John Burlinson, Trisha Rose, Lee Ann Howlett, J D Sutter, John Burlinson, Lee Ann Howlett, Andy Harrington, Emma Faye, Adam Skousen, Sara Morsey, and Kendra Murray."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here. 

 

New recording (finally!) on Audible

Having a new roof put on your house and recording audio are two things that definitely do not mix.  I had to work on a couple of short projects in between the sounds of ripping, hammering, etc.  One hit Audible today via Spoken Realms:  Gretchen's Forty Winks by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

"A light, comedic short story from American author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

A young married couple with a baby is eking out a living while the husband, Roger, works to establish his own advertising company. His wife, Gretchen, is stunningly beautiful and unhappy with how much time Roger spends working.

After an evening with Roger's old friend, George Tompkins, who suggests that Roger needs more of a work/life balance, a flirtation begins between George and Gretchen.

How Roger decides to nip the relationship in the bud while meeting his career goal involves, among other things, a sleeping potion and a suitcase full of his wife's shoes."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the recording, head to Audible here.