Laura 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.
So 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 Storm, The 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.
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!
I would listen and cook at the same time!
maybe31 at yahoo.com
I listen to audio books while doing yard work. The tedium of yard work is easier to ignore with a good story in my head.
I would listen while walking. I try to walk with my dogs 2-4 miles every day and I am always listening to something. I would certainly like to invite Laura and her narrator on my walks.
Honestly, that is almost JUST about how long it takes me to drive to visit my parents in Miami. So that is probably what I would do with that particular audiobook! (Listening to audiobooks makes a road trip go by much, much faster.)
I walk everywhere (and wait on unreliable public transit when I can’t), so I’d listen on my daily commute! And to try and convince myself to clean, of course. Those headphones are pretty sharp!
I would listen while working. I have cube-mates who whistle and sing, so it gets noisey. Audio books (and podcasts) drown out the sound.
I would listen while painting.
I would listen while I was exercising, to take my mind off of what I don’t enjoy doing!
Ooh, I love audiobooks and I love Laura Kinsale. What’s not to like about this contest?
As for how I would listen to it, I imagine it would be like I usually use my audiobooks. Listening on my i-pod as I do the dishes, make dinner, drive in the car to do errands and also listening in bed as I fall asleep. The latter may be a bad habit but it is comforting…maybe a throw-back from bed-time stories.
I listen to audio books while driving and showering. Of course, if I had the headphones, I could listen to them when cleaning as well… which would be grand. 🙂
I would listen while walking the dog, and probably end up miles away from home.
I would listen whilst cooking if it was a busy day – or in a lovely relaxing bubble bath if I felt really lazy!!
I would listen to it while gardening and doing yard work. I’ve been a bit lazy about those things lately, so having this book to listen to might motivate me to get out there. Thanks for the wonderful give away!
Take my dog Franny for long walks…with that voice I’ll want to keep walking and walking and walking. In no time Franny girl and I will be looking trim!
I would listen while either cleaning or exercising.
I’d be doing what I usually do while listening, sitting in traffic waiting for rush hour to end.
I loved the audiobook samples! I would probably listen while knitting a rather complicated lace shawl, so 2 of my favourite activities together.
I’d listen while I run in the mornings—might take my mind off the pain. Anything that distracts me is good.
I’d listen while I finally unpacked my last few boxes from moving- nothing like a good book to keep you motivated while working!
I have never listened to a book. I read voraciously both paper and ebooks, however I somehow have never had the experience of listening to a well narrated book. It’s weird because I have always enjoyed another person reading aloud – both in my classroom and with family. I loved hearing my kids read aloud! I can imagine that working in the kitchen would be an enhanced experience with a lovely story going on in the background!
I would either listen while I am power walking, cleaning or laying out.
I have learned that I cannot “do something” and listen to an audio book because my mind wanders … wanders off onto interesting tangents. But that is actually good: at the end of the day I will sit in front of the wood-burning stove keeping my feet (and other assorted parts) warm. At 12+ hours, the story, the voice, and the warmth will provide several days of something to look forward to as I plow through daily work and chores.
I just want to say that all these ways people would listen and things they would do while listening make me so happy! I love audiobooks, and use them myself as “positive reinforcement” to get me to do things. That’s why I wanted a voice like Nick’s. He’s kinda my gift to all of you, lol, a beautiful sexy voice to narrate your lives. 🙂
Good luck, keep them coming! If you have any questions about audiobooks in general, email me. It’s become very easy to download and listen on all sorts smart devices so the options for “doing things” while listening are almost infinite. (Well almost. You might want to remove the earphones for nookie…then again, you might want to unplug them and let it play out loud…)
I would listen while enjoying my last days of summer vacation… cleaning the house, quilting, setting up my classroom, and lying in the hammock one last time before kids arrive.
We’re moving, so I’d listen while navigating a 26’ U-haul truck from Texas to California.
Not on my commute – it’s too short and then I wouldn’t get out of the car. Washing dishes, sorting the depths of the closets, painting the kid’s bedroom. While knitting a sweater in 3 weeks, as long as I don’t have to figure anything out. While ignoring my family.
If I won the audio book I would listen to it while I crafted my Steampunk Victorian inspired jewelry. What better way to throw some historical romantic “character” into a timeless piece of jewelry than to listen to an amazing romance novel. Perhaps I can even throw some Egyptian influenced design into the pieces of jewelry and call them Dream Hunter phrases, with due credit of course!!
I love audiobooks! I would listen to this audiobook while I: cook, clean, walk my cheerful labrador retriever or just drive around town.
I would listen to it on my way to and from work everyday (traffic is a b in Minneapolis), and if my kids were being whiny brats, I’d leave them to the hubby and pop those Beats headphones on and hide!
I would listen while commuting, walking the dog, and maybe if I could sneakily get away with it, at work!
I would listen while cooking, cleaning and lounging since the book is 12 hours.
I would sit back, close my eyes and listen with no distractions. Just peace.
We bought a fixer-upper house so I paint to audiobooks. Walls, ceilings, doors, trim, everything needs new paint. Also those headphones really are spectacular but I’ve put off purchasing because well… they’re really expensive for headphones! Please enter me! 🙂
I would listen to the story while I was using the treadmill.
I’ve downloaded Flowers from the Storm and will be listening to it on my way to New Orleans this Friday.
Can’t wait…for the trip or for the travelling-WITH-book 🙂
I listen while doing the household chores or if it’s a *low* day at the gym and I don’t need the music to keep me pumped up!
I have a lot of siding to clean at the old homestead. Give me Nick Boulton and a sound source and I’ll be set.
I would listen while I walked, restarting my exercise program. Listening to a great audio book motivates me to walk further, so I can keep listening and more often, because I only let myself listen when I exercise.
I’ve never listened to an ebook. What a fun giveaway! I would listen while on my treadmill, cleaning, and probably would try to sneak some in at work ;-).
I’ve never listened to an audio book. I would listen to a Kinsale while working in my studio – either actually making something (that doesn’t require decisions) or sorting through the piles of clutter that always accumulate.