Stories That Come to Life

I wasn’t always an audiobook believer. Like many people, I thought “real” reading meant eyes on pages, not ears on speakers.

Then I found myself facing a 45-minute commute each way, and suddenly I had nearly two hours a day of just… sitting in traffic.

At first, I cycled through radio stations, getting frustrated with commercials and repetitive playlists. Then a friend suggested audiobooks, and I was skeptical. How could listening be as engaging as reading?

The first book I tried was a Jane Austen novel, and within the first chapter, I was completely hooked. The narrator brought each character to life with distinct voices. The drama built naturally through pacing and tone.

And when I reached my destination, I found myself sitting in the parking lot for an extra few minutes, desperate to hear how Eliza responded to Darcy’s letter.

(Yes, I knew the story. But that’s how engrossed I was!)

Suddenly, my commute became something I looked forward to. Traffic delays? No problem — more story time! Any road trip became a literary adventure.

I was consuming books at a rate I hadn’t managed since childhood, all while accomplishing my necessary travel.

But the real magic happened when I realized audiobooks weren’t replacing my reading habit — they were expanding it.

I was experiencing stories in a completely different way, appreciating elements like pacing, rhythm, and vocal interpretation that I’d never noticed before.

We live in a multitasking world, and audiobooks embrace that reality instead of fighting it.

You can “read” while driving, exercising, doing household chores, or walking the dog. They turn mundane activities into story time.

For busy people who claim they “don’t have time to read,” audiobooks prove that excuse wrong. You have time — you just need to reimagine when and how reading happens.

A skilled narrator doesn’t just read words — they perform them. They become the voice of every character, the mood of every scene, the heartbeat of every emotional moment.

Some narrators are so talented that they enhance the author’s work, adding layers of interpretation and emotion.

Many people have discovered authors they might never have tried in print simply because their audiobook narrator caught their attention.

I know for myself, I’ve fallen even deeper in love with familiar authors (like Miss Austen) when I heard their words brought to life by exceptional voice talent.

Audiobooks also serve people with dyslexia, visual impairments, or other reading challenges.

They ensure that everyone can access the joy of storytelling, regardless of their relationship with traditional text. This inclusiveness makes audiobooks not just convenient but essential.

While I don’t have any audiobooks available yet, I’m excited to share that I plan to narrate my own works, starting with my recently published kids’ book, The Adventure in the Magical World.

There’s something special about authors reading their own work. Who better to convey the intended emotion, pacing, and character voices than the person who created them?

I know exactly how each character should sound, where the emphasis belongs, and what emotional tone each scene requires.

Children’s books are perfect for first-time audio narration. The stories are engaging but not overly complex, the length is manageable, and kids love being read to.

The Adventure in the Magical World is on the long side, it’s true, but it has distinct characters with different personalities, which will be fun to bring to life through voice.

I’m both nervous and excited about this venture. Recording audiobooks requires different skills from writing — pacing, enunciation, consistency, and the stamina to maintain character voices throughout an entire book. But I’m ready for the challenge.

Once I’ve mastered the children’s audiobook process, I plan to tackle my adult novels.

Each genre will present unique challenges.

Romance requires conveying intimate emotions and chemistry through voice alone (not to mention making love scenes come to life!).

Mystery demands building tension through pacing and tone.

Every story will be a new adventure in audio storytelling.

If you haven’t tried audiobooks yet, Audiobook Appreciation Month is the perfect time to start.

Here are some tips for audiobook newcomers:

1. Start with a genre you already love in print.

2. Choose a book with a highly-rated narrator.

3. Don’t worry if you zone out occasionally — it happens to everyone at first. Give yourself time to adjust to the different pace and rhythm.

And for my fellow commuters still suffering through repetitive radio or awkward silence, do yourself a favor: Download an audiobook app and transform your travel time into story time. Your daily drive will never be the same.

While you’re exploring the wonderful world of audiobooks, keep an eye out for my upcoming audio adventures.

When The Adventure in the Magical World becomes available in audio format, you’ll be the first to know through my newsletter. And who knows? Maybe my voice will become part of your commute soundtrack.

Because there’s something magical about sharing stories through voice — it’s the oldest form of storytelling, after all.

We’re just using modern technology to continue an ancient tradition.