Writing is seen as a lonely art in the processing stages. Images of coffee shops, a library with the author scribbling at their wooden desk, late nights, or locking themselves for solitude until the work is finished tend to be the stereotypes that pop into many minds. Yet, writing is a social passion. I have a team of wonderful people that make my stories released and dreams possible, to make the work the best it can be. I have supporters, friends, and family who encourages me. And now I have narrators to make my tales more widespread and even better than my wildest fantasies!
So, let’s meet these amazing, talented, kind, and fun people and narrators and people that will be the voices of my new adult book, “The Hunter and The Bringer!”
Meet the Narrators Behind “The Hunter and The Bringer!”
INTERVIEW WITH NARRATOR LOGAN ARANE!
What got you into narration?
“Ever since I was a kid I loved performing. When I was in 2nd grade my class put on a show of Snow White, and I was Sneezy. I remember being really nervous before going on stage for my part, but loving the audience reaction I got when I did my bit. I never forgot that feeling and continued to do acting in high school and college plays, and even some community theater after I finished college, but my full-time job and need to pay bills prevented me from pursuing it fully. But then I discovered audiobooks, and that scratched my itch for acting as well as my love of reading, so I’ve been doing it now for about 7 years and absolutely loving it!”
What were three of your favorite things to do growing up?
“I may be dating myself here, but I loved watching movies, and every week, I would go to my local video rental place and pick up a new movie… on VHS. #2 would probably be the neighborhood water gun wars during the summer. And for #3, I’d have to go with building stuff with legos. That was always my go-to toy throughout my childhood and even to this day, I love building lego creations with my kids.”
What three books got you into reading in your life?
“One from childhood, one from teen/tween years, and one adult or more modern. Hmm, I have to say The Berenstain Bears was kind of a staple in my book collection. I had a bunch of them, and one that stands out is The Spooky Old Tree. I remember it scaring the hell out of me, and I actually had an audio read-along version of it. Now that I think of it, I guess that was like my first audiobook.
My teen years were when I started embracing nerd culture and fantasy, and I got into R.A. Salvatore’s Legend of Drizzt series. To this day, it’s one of my favorite book series, it’s just so fun and epic and it has really amazing characters.
These days, I have very little time to dedicate to reading for pleasure, but the most recent book or series of books I’ve read and really enjoyed is The Expanse. When it comes to reading, I think I prefer fantasy over sci-fi, but the world-building in this series really grabbed me and the science and realism of it make it seem like such a possibility for our future.”
Tell us about the first book you narrated. How did it make you feel?
“Officially, my 1st book was more of an article. It was only about 15 minutes long and I chose to audition for it because I wanted to do something easy that wouldn’t take me a ton of time. After getting my feet wet with a couple of those, I got my 1st actual novel not too long after. I remember being so proud after it was published on audible and shouting from the proverbial mountain tops (aka Facebook, lol) and giving all my friends and family my promotional downloads. In hindsight I wish I actually used them to promote it as most of my friends and family didn’t even listen to it.”
Any tips for people aspiring to be voice actors?
“Don’t get discouraged. This biz is 95% rejection and you have to learn to accept that. Just keep sending out auditions and building relationships with people in the business and you will be successful.”
What are some of the warm-ups you do to prepare for a role?
“If there’s a particular accent or performer I need to model a role after, I watch videos and emulate the voice I need until I get it just right.”
What are your favorite impressions to do to entertain others? AND, are there any actors whose voices/personalities inspire your work?
“I actually don’t do very well when it comes to doing impressions on the spot for others. Doing it in the privacy of my recording booth is one thing, but if I’m with a group of people and they ask me do an impression of someone, it usually sucks. Go figure.”
Please tell us a little bit about you and your lovely family.
“Well, in the last year, my family has grown by one, since my beautiful daughter Kiara was born. My son Brendan just turned 8 years old and my daughter Viviana will be 6 in September. Being a parent is everything I dreamed and more… sometimes painfully more, haha, but they are really great kids and I wouldn’t trade my life for anything, even if sometimes I’m exhausted at the end of the day and just want to trade places with my childless friends who travel and chill out all day. My amazing other half, Marianna, gets me through the craziest of days and continually supports me, and is my biggest fan. I love her dearly, she’s my soul mate, and there’s no one else I’d rather have at my side.”
If the three of you could meet up, money no object, where should we go in the world and what fun things should we do? P.S. I really want us all to meet and do a convention together.
“Would it be really cliche if I said I want to go to Disney World? Lol, seriously though, I haven’t been there since I was a kid and I’d love to just go and hang out. Just don’t tell my kids. I still have to plan a parenting trip down there, but an adults-only trip would probably be super fun!”
MORGAN NOTE: YES! 1,000% YES! Let’s do it! I’d go to Disney World anytime if I could afford it, lol! My dream would be to go Disney World Tokyo. 😉
I know you are a fan of Pathfinder. I play Dungeons and Dragons. I even am a DM of my own homebrew currently. How did you find Pathfinder and can you tell us about some of your favorite adventures?
“My first experience with Dungeons and Dragons was with 3rd edition, then 3.5. When it made the transition to 4th edition, one of the publishers that worked closely with D&D called Paizo split and kept the 3.5 rulesets with some slight alterations. I found I loved that ruleset more than 4th edition and loved the setting and published adventure paths they offered, and still play it today. I have run several long-term adventure paths or campaigns that went over 2 years and actually played them to completion, which is a pretty big accomplishment, although, I give you a lot of credit for running your own homebrew game. That’s something I’ve always wanted to do but never had time to really flesh one out.
Currently, I am running a campaign where my players have discovered a lost city of an ancient civilization in a jungle where they will find secrets long lost and the possible return of an evil serpent deity looming in the near future. You can actually catch that game on twitch Monday nights at 7:30 pm EST at Twitch.tv/beetlerunner.
What are some of your favorite hidden gems of New York?
“I’m a sucker for a good beer and there’s a great brewery called Growler and Gill up here in Rockland County, NY that’s just a lovely place to hang out for some drinks with friends.”
Congrats! You are the newest Avenger in the MCU! What would your ‘fake’ name be? What are your powers and the pros and cons of them?
“Oooohhhh, great question. I always thought the greatest power would be to temporarily freeze time, that would especially come in handy nowadays with three kids because I feel like I never have enough time to get anything done!
I think my name would be Clockstopper! If there’s a con, I suppose it would be if anything went wrong and time got permanently frozen. That would be a pretty lonely existence.”
All right, ‘Mr. Darington;’ you’re smooth and quick, but still, kick butt. You are in combat with a monster made of acid ink. How would you capture it and still keep your silk shirt clean? Don’t forget to add some dashing lines you’d say during the fight for our readers. 😉
“Definitely got to start with putting on a hazmat suit. The dry cleaning bill from acid ink is NOT cool. Then I grab my handy vacu-suck 9000, with the anti-corrosive attachment obviously, and turn that baby on full power. Right before I power up, I’d look the beast straight in the blobby parts and say, ‘Sucks to be you!‘”
MORGAN’S NOTES! Logan! You are one rad and kind dude. =) It would be amazing to play some Dungeons and Dragons together someday! I also am a huge MCU fan. You enjoy being a nerd, your true self, but still are professional. That is what I am form, to instill in others. And I can do a Snow White voice to your Sneezy one day. 😉 Lexi chose a Disneyland too. Adults Tokyo Disneyland trip?! ^_-
About Logan Arane:
Logan grew up in New York City and was drawn to the performing arts at a very young age. He has appeared in numerous stage productions before trying his hand at voice-over. Being an avid gamer, he also plays countless table-top roleplaying games and always considered himself a passionate storyteller, so narrating audiobooks just felt like the right way to go. He has since produced numerous audiobooks and gained much critical acclaim. He hopes to continue telling great stories to reach the ears of many more listers.
Where to Find Logan:
Facebook Page:
Amazon: Logan Anare Narrator:
My Website Narrator Profile Page:
“The Hunter and The Bringer” Book Profile:
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MEET LEXI EVANS:
What got you into narration?
“I have always loved books since I was a small child. I have a background in performing arts with an emphasis on voice. In 2016, I was recovering from a big surgery and during that time, discovered audiobooks. I was hooked! My husband has been in the voice over business for a few years doing commercials, ads, training software, etc. We began talking and I said that I am interested in what it takes to be a professional narrator. So I began my research, received professional voice and acting coaching from some of the industry’s best, and here I am today with almost 150 audiobooks since 2019. I absolutely LOVE what I do!”
What were three of your favorite things to do growing up?
“I loved to ride my bike! I would ride it all over our little Iowan town.
I loved to travel every year with my family to Estes Park, Colorado. So beautiful there!
I also loved watching cartoons every Saturday morning. Garfield and Friends was my favorite!”
What three books got you into reading in your life: One from childhood, one from teen/tween years, and one adult or more modern.
“Childhood: A lot! My Dad used to read to me as a child. My favorite was “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis. I still have it and the little note my Dad wrote to me about how he was excited to read it with me is in the dust cover.
I also checked out of the public library “Bunnicula” so many times!
Babysitter’s Club Books, Sweet Valley Twins, and High, Goosebumps.
And for adult books, I seriously adore Laurie Forest’s “The Black Witch” series and Sarah J. Maas “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series.”
Tell us about the first book you narrated. How did it make you feel?
“The very first book I narrated was a sweet and short Christmas novella. My very first audition I ever did, and I got the offer! I was on cloud 9! It was then and there that I knew this was the career I always wanted.”
Any tips for people aspiring to be voice actors?
“Yes! Coaching, coaching, coaching!!! Did I say coaching? That is the number one best piece of advice for anyone wanting to become a narrator or enter into the wonderful world of voice acting. It is worth every penny and will completely change your life and your career.”
What are some of the warm-ups you do to prepare for a role?
“Hydration is numero uno! LOTS AND LOTS of water!!! I have a warm-up routine that a coach of mine has given me that is amazing! Lots of funny mouth noises, weird faces, and one that sounds like the local tornado siren going off which always freaks out my cats lol! But they prepare the vocal cords and loosen the facial muscles. Deep breathing is great too and mentally leaving everything outside of the booth so you can enter the world of the book you are bringing to life.”
What are your favorite impressions to do to entertain others? AND, are there any actors whose voices/personalities inspire your work?
“Lol well since my husband is a voice actor as well, and we have a 14-year-old daughter, we love to act like we are on the set of the sopranos, or that we are proper British. Those are fun! When she was a toddler I would do the voice of Elmo and she loved it!
Other narrators inspire me. I listen to audiobooks every single night. If there is a specific character, I will look for TV shows or movies to watch to help me observe, study, and get into the role. I have gotten inspiration for Sophia from Golden Girls, to Lucifer on Lucifer, to Damon from Vampire Diaries. It’s so much fun!
And my favorite…voicing a villainess!” 😉
Please tell us a little bit about you and your lovely family.
“My husband and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary on August 7 this year! My 14-year-old daughter will be a freshman in high school which doesn’t seem possible. She is our only child. We live about a mile from my parents in a very small rural Iowa town. I have 3 very spoiled cats too!”
If the three of you could meet up, money no object, where should we go in the world and what fun things should we do?
“Oh my goodness; I’d love to meet you both in person! I feel like I would want to go to Japan with you as you know so much about the culture. And definitely a theme park!“
Why did you want to work on “The Hunter and The Bringer?”
“I was blown away at how amazing of an author you are and how hard you have and do work to get this book into audio. I love your connections with your fans and how fun you make everything. It will be a blast to do!”
Are there any guesses on what you think will happen further than the script so far/book 2?
“My reading schedule is very carefully planned out so I haven’t had the pleasure to read all of the book yet, but I know that it is going to leave us wanting more!”
What are you most excited about for this “The Hunter and The Bringer” audiobook project? from working with me as an author/person to the story and the characters?
“Working with you and Logan. Logan will always be super special to me as we were both our first co-narrators together. Plus he is a super talented all around awesome guy. AND then bring you in the mix, with fun, action-packed scenes…yeah, I’m down for it!”
How did you get into guided hypnosis and energy work? Can you tell us a little about the process?
“When I was in college, I took quite a few psychology classes and one featured a day where the teacher took us on a guided hypnosis session. From there, I have guided many individuals and groups. I have always been told my voice is incredibly soothing and perfect for this. I love it and it’s amazing for the individuals to learn about themselves even more. Meditation is very powerful!”
What are three of your favorite items in your items/workspace?
“Besides all my equipment and my booth, I would have to say my blue lapis lazuli stone that I hold onto while I record. My rope lights have a remote control that can change the color or the brightness and my tiny little fan that clips on my desk, because it can get insanely hot in the booth! Of course, it is never on when recording but I will blast that baby in between takes!”
And two of the most unique treasures you own at your house?
“Hmmm, I would have to say my farmhouse table that my husband built by hand for me for one of my birthdays. It’s beautiful and has his love in it.
And anything from my grandparents. I miss them both every day.”
If you were forced to only be able to smell one scent of a candle for the rest of your life, what would it be?
“Oooooh, I LOVE candles! I would have to say a warm amber and vanilla with sandalwood kind of scent. There is one from Michaels that I love which is Warm Amber and Vanilla. Yeah, amazing! I also really like a good fall apple cinnamon scent. Fall is my favorite time of the year. And yes, I’m all about the pumpkin spice lol!”
Imagine you are Val and you are stuck in combat with a creature entirely made of bubbles. How would you take it down for The Hunters and what would be some of your sassy/sarcastic combat lines?
“‘Alright, bubble monster! I’ve watched Spongebob and have passed his bubble-blowing lessons with flying colors! Let me introduce you to my little friend, Bubble Buddy!‘”
Morgan Note: Lexi, I have adored getting to know more about you! 🙂 I also love “Garfield and Friends,” “Bunnicula,” “The Golden Girls” (My friends and I are planning on getting tracksuits saying ‘Golden Girls in Training’ on them, lol,) Elmo, “Vampire Diaries” (the books,) and “Spongebob!” Blue lapis lazuli is one of my favorite stones. It’s very special to me! ^-^ And I LOVE that you and Logan both said Disney! <3 Japan is my dream vacation choice. Seems like the three of us are having an adult Tokyo Disneyland trip! 😉
About Lexi Evans:
BIO: Lexi Evans is a true romantic at heart. She understands on a deep level the intricacies of relationships and brings an authentic, heartfelt performance to each of her audiobooks. Lexi is a lover of all romance genres and has narrated for many USA Today and NY Times bestselling authors. She has performed over 100 audiobooks and has been coached by Audie award-winning coaches in the industry. She has a background in drama, art, and music, along with customer service, and brings the whole package to each of her clients.
“With each book that I narrate, I truly live in that book. I have laughed, cried, and fogged up my booth with these characters! It is always an honor to be chosen to be the voice of a book and I love bringing the story to life, through my performance, for listeners to enjoy. Best job in the world!”
Where to Find Her:
