RUMINATIONS
Literary Newsletter by Jeff Richards, Vol. 1, No. 2 Listening to You
EDITORIAL
Lady Killer is now out in audiobook form. I’m pumped. The novel is written from three points of view: two women and one man. For the women parts, the narrator is Jer Adrianne Lelliott. Below is a brief interview of Jer along with a biography. The male narrator is Ramiz Mosef. Alas I don’t have his interview but I do have an impressive biography. These two actors are so impressive that I feel like, hey, Lady Killer seems more like a radio play. Exciting to listen to. I polish off the issue with an attached review and a 3-minute video where I talk about the audio, take a short tour of Takoma Park, where the novel takes place, and a tour of my vegetable garden, the first one I’ve done in years. I use only natural fertilizer and insecticide, Fish Oil. The only insects it attracts are flies.
Get the audiobook: Audible, Audiobooks.com
Narrator Interview: Jer Adrianne Lelliott, narrator of Jeff Richards’ Lady Killer
Jer Adrianne Lelliott (she/they) is the founder of Coeurage Theatre Company. Film and TV credits include Ctrl Alt Delete, NCIS: Los Angeles, Jack (Francis Ford Coppola), Ambushed (Ernest Dickerson), and Race You to the Bottom (Russell Brown). A professional theatre actor since the age of nine, Ms. Lelliott has appeared at The Kirk Douglas Theatre, The Pasadena Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Laguna Playhouse, and in the original Los Angeles cast of Disney’s Beauty & the Beast.
1. What drew you to narrating this title? What is the process for choosing a narrator of an audiobook—does the narrator choose the book, the author choose the narrator, or does it depend?
This was actually my first narration! I received an audition offer and recorded a few pages of the book for the author and publisher. A few weeks later, I was offered the opportunity to co-narrate with the great Ramiz Monsef and was elated. When I joined the Deyan Audio roster, I indicated an interest in the romance genre. So I was absolutely thrilled to narrate the female perspectives of this love triangle. Since then I have received offers and audition offers for other titles. I usually have a day or so to read and confirm or decline interest.
2. This is a fairly short audiobook, at about five hours. How long did it take to record your narration for this book?
A novella, it’s true. Such a satisfying read. It took about as long for me to narrate half of the book as it does to listen to the finished product, about 5-6 hours total. A lot of narrators record in their home studios but I love working with the engineer in the studio.
3. Did you relate to any of the characters you were narrating? If so, which one(s)?
While I empathize deeply with Gail, I definitely identified with Dee Wynn. I relate to her drive and ambition, her introspection, her longing for a successful career and a satisfying personal life on her own terms—not bound by the typical restrictions placed on women. I also identified with her insecurities about her legs.
4. As someone who also acts and has made a career of that, what are some similarities and differences between audiobook narrating and acting in a movie/play/TV show?
Acting in person is mostly about interacting with a partner. There are exceptions, of course. We are often asked to act without an off-camera partner for film and TV—usually replaced with a piece of spike tape on the camera—and theatre does include monologues and solo performance. But for the most part, it’s about trying to get a scene partner to feel or think or react a certain way. Audiobook narration is very different. My job is to speak the author’s words clearly and tell the story in a way that allows the listener to experience the world of the book in their imagination. They are very different crafts that use a lot of the same skills and training. I love both.
5. It must be a lot of fun to put yourself in the shoes of different book characters and their various situations. Do you have a favorite genre or type of book to narrate?
I am definitely drawn to romance novels. I also love fantasy, particularly for young adults. And anything queer—nonfiction or otherwise
Narrator Ramiz Monsef
Ramiz has been recording audiobooks for several years now and has over 20 titles on audible currently. Most notably he did The Cut-Up Trilogy (The Soft Machine, The Ticket That Exploded, Nova Express) by William Burroughs. He also is rather proud of his work in “On the Road with Bob Dylan” by Larry “Ratso” Sloman. Ramiz has appeared on stage across the country, on various TV shows and, most recently, in the upcoming film Synchronic.
Review of Lady Killer audiobook: https://www.instagram.com/p/CC9V776g1_P/
Follow the author & narrator:
Jer Adrianne on Twitter & Instagram: @j_lelli
Jeff Richards on Twitter: @ohiowa89; on Instagram: @jeffrichardsauthor
COW ART BY: www.atolstoyart.com