As an author, our books are our children. Like all parents, we want our children to succeed and be loved, have steps of shining achievement. One of my biggest dreams was to have my works turned into audiobooks. I have deeply respected and love voice actors, how they capture such emotion with just their voices (as a choir girl, I related to this.) To be transported into another world while I was going to work started my days off right, an adventure without leaving my world.
To have this magic bestowed on my characters and story would mean everything to me. It took me years to read up on the system and get the courage to put myself and my books out there again. I wasn’t sure if anyone would even want to read for my books. When I added “Spirit Vision” up, I was plenty surprised to get a dozen of marvelous auditions! It was a tough decision, everyone having their merits and shining traits. However, when I heard Ms. Abby Anderson, I knew she was it, the answer to my prayers, my Stary.
Abby is also a kind soul, knowing that a small press/imprint author like myself had a budget. Yet, she still gave me all her hard work, talent, enthusiasm, and effort, treating me like I was a queen of the New York Times Best Seller (another dream of mine, lol!) She was dazzling with her questions, us clicking immediately. Abby is a caring person, fun girl, a true gift to all kinds of theater, and a fellow cat mom! WOOT! I am pumped to work with Abby, have her as a dear friend. We are going to do great things. Thank you Abby for making “Spirit Vision” your own too, breathing fresh life into it for a new generation of readers.
Now, read on to learn more about this amazing actress, and maybe hire her for your project. Ten out of ten, will always recommend! =D
She helped my book get on the #1 New Release on its opening audiobook release. And in the Top 200 in a couple of categories! ^___^
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Interview with my “Spirit Vision” Narrator- Abby Anderson!
- How did your childhood inspire your dreams?
My parents are the most supportive and wonderful people I could have asked for. They
enrolled me in a theatre camp and at the age of six I caught the “theatre bug.” Being on
stage at such a young age and having a strong support system cheering me on has
definitely led to me pursuing my dream career.
2. What three movies AND three plays can you watch on repeat and still make you happy?
Three movies: Slumdog Millionaire, Dan in Real Life, It’s a Wonderful Life; Three plays (all
musicals actually!): She Loves Me, Come From Away, Wicked
3. Tell us about your first role.
My first role (outside of school programs) was a revue of Broadway songs called Broadway
Bound (not to be confused with the Neil Simon play). I played a girl who moved to New
York with dreams of becoming a star on Broadway. My big solo was “Broadway Baby” from
Follies.
4. What actor/actress do you admire most and why?
Michelle Williams is the actor that inspires me most, and I was lucky enough to see her
perform live in the two-person play, Blackbird. Her ability to be so raw and vulnerable while
also being such a generous and giving scene partner is very admirable. Her versatility in her
stage, TV, and film roles is amazing!
5. Do you have any warm-ups or tricks to help you prep for a role?
I have quite an in-depth process when it comes to preparing a role and discovering who the
character is in rehearsals, so I try to do as much research as possible before the first
rehearsal even starts. Knowing the character’s background, what their hometown is like,
what their relationships are like, what they think is funny, how the time period of the play
affects the character, etc. creates a rich array of choices for me to choose from as an actor.
As far as warm-ups go, I always like to perform vocal exercises (humming and making siren
noises for range flexibility, consonant exercises for articulation, etc.), breathing exercises for
stamina, and body exercises (stretching and moving like the character before going
onstage).
6. Tell us about your fur baby!
My fur baby is named Simon and he is the goofiest, fluffiest cat in the world! My fiancé and
I adopted him when we lived in Philadelphia about two years ago. He’s a foodie and loves
any toys with feathers.
7. What are the blessings and struggles traveling for your plays?
Traveling for shows is always an adventure! I’ve been able to see so many places because
of performing and meet all sorts of interesting people. Depending on the length of the
contract, it is easy to become homesick sometimes, but doing what I love makes it all
worth it.
8. How did you find narrating?
I stumbled upon the website ACX.com while researching jobs for performers. I was
immediately excited at the thought of narrating audiobooks because I’m an avid reader
myself and I obviously love storytelling in all forms. I submitted a few auditions through
ACX and was lucky to book my first narration job shortly thereafter.
9. What type of books have you narrated for? What character was the most fun to voice? Which ones did you relate to the most?
My voice sounds fairly youthful, so I’ve narrated mostly young adult novels with teenage
protagonists. I love voicing overly dramatic, lovesick characters (Stary and Chloe in Spirit
Vision for example) because they feel authentic to my own teenage experiences and
provide me with a sense of nostalgia. Some other narration character highlights have
included a crazy old man who randomly spouts poetry, an AI being that has been implanted
in the characters’ minds and a young American woman who falls in love with a British
soldier during the Revolutionary War.
10. As an actress, in any field, what are your ultimate dreams if there was no time limit?
I’d love to star on a long-running sitcom and have lots of time to create a character that I
love playing. As much as I love traveling for theatre, I’d also love to work and live in NYC for
an extended period of time (I’ve lived there, but all the shows I was hired for took me out of
New York and sent me somewhere else.)
11. Where would your dream vacation be?
My dream vacation would probably consist of going to Venice, Italy (one of my favorite
childhood novels took place there and it’s been a dream to go ever since), and also visiting
Switzerland!
12. Go through your day, please. What foods would represent your day according to your feelings/moods?
I am a morning person so a big breakfast would definitely represent me at that time of day eggs, bacon, pancakes, you name it! Once we hit 11:00-ish, it’s time for a pick me up.
Coffee and chocolate for an extra boost of energy! I’m usually at school until 5:00 so
granola bars, carrot sticks, and little snacks like that emulate that feeling of small little
breaks to get myself through. When I get home, a feeling of warmth overcomes me- a hot
soup type of feeling. Then, it’s back to school for rehearsals or performances! Lots of water
for stamina and maybe some sweets- it’s my favorite part of the day after all when I get to
work on a show!
13. I read that you worked for Princess Parties! How amazing! I know you were lovely inside and out. I have always wanted to do this. Which characters did you cosplay for these events?
I worked for two different companies (one in NYC and one in Philly) so they provided all the costumes/wigs/supplies. I just had to buy/do my makeup! I played a lot of them! Elsa was very popular recently so I played her a lot as well as Belle, Snow White, Ariel, Anna, Cinderella, and Rapunzel! I also did Dorothy and the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz a few times!
14. How do you feel about our rapport and how we work together on this project?
Working with you, Morgan has been such a delight. I feel like we communicate well and the
first collaboration went so smoothly! I hope to bring the Spirit Vision sequels to life
sometime within this next year as well and after that… we’ll see!
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About Abby Anderson:
Originally hailing from the gorgeous landscape of northern Idaho, Abby is currently pursuing her MFA in Theatre Performance at the University of Southern Mississippi (expected 2024). Her regional theatre experience has led her to perform in CA, ID, PA, NY, and WV. She also spent four months on the road with the national touring group, Chamber Theatre Productions. When she’s not onstage, Abby can be found dressed in princess garb as an entertainer at children’s birthday parties, or at her computer as a virtual ESL teacher for students aged 4-16 in China. She lives with her talented fiancé, Mark (hire them as a couple!), and the fluffiest cat in the world named Simon. Abby holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Rider University. She has currently narrated four audiobooks.
You can find out more/hire her for your next work on her website HERE!
