Hi guys. I have an awesome treat for you today! I got to interview one of my favourite narrators, Andrea Emmes. This woman has had some ah-maz-ing jobs and I am totally jealous of her ;) Lol. I hope you enjoy her interview and will check out her work, but before that, here's a bit about her
Audiobook Narrator: Andrea Emmes started as an Equity Actor and has been performing for over 20 years on stage. Known as "The Girl with a Thousand Voices", her wide range of character voices and dynamic/emotionally invested performances has reviewers and listeners alike commenting on how she effortlessly pulls listeners in, has versatility and charisma and is quite suited for YA.
Andrea has been a guest blogger for Happy Ever After's Blog on usatoday.com, been in the Top 100 Downloaded audiobooks from ACX on Audible.com.
Andrea has two degrees: A.A. in Fine Arts and a B.S. in Game Art and Design and resides in Northern, California.
When not performing, Andrea loves to play video games and has every gaming system out there!
Website: http://www.andreaemmes.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aemmes
Now onto the interview:
You have had some pretty cool jobs!!! Care to tell my readers about them?
Sure! I could probably write a book about some of the cool jobs I’ve had. To name a few, I’ve been a performer at Walt Disney World which was a dream come true and some of the best times in my life! I sang and dance in many of the shows at WDW and in parades. I also performed at other theme parks and shows: Universal Studios Hollywood, Knotts Berry Farm, Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, Murder Watch Mystery and more. I’ve also been a magician’s assistant, a singer in a girl group called, “The GG Girls” and we toured all around Los Angeles but we had a steady gig in Vegas on the Strip. We sang cover songs from the 60’s to the music of today. I self-released an album in 2008 called, “I’m On My Way”, been an actor for tv, film, theatre and voice overs. I’ve also been a video game designer for a couple of years which was awesome, especially since I’m a huge gamer geek, I used to write video game reviews and now most currently, I’m an audiobook narrator!
What was the best out of them all or which did you love the best?
Probably working at Walt Disney World. I’m a huge Disney geek and being able to step into the shoes of my favorite characters was kind of a dream come true. Doesn’t every little girl want to be a princess?
Have you any funny stories/pictures about your work?
I have a ton of pictures on my Facebook page and a few on my website. There was once when I was a magician’s assistant on a cruise ship where I was inside an illusion and apparently the ship was rocking so much that the illusion I was in was rolling all around the stage and the magician was trying to grab me. I didn’t even realize what was happening, I couldn’t feel the movement. I wish it was filmed, I would have loved to have seen that.
Back to audiobooks, what's your favourite type of book to read and how do you choose them?
I really enjoy reading and narrating Young Adult books, especially paranormal ones. For me, I really like to find creative stories with characters that have many emotional layers. Fantasy and adventure stories are also a lot of fun to dive into and immerse myself and the listeners into that world.
Walk us through the recording of a book!
First, I speak with the author to discuss the book and the characters so that I have a full understanding of who they are and how the author would like them to be approached. Of course, I read the book fully and then I take my notes and head to the recording studio where the fun begins. Recording a book isn’t as “easy” as it might seem and can take quite some time from recording, fixing mistakes, proofing, editing and mastering and then sending it off for the author or publisher for approval. It takes about 5-6 hours for every 1 hour of finished audio. To finish an 8 hour audiobook, it would take about 48 hours of actual working hours, but it’s all worth it. I’m a voracious reader, always have been so it’s actually quite a treat to be able to read amazing books for a living!
Where do you find inspiration for the characters voices?
When I learn about the character’s personalities, I’ll try to find inspiration amongst family, friends, and even celebrities. I have about 20 go to voices that I can call up pending on personality but when I have to do an accent, then I start doing research in learning all that I can so I can be as accurate as I can.
Name the five biggest distractions from your work?
I don’t know about five, but here are a couple: Things that can pull me out of work are leaf blowers or other yard work/construction that can disrupt my recordings. Facebook can be a pull that I try to avoid checking on while I’m working.
What character, that you have voiced, would you most like to be stuck in an elevator with?
Probably, Dayspring from Veiled Book 1 by S.B. Niccum. She’s a Seraph, half human-half feline angel who was a warrior in life, knows many of the secrets of the universe and seems like a chill being who’d be fun to talk to. Though I doubt she’d be able to fit inside the elevator ☺
What's the one book/character you would love to voice?
I would have loved to have voiced Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games. Such a strong and sympathetic character with so many amazing things that happen to her. It’s one of my favorite series.
Some Get to know me Questions
What’s the best vacation you ever had?
March 2014 when I got married in Belize to my amazing husband, Giovanni! His family owns a gorgeous horse ranch and resort called Banana Bank Lodge and it was amazing to see where he grew up but also to experience Central America, the jungle and then enjoy the many islands on the coast of Belize! They also have a wildlife preservation on the property and the jaguar cage was right next to where we had our wedding just outside! It was amazing!
What’s your favourite rainy day movie?
I’m an eclectic lover of films. There is a tie for my favorite movie. “The Princess Bride” and “The Fifth Element”. I could watch those every single day and never get tired of them!
If you could be any age again for a week, which would you choose and why?
Probably, Five years old. Everything was so new and innocent and all I had to worry about was playing and being loved by my family. Also, I kinda miss nap time!
What's your favourite place to read?
Snuggled in bed with my cat sitting near me. Cliché, I know, but it’s cozy.
When you walk into a book store, where do you head first?
Young Adult Fiction section. They have some of the funnest characters and stories that really capture you. I love reading them for pleasure and narrating them professionally.
If you had a million dollars, what would be the first thing you would buy?
College tuition for my niece and nephews!
This or That Questions
Coffee or tea?
Tea
Black and white or color?
Color
Drawings or paintings?
Paintings
Dresses or skirts?
Dresses
Books or movies?
Books
Pepsi or Coke?
Coke
Chinese or Italian?
Italian
Early bird or night owl?
Night owl
Chocolate or vanilla?
Strawberry!!
Introvert or extrovert?
Both actually.
Hugs or kisses?
Hugs from anyone, kisses only from my husband ☺
Hunting or fishing?
Fishing
Winter or summer?
Summer
Spring or fall?
Spring
Rural or urban?
Suburban
PC or Mac?
PC
Tan or pale?
Natural
Cake or pie?
Cake
Ice cream or yogurt?
Ice Cream
Ketchup or mustard?
Ketchup
Thank you so much Andrea for taking time out of your busy schedule to let me pick your brain!! You rock big time :) So guys, what do you think of Andrea's interview? How awesome is her world??? Lol.
Here's a peek at 2 of the books I've listened to (and Loved) by her!
Witch Hearts by Liz Long
The Lie by Ashley Fontainne
And because I love her work, I'm going to give away an Audible copy of her latest narration, Whispered Pain by Ashley Fontainne, to one lucky winner! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I've never heard you narrate a book but I'm sure you do a great job and I will enjoy it if I win thanks for the chance
ReplyDeleteShe is such a great narrator Linda!! You will love her stuff :)
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