A Magpie’s Call – in Stereo
I’m an optimist. This sometimes means that projects take longer to complete than I anticipated. This has certainly been the case with the audiobook versions of Wellspring and Magpie Mind!* Thanks to everyone who contributed towards the Kickstarter for your support and your patience!
More and more authors are converting their books into audio, and there are lots of good reasons why. It’s worth trying – lots of fun! Though I didn’t quite realise how strong my accent is until it came through speakers, digitally and in stereo. Those of you in the Central Scotland Stirling area, get in contact with Jamie at Good Vibrations – he’s brilliant. https://www.goodvibrationsstirling.com/recording His side of the process has been faultless. Any delays in the process were my fault or because things at ACX (Amazon’s audiobook producer) are so busy at the moment.
If you don’t listen to audiobooks yet, here are a few reasons why you might consider giving them a go.
* If you miss my dulcet tones nagging you in workshops and one-to-ones, you can download Magpie Mind here (UK) or here (US). Wellspring is on its way soon.
I’m an optimist. This sometimes means that projects take longer to complete than I anticipated. This has certainly been the case with the audiobook versions of Wellspring and Magpie Mind!* Thanks to everyone who contributed towards the Kickstarter for your support and your patience!
More and more authors are converting their books into audio, and there are lots of good reasons why. It’s worth trying – lots of fun! Though I didn’t quite realise how strong my accent is until it came through speakers, digitally and in stereo. Those of you in the Central Scotland Stirling area, get in contact with Jamie at Good Vibrations – he’s brilliant. https://www.goodvibrationsstirling.com/recording His side of the process has been faultless. Any delays in the process were my fault or because things at ACX (Amazon’s audiobook producer) are so busy at the moment.
If you don’t listen to audiobooks yet, here are a few reasons why you might consider giving them a go.
* If you miss my dulcet tones nagging you in workshops and one-to-ones, you can download Magpie Mind here (UK) or here (US). Wellspring is on its way soon.
Laura recording in Good Vibrations, Stirling
So many books, so little time.
I love books. Devour them. My main reading time is while relaxing on trains or in bed. But there are loads of books I want to read that don’t always suit these times.
I can’t read while on a bus: I get travel sick. I usually only read fiction while in bed – but there are so many great non-fiction books out there to learn from! I like to research for my novels but don’t always have as much time to sit and study as I’d like. So I started listening to non-fiction in audiobook format, usually while on the go or when my hands are busy. While driving, cooking, doing housework, while at the gym, or out walking, listening to an audiobook or TED talk enhances the experience.
Relaxation
If it’s an especially beautifully poetic book with a wonderful narrator, I’ll sometimes use it to lull me to sleep as well. Tilda Swinton’s narration of Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain is a favourite!
Brain Power
As with any kind of reading, audiobooks improve your comprehension, concentration, awareness of structure, storytelling and your vocabulary.
Ink and Paper Ain’t for Everyone
Those of us who are more aural than visual (approximately 20% of us are), will find it easier to focus on a story if it’s narrated than if it’s on paper.
Audiobooks can also open up a whole world of possibilities to those of us who find it more difficult to access the written word: children and adults with dyslexia, and blind or partially sighted people or those with physical difficulties that mean they cannot hold books or electronic devices.
Enhancement
Great narrators can bring a story to life! May of us can remember being spellbound as children by a special grown-up reading us a story. Studies (see links below) have shown that listening to an audiobook can enhance our emotional reactions, helping us attach deeper meanings to a story and aid our visualisation.
https://www.chirpbooks.com/blog/are-audiobooks-good-for-the-brain
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/gv5ZxQTyTttZ2BbgrtJHPt/why-listening-to-books-is-good-for-you
There’s a dizzying number of possibilities out there. So where to begin? Podcasts, TED talks, YouTube? Below are a few recommendations to get you started.
Happy writing – and listening everyone!
Laura
I love books. Devour them. My main reading time is while relaxing on trains or in bed. But there are loads of books I want to read that don’t always suit these times.
I can’t read while on a bus: I get travel sick. I usually only read fiction while in bed – but there are so many great non-fiction books out there to learn from! I like to research for my novels but don’t always have as much time to sit and study as I’d like. So I started listening to non-fiction in audiobook format, usually while on the go or when my hands are busy. While driving, cooking, doing housework, while at the gym, or out walking, listening to an audiobook or TED talk enhances the experience.
Relaxation
If it’s an especially beautifully poetic book with a wonderful narrator, I’ll sometimes use it to lull me to sleep as well. Tilda Swinton’s narration of Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain is a favourite!
Brain Power
As with any kind of reading, audiobooks improve your comprehension, concentration, awareness of structure, storytelling and your vocabulary.
Ink and Paper Ain’t for Everyone
Those of us who are more aural than visual (approximately 20% of us are), will find it easier to focus on a story if it’s narrated than if it’s on paper.
Audiobooks can also open up a whole world of possibilities to those of us who find it more difficult to access the written word: children and adults with dyslexia, and blind or partially sighted people or those with physical difficulties that mean they cannot hold books or electronic devices.
Enhancement
Great narrators can bring a story to life! May of us can remember being spellbound as children by a special grown-up reading us a story. Studies (see links below) have shown that listening to an audiobook can enhance our emotional reactions, helping us attach deeper meanings to a story and aid our visualisation.
https://www.chirpbooks.com/blog/are-audiobooks-good-for-the-brain
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/gv5ZxQTyTttZ2BbgrtJHPt/why-listening-to-books-is-good-for-you
There’s a dizzying number of possibilities out there. So where to begin? Podcasts, TED talks, YouTube? Below are a few recommendations to get you started.
Happy writing – and listening everyone!
Laura
Audible
Owned by Amazon, it runs on all types of devices. There’s lots there to tempt you: plenty of membership options, free trials, free books and exclusive member offers as well.
My audiobook, Magpie Mind, is on there now if you’d like to listen and learn ways to increase your creativity:
If you’re in the UK, you can download here
If you’re in the US, you can download here
TED
Oh, I do love a TED talk of an evening. There’s always something new to learn and the speakers are always fantastic. You can browse them by topic too but I like to listen to them at random as well.
https://www.ted.com/
The Scottish Poetry Library
The Scottish Poetry Library has plenty of poetry-themed podcasts to choose from. You can also listen to poets perform their poetry online as well.
https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcasts/
The BBC
The BBC has a huge amount of podcasts to choose from:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts
Self Publishing Formula
If you’re interested in self-publishing, then you can’t go far wrong with Mark Dawson’s https://selfpublishingformula.com/spf-podcast/
Guardian Recommendations
And here are some great literary podcast recommendations from the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/nov/07/words-in-your-ears-the-10-best-books-podcasts
Owned by Amazon, it runs on all types of devices. There’s lots there to tempt you: plenty of membership options, free trials, free books and exclusive member offers as well.
My audiobook, Magpie Mind, is on there now if you’d like to listen and learn ways to increase your creativity:
If you’re in the UK, you can download here
If you’re in the US, you can download here
TED
Oh, I do love a TED talk of an evening. There’s always something new to learn and the speakers are always fantastic. You can browse them by topic too but I like to listen to them at random as well.
https://www.ted.com/
The Scottish Poetry Library
The Scottish Poetry Library has plenty of poetry-themed podcasts to choose from. You can also listen to poets perform their poetry online as well.
https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcasts/
The BBC
The BBC has a huge amount of podcasts to choose from:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts
Self Publishing Formula
If you’re interested in self-publishing, then you can’t go far wrong with Mark Dawson’s https://selfpublishingformula.com/spf-podcast/
Guardian Recommendations
And here are some great literary podcast recommendations from the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/nov/07/words-in-your-ears-the-10-best-books-podcasts
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