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 am preparing for a driving trip from the Pacific NW to Wisconsin, so I would listen driving across Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming. Wait, how long is the book? It might get me all of the way there. 🙂
I am preparing for a driving trip from the Pacific NW to Wisconsin, so I would listen driving across Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming… Wait, how long is the book? It might get me all of the way there. 🙂
Finally finish knitting that UFO wedding blanket project for my cousin (who will be coming up on her 4th anniversary in January) … So you can see what a good deed it would be to give me Kinsale in audiobook format, yes? Actually can’t wait to track these down, giveaway or not. Thanks for the heads up
Hmmm… I would probably listen during my commute and any other free time I can squeeze in. However, if I had my druthers, I’d listen while weaving. 🙂
Thanks for introducing me to Nick Boulton’s voice. My experience of audio books so far has been mixed. You really need to love the voice of the reader. What I would do while listening to him read anything, I can’t really say online!
I think listening to your books read by Nick would be terrific company while painting, pictures, not walls. It used different parts of the brain so you could really pay attention and be free to create.
I would liste during my two-hour daily commute.
I’d listen while walking on the tread mill. Just might have to do all 12 hours at one time just to finish the book!
I would listen while painting… and hope that the story told in a great masculine voice would translate into my artwork somehow.
I always have an audiobook going, and listen whenever I can’t hold my reading material. 🙂 So, driving, cooking, cleaning up the kitchen, walking for exercise, all these and more. Plus it’s my lullabye: it’s great to have someone read me to sleep…
I desperately need to clutter-clear my apartment and this would really help distract me.
I’d listen to the audiobooks while on the treadmill. It’ll be one of the few reasons to get me on it!
I listen to audio books all day long. I do everything while listening.
I’d listen to the audiobooks while waiting for my kids at their various activities.
I loved Richard Armitage reading Georgette Heyer—and, I love the idea that the narrator for Kinsales audiobooks is male.
… now that i think about it, I’d love to listen to audiobooks in bed.
I would use that time to de-stress! I’d listen to it snuggled up in bed and relaxing! I need it! Lol!
sit and listen
I listen to audiobooks while I drive – but you really shouldn’t use headphones when you’re driving! They would be good for when I’m cleaning house too
I would listen to The Dream Hunter while driving from Miami, FL to Greensboro, NC. Also, I started walking 2 miles every day, my goal is 3 miles, and these would be great while I get healthy!
I would listen while my kids have taken over the TV with their video games and annoying shows. 🙂
Walking! I need motivation to get out there and walk and hike, and Mr. Boulton’s voice… Well, goodness. I’ll just say I kinda want him to “surf” my “kite” if you know what I mean…
In the car or at the gym. Audiobooks make these bearable for me.
Treadmill. Commute. Play freecell. Wash dishes. Laundry. These are things I would while listening if I won. Heck, these are things I actually do while listening! And Nick Boulton is indeed swoonworthy!
I would listen while walking or since fall is coming harvesting in the garden and canning.
Listen during commute and while at work. I even listen while riding my horse.
I recently started running, I imagine listening to audiobooks while I jog would inspire me to continue with exercising!
I would listen to it while working out. THAT VOICE…motivation
I’d listen while driving to work, since that’s almost all the time I get for reading these days! Ahhhhh, 1 hour of books!
I would love these books, since I love Boulton from DA2!
I would have to start out listening while at the spa – and looking at Nicholas Boulton’s picture. Spa pedicure, hot stone massage while listening to an amazing voice that’s all in my head and I don’t have to share with anyone!
I would listen while doing dishes. Playing candy crush and working from home.
I listen to audiobooks while I work to drown out all the noise of the cubicle world. If I listen to music I start singing and dancing in my chair, which isn’t good for anyone. Audiobooks have been a lifesaver!
I would be listening while at work. I have never listened to a book like this but having been thinking of getting one to try.
This would be the perfect way to try something new and enjoy Laura Kinsale as well. I will just have to remember not to laugh or cry out loud. She gets me everytime I read her books.
I’ll listen while at work.
I like to listen to audiobooks while I quilt. I get to do the 2 things I love most in the world at the same time! It’s a win-win.
I’d listen to them while relaxing after work. Reminds me of the old radio programs I used to listen to.
I’d be at work, encoding metadata.
I would get a start on my Christmas gift projects. I could hopefully get A LOT of knitting done in 12 hours!
I would probably knit or catch up on my sewing. I would not look at pictures of the narrator. Looking at the trailer for Richard Armitage reading Sylvester by Heyer was disconcerting because it was just pictures of Armitage and had nothing to do with the text being read.
I would probably listen while driving to work! Talk about putting a smile on your face! (I love the girl in the video fanning herself!) That’s awesome! Going to go share it to my peeps on Facebook. Too cute!
I would sit in my comfy chair, an old brown recliner, with my cup of coffee or glass of Diet Pepsi and listen while my daughter watches some Disney show for the 437th time. And then I would listen again when everyone else is in bed and I finally have some ME time.
I would probably be driving since I do a lot of that for work. And since it’s so long, it’d likely bleed over to when I got home, so I’d make dinner, clean the house, do laundry, and all that fun (*not*) stuff. Oh, and I’d listen to it while I was waiting for cases to be called too. (I’m an attorney and there is a lot of down time waiting. I usually bring my Nook, but with this I could listen instead!)
Audiobooks on my iPod help me on days of crazy-long-uncomfortable travel. Overnight train in Vietnam, survived by listening to Lorraine Heath. Ten hours on a bus in Cambodia was with Eloisa James. Twelve hour flight home from China? Thanks to Elizabeth Hoyt.
So if I won Laura Kinsale’s book, I’d save it for my next big travel adventure!