Audiobooks and Beats: A Giveaway from Laura Kinsale

 Audiobook The Dream HunterLaura Kinsale has been publishing audio versions of her backlist, produced by The Story Circle in London, and performed by Nicholas Boulton. Kinsale approached me about doing a giveaway to celebrate the release of The Dream Hunter in Audio. In the process, I learned a LOT about audioboks, not the least of which that I really, really like them, and also like very much when the narrator is male and excellent with voices.

 I mean, I've been pretty vocal about my adoration of the available Richard Armitage-narrated abridged Georgette Heyer novels, so the male narrator thing shouldn't be a surprise, but it was to me. I have no problems with skilled narrators of any gender – the skill is what makes the audiobook a wonderful experience. But I hadn't thought about how many romances are narrated by women until I started corresponding with Kinsale about this project.

Headshot of Nicholas BoultonSo please meet Nicholas Boulton, the narrator for Laura Kinsale's audiobooks. You can hear a whole selection of samples of his reading at Kinsale's Soundcloud page – including ringtones of various phrases from the books. 

Kinsale says, “I wanted a male narrator for my romances because most of my books are hero-centric, but the heroines are equally important. Nicholas Boulton isn't just a voice actor, he's a voice artist. His skill at it is amazing. He can make you think there are five different people in the room talking to one another at the same time. He's got a swoonworthy, sexy voice, (just wait until we get to Ruck speaking Middle English—hot!) but there are a lot of male narrators and actors with that talent. Very very few of them can also voice a convincing female character. Above all, I chose Nick to narrate my books because of his ability to voice female characters so beautifully and naturally.

He's very well-known in gaming circles as the voice of Hawke in Dragon Age 2, along with Assassin's Creed and Mass Effect.”

Kinsale added, “He's also a kite-surfer, and in September will be participating with 250 others in an attempt to set the world record for the largest parade of kiters to complete a one mile course on the water, followed by a 40 mile downwind kite in the English Channel, on behalf of the youth charity Snow Camp and British sea rescue organization RNLI.

Yes, right, that's 40 miles. Kite-surfing. He's promised me that he'll wear water wings and won't jump the Brighton pier, so I'm down with it. At the risk of encouraging this sort of risky behavior in my very valuable narrator, at least before he's finished recording all my books, his contribution page is online.”

If you're curious about Kinsale's audiobooks, so far, four have been released – all with Nicholas Boulton narrating: The Dream Hunter, Flowers from the StormThe Prince of Midnight, and Midsummer Moon.

So what was that about new audiobooks and a giveaway? Oh, yes! 

To celebrate the release of The Dream Hunter and the other audiobooks from her backlist, Laura Kinsale has offered up a grand prize, and two runners up prizes as well. 

The grand prize: a download code from Audible.com valid for one copy of The Dream Hunter, and another title — winner's choice.

Plus, a pair of pink Beats by Dre headphones that Kinsale has told me are the most amazing headphones she's experienced. 

 Pink Beats by Dre headphones

She made a video of people reacting to Nicholas Boulton's reading of her books – and yes, those are the model of headphones she's giving away (the winner gets a new pair, of course): 

 

Link!

Due to shipping limitations, the headphones are US/Canada only. (And, if the winner prefers earbuds, these pink Beats by Dre earbuds are also an option.)

But the download codes are valid worldwide (and all of Kinsale's audiobooks should also be available worldwide, too). Thus we have two runner up prizes as well: two more download codes at Audible.com, each good for one copy of The Dream Hunter, and another title of the winner's choosing.

How do you enter? Easy! 

To enter, leave a comment below telling us what you'd do while listening to a Kinsale audiobook if you won. Wash dishes? Clean things? Hide under a blanket? Drive through traffic on the Tappan Zee Bridge? (no, wait, that's me. Sorry.) Share what kinds of tasks you'll accomplish while listening, and you're entered to win. The Dream Hunter is 12 hours and 45 minutes. You could probably raise your own barn and smile while you did it! 

Comments will close at 3:00 pm EDT on Friday 9 August, and I'll announce the winners later that day.

Standard disclaimers apply: Void where prohibited. The giveaway for the Audible download code prize is open to international residents to the extent permissible by applicable law. Must be over 18 and rocking out to win. I am not being compensated for this giveaway. Tumble dry low, reshape and dry flat. Is there anything worse than “reshape and dry flat?” Yes. Dry clean only! By submitting  an entry to the contest as set forth herein, each entrant does acknowledge and agree that, in the event such entrant is victorious, such entrant will perform a ceremony reasonably appropriate to such circumstance, including, without limitation, the Miposian Dance of Joy. Close cover before striking. 

I hope you'll consider what monumental tasks you can complete in 12 hours and 45 minutes, and share with us to enter. Good luck! And rock on! 

Comments are Closed

  1. Jennifer W. says:

    I listen to audio books while doing everything that isn’t sleeping, reading, or watching tv.  Oh and working.  I need to find a job that I can do while listening to audio books.

  2. Mary Beth says:

    I should say I would listen while on the treadmill or perhaps on my way to work. The truth is, I would curl up in a comfy chair, ignore my dusty house, disregard my stacks of work, only loosely monitor my children, and enjoy.

  3. Lyla Bellatas says:

    I love to listen to them while working out – walking especially. It helps me go further….I won’t let myself stop until this chapter is done or a couple of chapters – etc.

  4. KC says:

    I would listen to them while walking or driving. Thanks for the opportunity!

  5. LoriA says:

    I’d listen on long travel days, especially when I can’t read. Also on long walks along the river path (no distracting cars to watch out for). Also, for cooking. Anything that can take a solid block of time.

  6. becky m says:

    I LOVE audiobooks! I listen to them while cooking, cleaning, walking the dog, driving, at the laundromat, while trying to ignore my children, sewing…the list goes on and on!

    Narrators make a huge difference, though—this one sounds divine! Why does Richard Armitage only do abridged Heyer books? Why????

  7. Jules says:

    I think I would force myself to only listen to them when working out. Normally it starts off all well and good, but then the story just takes over my brain and ends up with me laying on the couch while Wil Wheaton narrates a dystopian future to me….

    So yeah. I love the dude narrators.

  8. Lorraine says:

    I would listen while commuting to my day job as a book buyer for a public library system in Washington State and to my evening job singing in the Seattle Opera chorus.

    Audio books keep me sane on the freeway.

    I also want to know why the Heyer books needed to be abridged?  Why?  Why?

  9. AnnB says:

    I would spend 12 hours and 45 minutes doing all the boring chores I keep putting off. Like scrubbing grout, dusting the tops of my bookcases, mending socks and oiling the hings on my doors. Because having an excuse to listen to that voice would make them all so, so worth it!

  10. Katrin says:

    Hi,
    I’m always knitting socks while listening to an audiobook.

  11. Leslie Smith says:

    I started listening to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series over a year ago and now I’m hooked.  I listen while walking to and from work, while running and anytime I’m doing any work around the house. What a great way to multi-task!

  12. Michelle says:

    I would listen while cooking dinner and cleaning the kitchen afterwards.  Nothing is more relaxing to me than puttering in the kitchen while listening to a good story!

  13. Louise says:

    I would listen to them while working out or while snuggled up with my puppy before bed.

  14. Maren says:

    The Costco shopping experience is greatly enhanced with the gaussian blur filter of a fantastic audiobook.

    I love Laura Kinsale!

  15. Melanie says:

    I’d do my exercise walking around the neighborhood.  Nothing is so motivating to walk just another mile more than another chapter with a male narrator.  Richard Armitage’s Heyer audiobooks is proof of that already!

  16. Shelley says:

    I will be on the elliptical or driving.

  17. Jen says:

    I would listen while making a quilt.

  18. Julaine says:

    Since I am currently pedaling my recumbent bike a minumum of 90 min. A day I am desperate for new material to listen to.  A hunky man talking in my ear could only help make the time could faster. What a great idea.

  19. Jane says:

    This time of year it would be berry picking, or soon, mushroom picking.

    I love hiking and being outdoors while listening to audio books!

  20. merry says:

    If there were no audio books, I’d never want to go anywhere and I’d probably never get on my treadmill.  Thanks, Ms. Kinsale, for the great giveaway!

  21. laj says:

    Going on vacation soon with a long journey ahead with four males…….all who will want to drive the car……I’ll be in the backseat listening to an audio book narrated by (hopefully) by Nicholas Boulton.

    Normally I listen to audios on the long bus ride to campus. The #1 line on the big blue bus takes an hour and it’s very crowded.

  22. Heather says:

    I would listen while cooking.  Or cleaning.

  23. Sandypo says:

    I would wear the headphones to work out and to garden. Thanks for the giveaway!

  24. Rebecca says:

    I would listen while sitting still, absorbing every word, mesmerized by that voice. Oh and while cleaning!

  25. Hannawy says:

    I’d listen while exercising. It’s too boring otherwise.

  26. Darlynne says:

    I will listen in my car, I will listen from afar, I will listen when I walk, I will listen when I … sorry, nowhere to go that makes any sense. Thanks for the giveaway and a swoon-worthy narrator. I will do the Snoopy happy dance in celebration. Heck, I’ll do it now, because the sun is shining.

  27. Mary says:

    We will be taking a long car trip this fall, and I have three young children. I’m definitely going to need the headphones and a good book to endure the endless chorus of “Are we there yet?”

  28. guinevere says:

    I listen to her audiobooks while I take my high-energy dog on extremely long walks.
    As I told Laura on twitter, I’m grateful that these walks take us far out along gravel roads, so there is no one to see me laughing out loud like an escaped Bedlamite!
    (The hedgehog in the salt cellar scene from ‘Midsummer Moon’ had me bent double in helpless laughter, confusing the dog… but Nick does this perfect hedgehog voice, which only makes a funny scene even more hilarious!)
    Thanks for a fun giveaway!  🙂

  29. Kelly says:

    I would listen while at the gym and then subsequently while baking after-workout cupcakes.

  30. Emily Jane says:

    Doing laundry, cleaning up the kitchen, exercising on my elliptical…I am terrible at housekeeping and from time to time try to make it better with audiobooks, but am bound by my library’s collection.

  31. kpdacey says:

    I get so much done when I listen to audio books!
    My favorite thing to do is work outside in my veggies and flower gardens. Audio books make the tedious work of weeding fly by!

    And oh my this narration….whew!

  32. cyclops8 says:

    I would probably listen while grocery shopping or while I’m on the subway to and from work.

  33. Nancy says:

    I would listen to it on a road trip to visit friends – I like a well-done audiobook for long drives.

  34. Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.
    Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Cheers

  35. Jenn LeBlanc says:

    I would be listening in the gym. Nothing like a smexy romance to drive your heart and your workout harder. Plus all the blushing will be attributed to my raised heart rate… Win/win

  36. Lenora Bel says:

    I wrote this seven years ago…to the tune of Maria from West Side Story.

    Laura Kinsale, Laura Kinsale. I just met an author named Laura Kinsale, and suddenly I see, how delicious a tortured hero can be…oh Laura, Ms. Kinsale! Say it loud and there’s poetry flowing, say it soft and the sexual tension’s growing…Laura Kinsale, Laura Kinsale, I’ll never stop reading Laura Kinsale.

    Hooray for audio versions! I will listen to them while editing diplomatic correspondence at my foreign service job.

    – Lenora

  37. harthad says:

    I would listen while exercising or commuting to work.

    Also, I see comment spam up there at #114 “find a local dentist.”

  38. hanmom says:

    I would probably tackle some dreary chore like washing the windows or cleaning the garage.  I listened to Prince of Midnight while cleaning and by the time I finished the book my house sparkled like on one of those makeover shows 🙂  Nicholas Boulton brings such liveliness into an already amazing story that even folding laundry becomes a pleasant activity.

  39. Patricia says:

    As a dog and pup rescuer, I sometimes drive over 8 hours to pick up and transport mama-to-be dogs or mama dogs and her pups or just a litter pups from high kill shelters to the safety of our rescue.  So I listen to Nicholas tell Laura’s stories during the drive.  However Nicholas needs to compete with the barking, whining, howling, etc of my canine companions.  I have actually said to one group of howling baby beagles: “Hey I need to hear Maddy Girl!”  The troublesome part of listening while transporting up to 25 pups, is when Laura is describing the beautiful scent of a character and all I smell is earthy scent of pup poop. It does put a damper on the romance of a scene.

  40. britbc says:

    I would listen to my sudoku audiobook while crocheting I have to keep my hands busy while I listen so the headphones would come in super handy. Now I’m thinking I could listen while baking (and gardening and skating… this is getting out of control).

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