A free recording and a nice review!

The Online Stage

The group The Online Stage not only produces full-cast audios for Audible but we also record audio that is posted on the Internet Archive where people can listen for free.  I've just had my first 'free' recording with The Online Stage go live on Internet Archive.

I play Mrs. Plinth in this production of the Edith Wharton short story Xingu. 

Mrs. Ballinger and her ladies' Lunch Club believe themselves to be authorities on art, culture, and literature in the small town of Hillbridge. But when celebrated novelist Osric Dane consents to join them for a discussion of her novel The Wings of Death, they find that things seem destined to go awry. 

This dramatic reading of Edith Wharton's hilarious 1916 story features an all-female cast.

Miss Van Vluyck: Libby Stephenson

Mrs. Roby: Amanda Friday

Mrs. Plinth: Lee Ann Howlett 

Mrs. Ballinger: Susan Iannucci

Mrs. Leveret: Jennifer Fournier

Laura Glyde: PJ Morgan

Osric Dane: Nancy German

Narrator: Elizabeth Klett

Besides voicing the narrator and editing Xingu, the talented Elizabeth Klett also edited the production.   

The direct link to the play can be found here. 

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In other news, I received a very nice review for my recording of the book Imogene in New Orleans by Hunter Murphy in Audiofile Magazine.

"Narrator Lee Ann Howlett does a rousing job portraying glorious New Orleans and its many residents. When 73-year-old Imogene Deal McGregor; her son, Billy; and his partner, Jackson Miller, arrive, they expect some traditional Southern hospitality but instead find their friend, Glenway Gilbert, dead in his studio. Howlett's Imogene is hilarious, reckless, and determined to help solve the murder. Hypochondriac Billy, with his blood pressure cuff and medical satchel that becomes a weapon, is priceless. Boyfriend Miller looks out for both McGregors while trying to decide which of the many suspects is the murderer. Along the way, they meet praline chef Lena Ward, who has the perfect Southern voice, vocabulary, and personality. Listeners will enjoy an eventful tour and will especially enjoy the fun as one suspect is followed in a horse-drawn carriage."

The review may be found here and if you'd like to listen to a sample and/or purchase the book, it's available on Audible here. 

 

Another classic for sale on Audible!

My recording of Edith Wharton's Bunner Sisters went on sale on Audible yesterday via Listen 2 a Book.

Ann Eliza and Evelina Bunner are two unmarried sisters who own a small notions shop in a shabby section of New York City circa 1900. The older sister, Ann Eliza, buys a small clock for her sister's birthday from a tiny shop and meets the owner, a German immigrant named Herman Ramy. Once Mr. Ramy enters their lives, things begin to change in ways that neither sister could have imagined. What seems like a simple story is one of love, longing, selfishness, self-sacrifice, missed opportunities, and the unfairness of life for poor women, particularly those over 30 during this period.

Love the classics!

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

Recording update

My latest audiobook just debuted on Audible  --  Sanctuary by Edith Wharton.

Young bride-to-be Kate Orme discovers something disturbing about the character of the man she is to marry shortly before the wedding. Years later, after raising their son, Kate realizes that he, too, is now faced with a decision that will reflect upon his ethics and scruples. Will all the time she spent instilling values into her son be enough to keep him from behaving as his father would?  Edith Wharton addresses that age-old question of nature vs. nurture.

The book can be purchased from Audible here.  


Next up is a science fiction short story called Invisible Death by Anthony Pelcher.  This recording is now in post-production and should be available shortly.  Here's a summary:  Darius Darrow, a brilliant scientist and inventor, died suddenly and violently in his home laboratory while his chemist wife, Susan, was nearby.  No one was  seen entering or leaving the home during the crime.  The
perpetrator stole Darrow's latest invention while committing the murder.  The police and the head of the company who paid royalties on some of Darrow's patents begin the search for his killer.  Death threats in the form of letters sent to the company head begin arriving after the murder demanding money or there will be more killings.   What had Darrow invented that someone would want badly enough to kill him for it?

I'll post here and on my website when this story goes on sale.


I've just started recording the first book in a cozy mystery genre called  The Red Shoelace Killer by Susan Sundwall.  It's the first in the Minnie Markwood series.  Terrific characters in this book, particularly Minnie.


I'll have more on this book later as recording progresses.   Gotta get back to my booth...

Amigurumi for Valentine's Day and more recordings in the works

Kissy-Lips on a Stick

I've decided that any time I'm going to knit or crochet items for my three young nieces for a holiday, I should allow myself plenty of time even if that means the items are ready well before the date they're needed.  This is my 'less stress' method of doing something fun for the girls without getting into a frazzle.  So for Valentine's Day this year, I crocheted these Amigurumi Lips and put them on lolli-pop sticks.  There are only two pictured because I'm just finishing up the third one.  Just need to sew the top and bottom lips together on the ends and then mount it on the stick.  These turned out better than I thought they would.  I was concerned at first that they wouldn't look enough like lips but they have that exaggerated 'luscious' look.  I'm calling these 'Kissy-Lips on a Stick' and I'll be including Valentine's Day M&Ms with them for each of my nieces.  The pattern is available here.  It's posted in English and Spanish.  So nice of the crafter to share this with everyone.

Amigurumi Lips -- up close and personal

I'm already looking towards what I'll make for them for Easter.  So many cute Amigurumi and knit patterns for Easter eggs, bunnies, etc.   Last year I made the girls Easter chicks and bunnies the year before that.  Both were Amigurumi crochet patterns so I might look at something to knit for them this year.

On the recording front, I just finished the Edith Wharton novella, Sanctuary.  It's now in post-production and should be available in a couple of weeks.  I'll post here and on my website (leeannhowlett.com) when it's for sale on Audible.  In the mean time, I'm working on a short story that's a little different for me.  It's a sci-fi tale originally published in 1930.  Check back here for more info on this and other recordings.  Now, on to looking through Easter patterns...

New short story available for sale on Audible!

My latest recording has been released on Audible.  It's a short story called The Fulness of Life by Edith Wharton. 

A woman dies and discovers that the afterlife allows her to choose a soul mate for eternity if she felt she was denied one in life. After complaining that her husband never understood her and had many habits that annoyed her, she is introduced to another soul who seems to be her perfect match. Who will she choose? This story touches on ideas of different types of love and how our wants and our needs may be two very different things. 

The story may be purchased from Audible here.

I'm currently working on a book, also by Edith Wharton, called Sanctuary.  I hope to have it in post production by late next week.

New recordings in the works for the New Year!

I've started recording again and now have a short story, The Fulness of Life, by Edith Wharton in post production.  It should be for sale on Audible in a few weeks.  Continuing with more Edith Wharton, I've just begun recording a novella she wrote called Sanctuary. 

My narration of Emile Zola's classic, The Ladies' Paradise, has been doing very well on Audible.  Many thanks to my buddy, Linda, who is also a first-class proof-listener! 

Stay tuned for more recording news, estate sales, yarn projects and anything else that pops up.  Hope everyone is having a great New Year (so far)!

Tomorrow is Duane's birthday so Linda and I are taking her to lunch at a new place we haven't tried yet along with a little shopping.  After that we're heading back to my house for red velvet cake (courtesy of BJ's -- I can not tell a lie) and pressies.  Happy Birthday, Duane!