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!
Can anyone have a better use than Lenora and her diplomatic correspondence?
Me, I’m on the side of trite and true: dishes and folding laundry. I always listen to SBTB podcast while doing those two things. Wish there were more podcasts! Wondering actually if I should try to garden with them on. Hmm. Do headphones fall off while you prune and rip? I guess not if people can wear them on treadmills.
I discovered audiobooks just this summer and completely agree with SB Sarah about loving male narrators who are particularly good with vocal performance. The thing is, about your whole what-would-you-do-while-listening question? I’ve found that I can’t multitask while listening—not to a really great book. I’ve been baking, and ruined the cookies. I’ve started laundry and left it soaking wet, forgetting it completely. I’ve run errands and only bought half of what I needed at the store. In short, I suck at completing tasks while listening to audiobooks. I move too slow, or leave tasks unfinished. I get too engrossed in the story, and it pulls me out of my activities. SO, I’ve limited myself to listening in my evening hours, and I love it.
Audiobooks are now my reward for getting things done!
I’d listen to them while sorting through my stuff and downsizing so that I can move into a (totally cute) travel trailer while I go back to school.
I would listen to it while working out, or taking a break from studying. I love listening to audiobooks at night, when everything is so silent and you can really get absorbed in the story and listen to every word.
I would listen to it in the car on my way to class, and since my husband and I attend class together, he would also get to experience the amazingness that are Laura Kinsale’s novels!
Audiobooks have carried me through many long (LOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGG) road trips, through wallpapering and painting entire dwellings, through the two hour stretch on the riding mower for each mowing of the acreage, AND through countless ironing jags.
I began listening to books on tape almost two decades ago and all the readers I ran into were male. Jim Dale did a spectacular job with Harry Potter. Gender, age, sociolect, stylistic variation for single speakers—all incredibly well done.
Love (LOVE!) Kinsale. Would love to win her book!
That is (hopefully) just about the right length for my drive across (most of) the length of England and back! (Kent to the Western edge of Cumbria). Just the thing to keep me from losing my temper as I crawl past Birmingham!
Great giveaway, thanks.
Karen
I will listen while unpacking the boxes in my office that have been there since I moved four months ago. It will make the time fly by!
I have an hour long commute, so I spend two hours listening to audiobooks everyday! I’ve doubled the number of books since starting this commute!
I’m not the best cook, but I would definitely listen to it while I’m cooking or when I’m taking a long walk.
I would listen while road tripping to visit friends
I would be relaxin’ in the bathtub and … well, that’s the only part you need to know! đ
I listen to audio books at work all the time. They make my day go by much faster and allow me to read more books than I otherwise could.
Paint my basement & install plantation blinds. Might be a 2 book project – wait, that’d be perfect!
I would listen while driving and working. Good audiobooks always seem to make my commute and work day go by faster.
Nicholas Boulton’s voice is SO seductive, I am not sure it would be possible for me to do anything but listen to him read and drool! That said, I would TRY to cook and clean up the kitchen, but I’m making no promises, mind!
I would crochet! Yarncraft + good audiobook = wim.
I would listen to it while knitting and cooking. And if you want to find ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, I belong to the ‘Audiobook Knitters’ group on Ravelry and it is a constant source of recommendations. My TBL list is incredibly long due to it!
I listen to audiobooks while knitting. They really help me when I have a deadline. I can clack away while on an audio adventure. I’d take Kinsale with me to Las Vegas. It would be a perfect listen while slaving away on the slot machines. The audiobooks take me away from the constant casino noises and help me avoid those gamblers who want to become my best friend when all I want to do is work the machine!
I would listen at work to drown out my coworker who insists on whistling (in a very tone-deaf way) Christmas carols all. summer. long.
I would listen to the audiobook on my daily commute or maybe I would wait for two weeks and listen to it on the airplane to Seattle WA. for a Postmaster Convention.
I’d probably listen while playing games on my tablet.
I think I’d probably knit. I can knit and read depending on the pattern but listening to an audiobook sounds much easier -no page turns. Other than that maybe work on some chain mail jewelry. Oh, or the bedroom needs to be painted that would make the process less boring. I haven’t really tried audio books yet, the higher cost makes them a bit intimidating to get into for me, but I love Kinsale’s books so starting with them would be awesome.
I’d listen while pretending to jog. đ
Either walking the dog, or knitting.
I’d listen on long trips, long walks, and while cooking – decent blocks of time, with little or no interruptions. đ Maybe on the exercise bike, too.
I would listen while I was (attempting) to spin the most wonderful yarn on my spinning wheel!
I’d do all the housework that keeps piling up – that would be a great reward!
I always have the best intentions of multitasking while listening to audiobooks, then find myself getting so wrapped up in the story I realize I haven’t done anything for 30 minutes. I’d imagine this would be a particular issue with Laura Kinsale’s books – I love her! So I’d probably cut myself some slack and listen while lying on the couch.
The most peculiar things happens when I listen to Laura Kinsale books on audio. My house gets clean. The dishes get done. The laundry is folded. And that spot on the table, yes, let me rub that spot again.
Yes, that spot. I remember that spot. As I rubbed that spot and Nick was melting my ears. Yes, I think I’ll leave that spot now. Next time when it comes to cleaning that spot, I will remember, oh yes, remember how I melted over that spot. Darn you, Nick and Laura.
What will I be doing when listening to Laura Kinsale’s The Dream Hunter narrated, nay PERFORMED, by Nick Boulton. I will be cleaning. And cleaning again. (Spill dirts on the floor) – Yes, I must clean my house because the story is not yet done! Leave me to my cleaning!
I most likely would listen on my way to work and back in the car. That way I would start my workday right and end it right as well.
What would I do while listening to Nick Boulton’s swoon-worthy voice? Why, nothing! Absolutely nothing at all. I’d lie as still as I possibly could on the couch, under a comfy throw, in a dark room. Thus, the only thing going on in that room would be my breathing and Nick’s voice.
Have you heard him speaking Middle English as Ruck? I sat in dazed silence through it all.
I would listen to the audiobook on my walks and while I’m doing chores around the house.
Definitely while gardening. It’s the only way I can lure myself into pulling weeds. Will weed for sexy-voiced narrator.
I will listen to the delicious audiobook as a reward for cleaning out my closet of those jeans that will never fit me again!
Audiobooks make me a patient and perfect driver. Missed that light = more time to listen. (Of course my 4yo likes to talk during so I get a voiceover commentary too.) I also find them great to do chores to. I can do all the horrible jobs with such a great distraction. And to reward myself – soak in the tub with the same audiobook.
Having come to the conclusion that the Boulton/Kinsale combo is too potent for almost any simultaneous activity – after listening to the other three audiobooks – I would sit down with a scrumptious meal to double the deliciousness of the experience.
I’d listen to THE DREAM HUNTER while doing mindless chores and transporting myselfâon footâfrom one place to another. (Just like I did with MIDSUMMER MOON. Though I grinned so much listening to MM that I’m sure I made my fellow pedestrians uncomfortable.)
Ps. Did I mention how much I loved the audiobook experience of MIDSUMMER MOON? No? Audiogasm! *swoon* Hedgehogs! Love! *blathers incoherently* Wheeeeee!
Finish off the cookie-cake in my fridge. Mmmmm, icing.
I would do absolutely nothing…. but listen.