Acer

 

 

Author: Lilly Atlas

 

Narrators: Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard

 

Series: No Prisoners, Book Three

 

Length: 9 hours 53 minutes

 

Publisher: Lilly Atlas Books LLC

 

Released: July 17, 2017

 

Genre: MC Romance

After one unforgettable night with a dangerous outlaw, Fia knows she must limit contact with the kind of man who could never fit in her wealthy circle. Unfortunately, she can’t keep their brief but passionate encounter far from her thoughts. When she seeks him out for reasons unrelated to their chemistry, the worst happens, and Fia is attacked by a madman. With her life turned upside down, she seeks help from the one person she can’t get out of her mind. Betrayed by someone he should have been able to trust above all, Acer spends the next two decades of his life avoiding entanglements that have any chance of ending with a knife in his back. The MC life provides a safe way to have personal connections and loyalty due to its simple rule: betray the club and punishment will be severe. Still, he keeps a large part of himself locked away inside, hidden even from his MC brothers. When the woman who’s been messing with his head for months reappears in his life needing sanctuary, Acer jumps to her aid. He’s committed to help her reclaim her life, but determined to keep her at arms-length in the process. As Acer and Fia fight their growing feelings, his club is in danger from a new and different kind of enemy. Will his refusal to put his full trust in anyone, including the woman he’s falling for, end up destroying more than betrayal ever could?

Lilly Atlas is the contemporary romance author of the award-nominated No Prisoners MC series. She’s a proud Navy wife, mother of two spunky girls, and one crazy pug. Every time Lilly downloads a new EBook, she expects her Kindle to tell her it’s exhausted and beg for some rest. Thankfully that hasn’t happened yet, so she can often be found absorbed in a good book.

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Noah Michael Levine is an Audie Award-Winning audiobook narrator and producer living in beautiful Nyack, NY. His over 180 titles include almost every genre. While he loves his work completely – and collaborating with all kinds of different authors, he does not love writing about himself in the third person.

Website⎮Facebook⎮Twitter⎮Instagram

Erin deWard is an Audie Award-Winning narrator with over sixty titles in genres ranging from Spirituality to Young Adult to Adult Contemporary and others. She’s worked on stage, screen, and behind the mic for over thirty years. She is beyond grateful to have come to this place in her life and thanks all of the people and organizations that sped her on her way. In addition to her love of acting, Erin is passionate about her work as an audio describer, translating visual images in media and performance into aural pictures for people who have low or no vision. She studies and performs Shakespearean text and can most frequently be seen cavorting onstage with The Strange Bedfellows, the adult troupe of the Children’s Shakespeare Theatre of New York. Erin lives in lovely Nyack on Hudson, New York with her husband, daughter, sometimes her college-aged son, and two ill-behaved but loveable dogs, Annie and Benevolio. Proud member of SAG/AFTRA

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  I really enjoyed the alternating narration in this story! Having a boy and girl do the parts for each character definitely helps me picture the characters better. I liked both of the narrators equally. They have nice smooth voices and didn’t read too fast or without any emotion. So they definitely get a 4.5/5.

For the story I thought it was pretty sweet. One of the nicer biker romances I’ve read/listened to so far. They may be tough characters, but they also have this lightheartedness as well that really shows their depth. Definitely enjoyed this a lot! 5/5 stars!

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Lilly Atlas. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Q&A with Author Lilly Atlas

 

1. 1. Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.
      1. 1. The first time was a bit daunting because I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, what the experience would be like, or if turning my book into an audiobook was a good financial decision. After some research, it looked like ACX would be the best option. I listed the first book in the series, Striker, on ACX and received a bunch of interviews. Noah was my clear favorite, and thankfully he’s a pro at this and was very patient and helpful with a total newbie. Now that we’re on to the fourth and fifth books, the process is easy and we have a great working relationship.

       

       

 

• Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
  1. 1. I didn’t really consider it until I was in the process of publishing the book. Honestly, publishing in general wasn’t necessarily something I thought I would do until I was about three quarters of the way finished with writing the book.

   

   

 

 

• How did you select your narrator?
  1. 1. I chose Noah for the first book through ACX’s audition process. Striker received quite a few auditions and Noah’s was the clear favorite. After working with him and having a fantastic experience, I decided to use him and his partner Erin for the rest of the series. Having the duet narration really takes the storytelling to another level.

   

   

 

 

• How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
  1. 1. Before each book, I provide basic character sketches for any new characters. I highlight the way the character looks, attitudes, accents, and anything I think will help them bring the character to life. So far, Erin and Noah have done an fantastic job of making my visions a reality. Throughout recording, they will upload a chunk of chapters at a time to ACX and I’ll review and approve them.

   

   

 

 

• Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?
  1. 1. The entire series takes place in the desert in Arizona. The town is fictional, but descriptions of the desert are based on real experiences. My husband is in the Navy and we were stationed with the Marines in Twentynine Palms CA for a few years. It doesn’t get much more desert than Twentynine Palms, at least not here in the US.

   

   

 

 

• How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
  1. 1. I’m still fairly new to the game, so I really haven’t had a slump as far as enthusiasm yet. I have three little kiddos at home, and spend three days per week writing. The other days I’m home with the munchkins. It’s proven to be a really great balance and keeps things fresh. On my writing days, I’m excited to get all the ideas that have been swirling around in my head out of there.

   

   

 

 

• Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?
  1. 1. There are a few parts of the story that are quite emotionally charged. Erin and Noah do an amazing job of capturing the range of emotions the characters go through. That’s one of the things I love about audiobooks. You can really feel the story coming to life and experience it in a way that is very different from reading alone.

   

   

 

 

• If you had the power to time travel, would you use it? If yes, when and where would you go?
  1. 1. Yes, I would definitely use it. I’d go to sometime in the future. As a bit of a technology junkie, I’d love to see what the world will look like in a hundred years.

   

   

 

 

• What gets you out of a writing slump? What about a reading slump?
  1. 1. Thankfully, I have yet to experience a true writing slump. There are times when I struggle through a scene or chapter. Either I’m not happy with the way it’s moving from my head to the computer, or I’m a bit stuck with what I want to say. I’ve found that as long as I write something, even if it ends up being complete junk, it helps me push through. Later, when my mind is fresh and I’ve stepped way from it, I come back and edit the scene until I’m satisfied.

   

   

 

 

• In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of writing a stand-alone novel vs. writing a series?
  1. 1. So far I’ve only written in a series. I recently plotted out a book that I thought was going to be a stand alone, but as I developed the secondary characters, ideas began flowing for their stories as well. Guess that means it’s going to end up being a series instead of a stand alone!

   

   

 

 

• What’s your favorite:
  1. 1. Food – Bread. I’m holding out hope for a reverse-Atkins diet that is based around eating carbs.

   

• Song – Right now I’m obsessed with Sound of Silence by Disturbed, but I mostly listen to country. I’m sure it will change soon enough
• Book – I could never pick just one. As a child, it was A Little Princess, but as an adult, the list is too long to choose.
• Television show – Game of Thrones, hands down
• Movie –
• Band
• Sports team – Born and bred in NY so it’s the Yankees for me
• City – Washington DC. I right outside the city for many years and love everything about it (except the traffic).

 

 

• Are any of those things referenced in your work? There are a few things, music choices and such that are based on things I like. It’s easier to incorporate something you know about. In the book I’m working on now, the heroine is a physical therapist, which comes directly from my life. I worked as a PT for almost ten years before completely changing my career path and becoming a writer.

 

 

• What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?
  1. 1. Hire a professional editor and really try to learn from them. Since I started this process, I’ve learned so much about writing, editing, marketing, business management, publishing, and the list goes on. What’s been extremely valuable, is all the lessons, tips, and tricks I’ve learned from my editors. I try to internalize everything they tell me and use it in subsequent books. It can be a bit daunting at first, especially the part where you sometimes have to put away your pride and take some criticism you may not agree with, but it’s a worthwhile learning experience every time.

   

   

 

 

• Do you have any tips for authors going through the process of turning their books into audiobooks?
  1. 1. Spend some time going through the auditions. You want to think about pacing, accent, do you like the way they do male and female parts if it’s just one narrator. There are a number of things to take into account. But don’t go crazy! For me, it was really a gut feeling about who I thought would portray my characters the best. Also, don’t be intimidated by ACX. Once you have the process under your belt once, it’s much easier. There is a book called the Audiobook Book that really helps walk you through the process of audiobook creation. It’s very helpful.

   

   

 

 

• What’s next for you?
  1. 1. In terms of audiobooks, Erin and Noah have the next two books in the series, Hook and Lucky, in their queue, so they are forthcoming. Right now, I’m writing the last book in the No Prisoners MC series. Then, it’s on to a new series!

   

   

 

 

Acer Giveaway: $25 Amazon Gift Card

Sep. 8th:
From the TBR Pile
Sep. 9th:
Up ‘Til Dawn Book Blog
Lilly’s Book World

Sep. 10th:
Between the Coverz
Spunky N Sassy
Loves Great Reads

Sep. 11th:
The Book Junkie Reads
Haddie’s Haven
Sep. 12th:
Lomeraniel
Jazzy Book Reviews
What Is That Book About

Sep. 13th:
Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm
The Bookworm Lodge
Sep. 14th:
The Book Addict’s Reviews
Elsie’s Audiobook Digest

• ➜Sign up as a host here

HTML Post with Joint Narrator Interview

Author: Lilly Atlas

Narrators: Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard

Series: No Prisoners, Book Three

Length: 9 hours 53 minutes

Publisher: Lilly Atlas Books LLC

Released: July 17, 2017

Genre: MC Romance

After one unforgettable night with a dangerous outlaw, Fia knows she must limit contact with the kind of man who could never fit in her wealthy circle. Unfortunately, she can’t keep their brief but passionate encounter far from her thoughts. When she seeks him out for reasons unrelated to their chemistry, the worst happens, and Fia is attacked by a madman. With her life turned upside down, she seeks help from the one person she can’t get out of her mind.
Betrayed by someone he should have been able to trust above all, Acer spends the next two decades of his life avoiding entanglements that have any chance of ending with a knife in his back. The MC life provides a safe way to have personal connections and loyalty due to its simple rule: betray the club and punishment will be severe. Still, he keeps a large part of himself locked away inside, hidden even from his MC brothers. When the woman who’s been messing with his head for months reappears in his life needing sanctuary, Acer jumps to her aid. He’s committed to help her reclaim her life, but determined to keep her at arms-length in the process.
As Acer and Fia fight their growing feelings, his club is in danger from a new and different kind of enemy. Will his refusal to put his full trust in anyone, including the woman he’s falling for, end up destroying more than betrayal ever could?

Lilly Atlas is the contemporary romance author of the award-nominated No Prisoners MC series. She’s a proud Navy wife, mother of two spunky girls, and one crazy pug. Every time Lilly downloads a new EBook, she expects her Kindle to tell her it’s exhausted and beg for some rest. Thankfully that hasn’t happened yet, so she can often be found absorbed in a good book.

Website⎮Facebook⎮Twitter⎮Instagram

Noah Michael Levine is an Audie Award-Winning audiobook narrator and producer living in beautiful Nyack, NY. His over 180 titles include almost every genre. While he loves his work completely – and collaborating with all kinds of different authors, he does not love writing about himself in the third person.

Website⎮Facebook⎮Twitter⎮Instagram

Erin deWard is an Audie Award-Winning narrator with over sixty titles in genres ranging from Spirituality to Young Adult to Adult Contemporary and others. She’s worked on stage, screen, and behind the mic for over thirty years. She is beyond grateful to have come to this place in her life and thanks all of the people and organizations that sped her on her way.

In addition to her love of acting, Erin is passionate about her work as an audio describer, translating visual images in media and performance into aural pictures for people who have low or no vision. She studies and performs Shakespearean text and can most frequently be seen cavorting onstage with The Strange Bedfellows, the adult troupe of the Children’s Shakespeare Theatre of New York.

Erin lives in lovely Nyack on Hudson, New York with her husband, daughter, sometimes her college-aged son, and two ill-behaved but loveable dogs, Annie and Benevolio.

Proud member of SAG/AFTRA

Website⎮Facebook⎮Twitter⎮Instagram

 

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Lilly Atlas. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Q&A with Narrators Erin deWard & Noah Michael Levine

• When did you know you wanted to be an audiobook narrator?
  • Erin: I have always wanted to act. It’s the only job I’ve ever really wanted to do. I came to audiobooks and audio description (translating visual images into auditory images for people who are blind) in two different ways. One was that I had been working with organizations that provided a variety of services to people with disabilities. I became very interested in accessibility issues. The other was that I wasn’t getting any younger and it occurred to me that there weren’t a lot of great roles for round, middle aged women. These two things blended together and led me to narration and description. I’m so grateful for the work I get to do. It’s an actor’s dream to act every day and to play such a wide variety of characters. AND I get to provide accessible books. What could be better?
  • Noah: In the autumn of 2012, right after Hurricane Sandy, I was sitting in café charging every electronic device I owned. (I lost power at my apartment for 10 days.) Seriously, if I had on a blue polo shirt, I could have been my own department at Best Buy. Through the window I saw this guy, Gary, whom I had known for a LONG time. It turned out he had been editing audiobooks for the past ten years. He knew I had a background in acting and music. I didn’t know much about audiobooks at the time – hadn’t even thought about it as something to do. But I had no idea what I was going to do with the next phase of my life. He suggested I reach out to Audible. I sent in a sample of my voiceover work. They gave me a book to record, and … I’ve been at it ever since.
• Did you find it difficult to “break into” audiobook narration? What skill/tool helped you the most when getting started?
  • Erin: It is hard. Like any acting gig. I’m still at the point where I consider myself ‘breaking in’. I wonder if one ever gets to the point where one feels as if they’ve arrived? The tools that helped and are helping me as I move forward on this journey are perseverance, humor, and networking. As in any acting if you give up you’re sunk. Sticking with it, even when it seems all things are against forward motion, is the most important thing. Having a sense of humor about all of the trials and tribulations helps a lot. I guess networking isn’t really the right word. Building personal relationships is a more apt description. Those relationships can sustain you through a lot. Knowing people who understand what you do and how hard it can be is a lifesaver. Having personal relationships with people in the field also provides an opportunity to share information and tips, as well as brainstorm about novel projects. It gives me a sense of community that I crave and creates a web of support that is incredibly valuable.
• A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career?
  • Erin: Audiobook narration is acting. There are some people who come to acting with no training. But most everyone who makes it has trained long and hard. It’s the same in narration. I believe that you don’t just need to have studied acting but also the specific kind of intimate acting required in audiobook narration. There are really great teachers out there with years of experience who are wonderfully helpful and easily reached at all different price points. Narration is a unique acting challenge and I really believe to meet it well you need to train.
    
  • Noah: I’m sure there are people out there with no background in acting that could be great narrators, but I think having those chops is essential. So much is happening at one time. Often a narrator is “self-directing,” so one must be able to do that at the same time they are finding the emotional beats, being conscious of the pacing, portraying characters genuinely, being mindful of mouth sounds and external noises. Having, at least, some kind of background and/or training in theatre, film and/or TV acting is vitally important to being a good narrator.
• What type of training have you undergone?
  • Erin: I have been studying acting since I was 8 years old. I’ve taken basic method acting classes, scene study, acting for film and television, Comedia del Arte, dance, classical theater, but most of my recent training has been in Shakespearean text and audiobook narration. I have had the good fortune to study Shakespeare text, scene work, and clowning with the some of the most respected and innovative people on the east coast. And I’ve been lucky to study with Paul Alan Ruben, a well-known audiobook director and author in an ongoing basis, as well as Eliza Foss, Jayme Mattler, and I’ve just booked a session with Carol Monda.
• How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for narrating?
  • Erin: I love to act. It gives me enormous pleasure and I consider myself ridiculously lucky to be able to do it every day. That said, I work 7 days a week, so taking breaks is vital. I like to be outside. Sometimes I just sit in my porch swing to recharge. Walking in the woods works wonders – even just a scenic drive does the trick. A glass of good wine with good friends and lots of laughter is another favorite way to recharge.
  • Noah: Who says I avoid burn-out? Haha. I truly am enthusiastic about this work. All I’ve ever really wanted to do is perform. And I get to do that every day. And while sometimes I get a little fried, the passion does not dissipate. I take lots of breaks. Clear my mind by cooking or playing the piano. Make sure I get out of the apartment at least once a week. (Only kidding … it’s at least twice a week.) Spend time with friends and try to find a healthy balance in life.
• Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
  • Erin: I love a good audiobook. When I used to drive in to Manhattan, I listened a lot. I have always loved to listen to a good story, the way words can transport you. Reading is a great pleasure but being told a story somehow brings a whole new dimension. The way the storyteller interprets allows the listener to imagine and go along for the ride. It’s a shared experience, communal, even if you are not in the same room.
  • Noah: I don’t often listen to audiobooks. I simply don’t have the time. The format/artform is very compelling to me, though. It is, perhaps, one of the most intimate relationships between a performer and their audience. The narrator’s voice is, literally, being piped into the ears and brain of the listener. So that makes it all-the-more important to keep the performances grounded – not go over the top – convey the variety of emotional and situational content without bludgeoning the recipient. So, when it is pulled off well – it is really incredible.
• What are your favorite and least favorite parts of narrating an audiobook?
  • Erin: My favorite parts of narrating are when the writing and my reading mesh so well that it feels as if the words are my own. The feeling of flow I get from finding the rhythm of a scene and knowing that I’m doing justice to the author’s words. My least favorite part is accents. I don’t have a great ear for accents at least when it comes to being able to reproduce them. When I have to do an accent, I get very judgmental about my work and it takes me right out of the moment.
  • Noah: My least favorite parts of narrating are all the mistakes I make. Sometimes I’m just having an off day. Other times it’s harder for the brain/eye/mouth coordination to get settled with the writing or structure of a book. So, when I’m making a lot of mistakes and having to stop and start a lot, it impedes the flow. My favorite part is when you are REALLY in the groove. Hitting all your marks. Connecting with the material and the characters in a way that the words just flow so beautifully. It’s an awesome feeling.
• What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator?
  • Erin: Noah and I love love love to do books that are romance with suspense and humor. Lily writes stories that make you care about the characters, that pull you into their worlds. A good thriller is always fun to work on and Lily’s ability to weave danger and romance together made us want to get our hands on these characters.
  • Noah: Lilly’s writing is great. The characters are well defined and differentiated. The dialogue is crisp. The sex scenes are muy caliente! I’ve really enjoyed working on this series.
• How did you decide how each character should sound in this title?
  • Erin: I let the authors words guide me. When you read a character, certain traits become apparent and from there it becomes clear who the person is and how they sound.
  • Noah: Lilly’s character descriptions were really on point. That helped a lot. But in a series of this length, with so many heroes and heroines, I had to dig into my bag of tricks to make sure all the guys sounded different, but … you know … (presumably) sexy. Striker was first – and he got a low, gruff voice. Jester got more of a big, booming voice. Acer – because of his background, got smooth and deep with a hint of southern to him.
    The fun (and sometimes tricky) thing, particularly with Romance novels, is that you don’t always know who is going to get a book of their own. And let’s face it, probably no one wants to hear a voice that sounds like Pee Wee Herman as the hero of a romance novel. So, when making a voice choice, I have to be conscious of whether or not that character might turn out to be a hero in another book. If Lilly gives Gumby his own book – I’m going to have a hard time making him sound sexy. Haha.
• If you had the power to time travel, would you use it? If yes, when and where would you go?
  • Erin: I so totally would use it. Oh, where wouldn’t I go??? I’d go to Elizabethan England and watch a play by Shakespeare. I’d go to the time of Viking raids and ride across the sea in Viking ships. I’d go the heat Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech. I’d go to Vienna and hear Mozart live. And then I’d go Leipzig to hear Bach. I’d go to Woodstock but only for a little while – I don’t like mud. And then there’s the future. Boy, I’d never get any work done.
  • Noah: Um .. HELL YEAH! I would be ALL OVER the place. Past and future. I wouldn’t go back prior to the development of civilization, as we know it. Though, there are a lot of mysteries around when, where at how “civilizations” came to be. I would definitely want to see what things are like in 500 years … 5000 years … a million. (Assuming, of course, there’s still a “here” here.) I’m not sure there a specific place or time I’d want to see more than others. More just the depth and breadth of our evolution.
• What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
  • Erin: Listening is a lovely way to enjoy literature. It is different than reading, to be sure, but there is nothing lazy or less intellectual about it. Listening is a share activity where reading is usually a solo activity. Both have their place in the enjoyment of a story.
  • Noah: I say … BULLSHIT! Look – art is subjective, we all know that. One can say, “I don’t like audiobooks. I like to read books with my eyes.” That’s fine. Can’t argue with that. It’s a personal preference. But when someone takes it to the level of accusing others of “cheating” by listening to an audiobook, it’s certainly an opinion, but it’s also an accusation. And I think that’s unfair. There are a lot of people who listen to audiobooks but refer to it as reading – partly, I believe, because they don’t want to be judged for listening. I wish they didn’t feel that way. I wish they felt more embracing of the fact that they are LISTENING – because there’s nothing wrong with that. Books and plays are adapted into movies. And while those same naysayers might object there, too, these are all valid and different aspects of artful expression. I think audiobooks are an amazing medium and no one should be or feel denigrated for enjoying what they like.
• What bits of advice would you give to aspiring audiobook narrators?
  • Noah: Do your homework.
    Fairly frequently I hear from people that they think they should be an audiobook narrator because someone told them they have a great voice or their kids really like it when they read to them at night. And those are both good qualities. But narrating is, I believe, a lot more complex and intricate than most people realize.Everything has to be thought through/out – from constructing your recording space, choice of hardware and software, to having some training/background in acting, editing and multitasking. The audiobook industry is the fastest growing sector in all of publishing. There’s a lot of work out there to be had. What we don’t want, as an industry, as a wealth of mediocre audiobooks. They can’t all be “amazing,” but we can try our best – and that means making a commitment to the art and craft in every way possible.

• What’s next for you?
  • Erin: More Lily Atlas! More Renea Mason! More Cherise Sinclair! A book by Max E Stone. The last book in an Amanda M Lee trilogy. And possibly Titus Andronicus on stage.
  • Noah: I’m grateful to be busy. I’m currently working on several projects simultaneously – both solo and with Erin in our Duet work. And we have lots more coming down the pike – including … the next book in Lilly Atlas’ MC No Prisoners series … LUCKY!
• Bonus question: Any funny anecdotes from inside the recording studio?
  • Erin: I’ll leave that question to Noah.
  • Noah: To answer this question … I will point you to a website: http://reneamason.com/audiobooks/
    Scroll down to the bottom of the page and listen to Symphony Of Light Outtakes and Curing Doctor Vincent Outtakes. There’s also an audio interview Erin and I did, called Sex, Wine and Audiobooks. I think those will give you an idea of some of the things that go on in the booth. 😉

Acer Giveaway: $25 Amazon Gift Card

Sep. 8th:
From the TBR Pile
Sep. 9th:
Up ‘Til Dawn Book Blog
Lilly’s Book World

Sep. 10th:
Between the Coverz
Spunky N Sassy
Loves Great Reads

Sep. 11th:
The Book Junkie Reads
Haddie’s Haven
Sep. 12th:
Lomeraniel
Jazzy Book Reviews
What Is That Book About

Sep. 13th:
Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm
The Bookworm Lodge
Sep. 14th:
The Book Addict’s Reviews
Elsie’s Audiobook Digest

➜Sign up as a host here

 

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