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Between Eros
Posted by Literary Titan

When I first picked up Chris Neo’s Between Eros, I thought I was stepping into a straightforward love story, but it opened up into something bigger. The book follows Aris, an older, seasoned man juggling a collapsing marriage, unpredictable friendships, and a dangerous ocean voyage that turns into a survival fight. What begins as a romantic adventure quickly spirals into storms, sabotage, and tangled emotional loyalties. The story blends romance, action, and psychological tension, giving it the feel of romantic adventure fiction tinged with thriller energy.
As I read, I found myself reacting as if I were listening to a friend tell me wild stories over coffee, pausing every so often to say, “Wait… what?” The writing leans into momentum rather than subtlety. Neo moves quickly through conflict, argument, seduction, and danger, rarely lingering on inner reflection. The fast pace kept me turning pages. I didn’t expect the mix of interpersonal drama and near disasters at sea to feel as chaotic as it did, but it fits the book’s emotional landscape. Aris is constantly pulled between desire, responsibility, ego, and fear, and the writing mirrors that turbulence.
Aris is written as both admirable and deeply flawed, and the women around him range from seductive to volatile to tender. The tone sometimes slides into melodrama, but in a way that feels intentional for the genre. What stood out most to me were the moments when characters dropped their masks. A single line of vulnerability from Kay, or a burst of insecurity from Uri, did more for me than some of the larger plot swings. The book seems to ask whether love is a force of destiny, a psychological illusion, or something we build through trial, error, and sheer stubbornness. It doesn’t hand you a tidy answer.
By the time I closed the book, I had the sense that Between Eros would appeal most to readers who enjoy high drama, fast movement, and a blend of romance and danger. If you like romantic adventure fiction that leans into passion, betrayal, big emotions, and bigger twists, this one delivers exactly that. It is bold, emotive, and unafraid to swing for the fences.
Pages: 390 | ASIN : B0D6BTYFNZ
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Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Tags: action, Action & Adventure Romance, adventure, author, Between Eros, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, Chris Neo, ebook, fiction, goodreads, indie author, kindle, kobo, literature, Love Triangle Romance, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, romance, romantic adventure, series, story, The Love Secret, writer, writing
Profound Emotional Bonds
Posted by Literary-Titan

The Third Twin follows an ER nurse who is pulled into a web of corruption and black-market adoptions when she sets out to find her missing twin sister. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for The Third Twin came from my lifelong fascination with human connection—how bonds are formed, broken, and sometimes manipulated. As DrHeatAndHeart, my work has always focused on the space where emotional intelligence meets high-pressure situations, and that lens deeply shaped this story.
Identical twins represent one of the most profound emotional bonds we know. Their connection is often intuitive, unspoken, and deeply rooted in identity. I wanted to explore what happens when that bond is violently severed—and how the absence of someone who is literally part of you can become both a wound and a driving force.
Choosing an ER nurse as the protagonist was intentional. Nurses are trained to read people quickly, to stay calm in chaos, and to lead with empathy even when the stakes are life and death. That made her the perfect heroine—not just for a thriller, but for a romance. As she searches for her missing sister, she’s also forced to confront her own emotional walls, learning that vulnerability can be just as powerful as strength.
The black-market adoption thread allowed me to explore a darker side of connection—how love, legacy, and longing can be exploited when systems become corrupt. But at its core, The Third Twin is still a love story. It’s about trust earned under fire, intimacy forged in danger, and the courage it takes to let someone see you when everything is on the line.
Ultimately, the story asks a question I return to again and again in my work: Can love survive the truth? And sometimes, more importantly, can it heal it?
Is there anything from your own life included in your characters’ traits and dialogue?
When we moved into our first neighborhood in Colorado, my next-door neighbor discovered she was pregnant, with triplets. I had the rare privilege of watching that journey unfold from pregnancy through infancy, witnessing not just the logistics of raising three babies at once, but something far more extraordinary: the invisible bond that connected the babies from the very beginning.
After the triplets were born, I helped often, which allowed me to see firsthand how deeply attuned they were to one another—even in the earliest days. Like all newborns, they fussed at times, and each was cared for individually—fed, changed, held, soothed. But when one baby became inconsolable, something remarkable happened. Simply placing one of the other babies beside them in the crib brought instant calm. No rocking. No singing. Just proximity. As if comfort lived in the shared presence of each other.
We watched their tiny hands reach out, searching, until they found one another. The moment they touched—fingers curling, palms resting—peace followed. It was clear they didn’t just recognize each other; they needed each other. This connection existed beyond sound or sight, rooted in something deeper than ordinary awareness.
As they grew, their communication became even more fascinating. Long before words, they spoke in their own language—soft babbles, rhythmic sounds, gestures, and expressions meant only for each other. Even as they learned to communicate with adults using words, they continued speaking in this private way among themselves, as though translating life into a language only they shared.
What struck me most was their awareness of one another, even when they weren’t in the same room. They seemed to sense when another needed comfort, attention, or closeness—crying, settling, or calming in patterns that defied coincidence. When reunited, their communication resumed effortlessly, as if no separation had occurred at all.
Watching these triplets changed the way I understood sibling bonds—especially those formed before birth. Their connection wasn’t learned; it was remembered. A quiet, powerful communication code that many twins and triplets experience, often dismissed as myth—but I saw it with my own eyes. It’s real. And once you witness it, you never forget it.
What is the most challenging aspect of writing a thriller?
The most challenging aspect of writing a thriller is maintaining relentless tension without sacrificing emotional authenticity. Suspense can’t exist on plot alone—readers may turn the pages for danger, but they stay for the people at the center of it.
For me, the real challenge is ensuring that every twist is earned on an emotional level. As DrHeatAndHeart, my work has always focused on how people think, feel, and communicate under pressure. In a thriller, characters are constantly operating in high-stakes environments, and if their reactions don’t feel psychologically true, the tension collapses. Fear, love, hesitation, and trust must unfold in ways that mirror real human behavior—even when the circumstances are extreme.
There’s also a delicate balance between control and surprise. A thriller requires precise pacing and careful structure, yet it must still feel unpredictable. The hardest moments to write are often the quiet ones—the pauses between danger—because that’s where readers sense what could be lost. Those moments allow space for romance, vulnerability, and connection, which ultimately raise the stakes far more than action alone ever could.
Ultimately, blending thriller and romance means understanding that danger sharpens desire, love intensifies risk, and when both are woven together, the emotional payoff becomes as powerful as the suspense itself.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
Yes—readers can absolutely look forward to more work very soon. The Third Twin is part of The Casanova Family Legacy Series, an interconnected collection of romance thrillers that blend danger, devotion, and the enduring power of family.
Two new novels are already in development. The first is When Fire Meets the Snow, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Aspen, Colorado. This story traces the emotional evolution of two people who are both afraid to commit, yet slowly discover a bond strong enough to build a family rooted in trust and love. Readers will also be introduced to Luna, an affectionate, purpose-trained rescue puppy—carefully selected and certified for her intelligence, temperament, and ability to serve—whose journey into becoming a skilled mountain rescue dog mirrors the healing and resilience of the people around her.
The second upcoming novel is The Heiress’s Daughter, which introduces a new heroine while weaving in familiar faces from the Casanova world. She is a classically trained chef who studied in Paris, built her career in Seattle, and then lost everything during the collapse of the restaurant industry in the wake of COVID. Seeking a fresh start, she makes her way to the wide-open beauty of Colorado, where building a career within the Casanova family’s restaurant empire brings opportunity—but also exposes her to betrayal, hidden agendas, and unexpected danger. Her journey is one of reinvention, strength, and love tested under fire.
What excites me most about these stories is the balance—introducing new voices while deepening the emotional legacy of characters readers already know. My goal remains the same with every book: to create stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats, emotionally invested, and believing in love even when the stakes are high.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website | TikTok | Amazon
My body guard. My mistake. My obsession.
And now I am pregnant with his twins.
Luca Stone Is a badass protector.
His mission: Protect the billionaire’s daughters
—including me.
Then danger tore through my family.
A kidnapping. Dangerous predators. Crimes we never knew.
His life changed. So did mine.
But touching him one stormy night changed everything for both of us.
Now the man I hated is the only one I can trust.
As the walls come tumbling down around us,
Can love rescue us and make life right again?
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Posted in Interviews
Tags: action, Action & Adventure Romance, adventure, author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, fiction, goodreads, indie author, kindle, kobo, Lexi Parker, literature, Love Lies and Billionaire Secrets, mystery, Mystery Action & Adventure, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, story, The Third Twin, thriller, Women's Adventure Fiction, writer, writing
The Third Twin: Love, Lies, and Billionaire Secrets
Posted by Literary Titan

The Third Twin is a romance thriller that follows Sienna Casanova, an ER nurse whose world fractures the moment she feels her identical twin, Savannah, scream. Savannah, a famous investigative journalist, has gone dark, leaving behind only a bloodied necklace and a trail of danger. As Sienna races to find her, she’s pulled into a violent web involving black-market adoption rings, corrupt insiders, and Luca Stone, her sister’s brooding head of security. The story blends high-stakes suspense with an evolving, combustible romance. It’s very much a romance thriller at heart, stitched together with family secrets, danger, and the messy intensity of twinhood.
Reading it felt like riding in a car that never dips below fifty. The writing is fast and cinematic, with fight scenes that crack like glass and emotional beats that don’t waste time getting to the point. Parker leans fully into immediacy. Characters breathe hard, move fast, and react without overthinking. There were moments when I wanted the prose to linger or soften, but the clipped style fits the story’s heartbeat. Sienna’s voice oscillates between raw fear, jealousy, tenderness, and grit, and I found myself liking her more whenever she admitted something uncomfortable. Luca, meanwhile, carries that familiar romance-thriller energy: stoic, lethal, frustrating, and of course, irresistible. Their dynamic is chaotic in a way that feels intentional, like sparks thrown off metal.
What surprised me most was how the book knits an intimate relationship into the tension of a broader conspiracy. The author could have relied on the dangerous-man-protective-woman trope alone, but she gives the siblings’ bond real weight. The “twin sense” isn’t just a gimmick. It becomes the emotional spine of the story and gives the romance a stronger foundation than heat alone. Some emotional transitions happen fast. One chapter, you’re dodging gunmen, and the next, you’re collapsing into each other’s arms. But honestly, the abruptness works in a romance thriller. Bodies crash together under pressure. People cling to whatever feels solid. It all felt believable within the world that author Lexi Parker is building.
I’d recommend The Third Twin to readers who love romance thrillers packed with danger, devotion, and a relentless pace. If you enjoy bodyguard-romance energy, high stakes, and stories where fear and attraction tangle together until you can’t tell them apart, this one will hit the mark. And if you like your books to read like movies playing out in real time, you’ll have a good time here.
Pages: 190 | ASIN : B0FWC5VJFP
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Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Tags: action, Action & Adventure Romance, adventure, author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, fiction, goodreads, indie author, kindle, kobo, Lexi Parker, literature, Mystery Action & Adventure, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, romance, story, The Third Twin, thriller, Thriller & Suspense Action Fiction, writer, writing
Crimson: BadAss Biker Bitches Book 2
Posted by Literary Titan

Crimson, the second installment in the Badass Biker Bitches series, is a raw, emotionally driven tale about heartbreak, betrayal, sisterhood, and redemption, set against the gritty backdrop of biker clubs and military-trained women. At its core, it’s about Crimson, a former elite military operative who returns home only to come face to face with her painful past, namely Talon, the man who broke her heart nearly two decades earlier. What unfolds is a tangled mess of past wounds, unresolved tension, and family feuds that refuse to stay buried.
I’ve gotta say, Mellors knows how to grip you by the collar from page one. That opening scene where Crimson overhears her boyfriend and best friend betraying her? It hit like a sucker punch to the gut. The betrayal is so sharply written, Talon’s sweet nothings to Jane, the innocent forehead kiss, and Crimson’s heartbreak bleeding through the pages, I felt every ounce of her rage and humiliation. The decision she makes right after, walking away from it all? Powerful. That emotional blowout at the cave set the tone for a story that doesn’t hold back.
What really caught me off guard, though, was the unexpected pivot into military espionage. Crimson isn’t just a scorned lover; she’s a total badass. Mellors weaves in Crimson’s backstory as part of the WARD (Women Army Recon Droppers), a covert, all-female special ops unit and it’s actually one of my favorite parts of the book. There’s a camaraderie among the women, Godiva, Siren, Saber, that feels earned and real. Their banter, loyalty, and ride-or-die energy give the book its backbone. Like the scene at the bar where Crimson calls out the bartender for ogling Godiva? It’s got bite, sass, and sisterhood. It’s these moments that elevate the story beyond just romance or revenge, it’s about healing with your chosen family.
Now, let’s talk about the chaos with Talon. There were moments I wanted to throttle him, especially when he forgot to show up to their long-awaited talk. The emotional buildup to that moment, only for him to sleep through it? Maddening. But Mellors doesn’t write him off as some one-dimensional screw-up. His regret felt real. His flashbacks to their teenage love, his confusion about the betrayal, and the late-night messages show he’s just as torn up. Still, I sided with Crimson when she stormed off. And that twist at the end with their dads and a shooting pulling them both back into the family feud? Whew. Didn’t see that coming.
Crimson is messy, passionate, and full of heart. Mellors writes like she’s unloading every emotion onto the page, and I was here for it. If you like tough women, tangled love stories, and characters who feel like they’ve lived a thousand lives, this one’s for you. Especially if you’re into the whole biker/military/ride-or-die crew vibe with a sprinkle of drama and a whole lot of heart. Just be ready to yell at a few characters. And maybe fall a little in love with them, too.
Pages: 149 | ASIN : B0DPT7ZJP2
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Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Tags: Action & Adventure Romance, author, Badass Biker Bitches, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, Crimson, Darlene Mellors, ebook, enemies to lovers romance, goodreads, indie author, kindle, kobo, literature, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, Small Town Romance, story, writer, writing
Donovan’s Revolution
Posted by Literary Titan

Michael Loyd Gray’s Donovan’s Revolution is a captivating work of historical fiction that plunges readers into the heart of Haiti during the turbulent Duvalier regime. The novel chronicles Donovan, a former seminary student turned itinerant Catholic worker, as he navigates the political and social unrest that defines this era. Immersed in the vibrant yet volatile life of Haiti, Donovan finds himself entwined in the people’s uprising against the infamous Baby Doc Duvalier.
Gray’s prose seamlessly intertwines vivid imagery of Haiti’s lush landscapes and vibrant culture with the raw emotional intensity of its political struggles. The contrast between the country’s breathtaking beauty and its stark poverty and violence reflects Donovan’s own internal conflicts, creating a narrative as rich in depth as it is in detail. Through Gray’s masterful storytelling, readers are transported into the heart of the revolution, experiencing the turmoil and uncertainty that define both the characters’ lives and the historical moment itself. At its core, Donovan’s Revolution is a story of self-discovery and transformation. Donovan confronts his doubts and searches for faith, identity, and purpose. Along the way, he forges meaningful connections: with Gilles, a mysterious guide to the rebels; Michel, the resolute leader of the resistance; and Emmanuella, who helps Donovan explore his gentler, more vulnerable side. Most compelling, however, is the sense of hope Gray imbues throughout the narrative, a hope that fuels the Haitian people’s unwavering fight against oppression. The novel is an emotional journey, blending despair and inspiration. Gray does not shy away from the harrowing realities of violence and suffering. Yet, he balances these darker moments with the resilience and courage of ordinary individuals rising to reclaim their futures. The life-threatening challenges and existential dilemmas faced by the characters linger in the reader’s mind long after the final page.
I recommend Donovan’s Revolution to historical fiction enthusiasts who will appreciate the novel’s insightful portrayal of Haiti’s modern history, an often overlooked subject. Political observers may draw parallels between the Duvalier regime and Haiti’s ongoing struggles, while those who enjoy thought-provoking stories will find much to reflect on. Themes of faith, hope, friendship, and identity ensure this gripping tale will captivate readers from start to finish.
Pages: 163 | ASIN : B0D9L6PB4L
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Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Tags: Action & Adventure Romance, author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, Donovan's Revolution, ebook, goodreads, historical fiction, indie author, kindle, kobo, literary fiction, literature, Michael Loyd Gray, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, religious romance, story, writer, writing
Liar Queen
Posted by Literary Titan

M.T. Solomon’s Liar Queen delivers an epic fantasy brimming with heart-pounding adventure, slow-burning romance, and intricate family dynamics. At its heart lies a brutal tradition—a fight to the death between sisters to determine the Queen of the Sacred Sword. Mara, having defeated her sister, Iris, now rules the Jeweled Realm. Her reign faces turmoil when news arrives of a witch in the wasteland claiming to be Iris, demanding an audience. The encounter threatens to unravel Mara’s hard-won throne. Boden, a prince from another realm and a devout follower of Saint Kalda pledges unwavering loyalty to the rightful queen. His devotion fuels his resolve to follow Mara on her perilous journey. But as the dangers mount, Boden must confront the ultimate question: is his queen’s cause worth the price of his life?
The novel balances action, emotion, and a richly imagined world. Solomon crafts a tale that keeps readers hooked, with a narrative pace that urges, “just one more chapter.” Beneath the thrilling plot lies a deeper exploration of sibling relationships and the painful process of breaking toxic family cycles. These themes are intricately woven into vivid imagery, painting a landscape as dynamic as the story itself. The characters are unforgettable.
Mara’s strength and vulnerability create a compelling protagonist, while Boden’s steadfastness adds depth to their partnership. The inclusion of a map enriches the experience, allowing readers to journey alongside the characters through forests, deserts, and islands. Each realm introduces distinct cultures, religions, and traditions, offering a fascinating exploration of diversity. The story underscores the possibilities of peace, emphasizing the value of embracing differences.
Liar Queen captivated me from start to finish. Its immersive world, multi-dimensional characters, and resonant themes left me longing for more. If you seek an adventurous fantasy with meaningful undertones and a touch of romance, Liar Queen is an essential addition to your reading list.
Pages: 372 | ASIN : B0DKTVVZXL
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Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Tags: action, Action & Adventure Romance, adventure, author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, enemies to lovers romance, epic fantasy, fiction, goodreads, indie author, kindle, kobo, Liar Queen, literature, M.T. Solomon, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, romance, story, writer, writing
Mixed-Genre Stories
Posted by Literary-Titan

Aftermath: Into the Unknown follows a woman in a post-apocalyptic world whose home is in danger from a biker gang that has invaded the city and must now make an 800-mile trip with a man she just met to get to safety. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story’s inspiration came from the first book of the series, The Edge of Life: Love and Survival During the Apocalypse, and my book, The Wish.
When I was writing The Edge of Life (Two acquaintances’ road trip from Seattle to South Dakota in the wake of an asteroid impact with Earth) I didn’t want to kill the characters of The Wish. Instead, they meet my Edge characters on the way to the bunker city in South Dakota. To make the timing work, since one group traveled by car and the other by bike and on foot, I created a delay for the car group mentioned in a line or two of conversation. They stopped in Idaho for a few days to convince someone’s father to join them. He refused because he was waiting for his granddaughters to cross the mountains from the coast.
Aftermath picks up three years later with the grandfather and one of the granddaughters. The biker who accompanies her on the journey seems to be Robin’s opposite, but in the post-apocalyptic world they inhabit, as survivors, they are more similar than different. I liked the idea of opposites being so much the same.
Your characters are interesting and unique, drawing readers into their lives. What things do you find interesting about the human condition that makes for great fiction?
Honestly, I borrow bits and pieces from people I know, add aspects of myself, and include something new to make characters. For example, my husband and I both love music (he’s the inspiration for an audiophile) even if our range of tastes are not the same, they overlap. My daughters are Swifties, as are millions of others and someone Robin’s age could have been one too. Reading is also something people could have in common, even if their tastes are very different. Having hobbies and interests makes characters relatable for readers because they feel more real.
Most people just want to be understood and not be alone.
You flawlessly blend Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian and Romance in this book. It takes exceptional talent to do this and make the story stand out. How did you go about blending the two genres without disrupting the story?
Thank you. I appreciate that you thought I did this well. I didn’t think about blending the genres so much as, that WAS the story. From the beginning, I envisioned Aftermath as a love story in a post-apocalyptic setting. Each book in this series will be a stand-alone, apocalypse, or post-apocalypse romance. They will connect because I love to have my books linked, but each will feature a new couple who will fall in love while trying to survive in their harsh new world.
All of my books are mixed-genre stories, perhaps because I’ve been an avid reader of so many genres for my whole life.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
The series will most definitely continue. There is a conflict coming between the Slains and those in Vita Xterra. I’ve written a short story called “Rat Girl,” a prequel for the third book in the series that will be posted on my website later this fall. The third book is in the planning stage and will include the Rat Girl, a man from the bunker complex, and the secondary characters include several from Edge and Aftermath. There will also be a Nick and Jake story (minor but important characters from Edge). Dozens of readers have reached out asking what happened to them when the asteroid hit, which got things swirling in my mind. They need their own book.
I may also write a book about some of the missing family members mentioned in both published books in the series. There could also be other stories, including one set in Canada.
I’m hoping to release one book in this series and one other book every year, though I have two different books written and being published in 2025. I’d love to see Love and Survival 3 published in 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Robin dreamed of attending Yale and using her brain. Kory lived on the streets of Seattle and relied on his brawn. Without the asteroid, they never would have met.
For three years, Robin and her grandfather have been hiding, trusting no one. When a biker gang moves into town, Robin can no longer scrounge or tend her garden. Because her grandfather is dying, he urges her to join her extended family—800 miles away in a bunker city in South Dakota, but she doesn’t want to leave.
Desperate, her grandfather disappears to force Robin into action and meets Kory, who’s with the bikers but disillusioned. Seeing a man who likes to read and could protect his granddaughter, he convinces Kory he can start over and accompany Robin on the long journey.
Unaware of her grandfather’s plan, Robin exposes her hiding place searching for him, and Kory saves her. On the run, they battle the elements and survivalists, learning to trust each other. If they can’t reach the safety of Vita xTerra, they won’t survive long enough to have a future together.
Prepare for another non-stop, post-apocalyptic road trip in Aftermath: Into the Unknown as they fight for love and survival.
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Posted in Interviews
Tags: Action & Adventure Romance, Aftermath: Into the Unknown, author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, dystopian science fiction, ebook, fiction, goodreads, indie author, kindle, kobo, Lena Gibson, literature, nook, novel, Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction, read, reader, reading, sci-fi, science fiction, story, writer, writing
Collaborators with Duelling Computers
Posted by Literary-Titan
In Tree Pose, Ric and Elaina’s romantic getaway in Tasmania turns perilous when a mysterious text from Ric’s past threatens to upend their lives. How important do you think the role of a narrator is in shaping the listener’s experience of an audiobook?
For an Audiobook, the narrator makes or breaks the production. A seasoned, professional narrator or voice performer can heighten the storyline with a deep sense of storytelling. They can bring the listener into the “story world” with their voice.
In many ways, an audiobook is a play that happens in the listener’s mind. It’s all about the words and the way they sound.
We wrote the Yoga Mat Mysteries series as lyrical fiction. It’s not only meant to be read but also to be heard.
We envisioned this long ago when we first started talking about this series. The words and combinations of words are carefully crafted to put you in every scene as if you were attending a play. Our narrator Rupert Degas is a consummate actor and voice actor. He has the ability to take the words from the written page and transform them into verbal voice images.
We like to think of our stories as having magic. The storyteller can add that fairy dust which gives the stories even greater capacity.
How involved were you in the selection of the narrator, and what qualities do you think Degas brings to the storytelling that enhances the listener’s experience?
We spent over a year searching and listened to audition tapes each day. There were hundreds of auditions heard over the entire year. We were searching for the narrator that could collaborate well with us.
We had written our prose that begged not only to be read but also to be listened to. Storytelling is an art and important in the Yoga Mat Mysteries series. We wanted to immerse the reader and the audiobook listener into the world of our characters.
Overall, enriching our characters with the power of audiobooks, gave them a new world beyond the printed page. We had originally breathed life into them, but audiobooks gave them the clarity of clear speech.
Our characters now had an expanded stage presence—and they could talk, laugh, and cry … in various accents!
Rupert Degas brings his voice-acting energy into the strong characterizations that we have developed. In our joint project of working with Rupert, we have fused together a winning combination of the human voice speaking the award-winning prose.
How did you feel when you first heard Rupert Degas’ narration of Tree Pose, and what aspects of his performance stood out to you the most?
After a full year of searching, our compatibility meter zeroed in on Rupert Degas. Rupert has the uncanny ability to create, craft, and deliver an infinite range of voices. We had another unique set of voices in Tree Pose for him to voice perform.
Once again, we gave Rupert a detailed biography for each character. We knew these characters well. We had lived with them for two years by then. John claimed that Ric, one of our main protagonists, was using his straight razor and leaving it wet on the bathroom sink!
Hearing the prose spoken and Rupert’s interpretation of our characters was very fulfilling. We had read the book to each other numerous times during our edits. As this is book three Rupert has a thorough understanding of the main characters and how they would speak and react.
We have poured our energy into their personalities, bringing them alive on the page. Rupert helped intensify the drama, love, humour, fear, and wonder of each of the characters.
Were there any particular scenes or moments in Tree Pose that you were especially excited to hear brought to life through Rupert Degas’ narration?
Every dramatic, funny, powerful story starts with the characters and storyline. The best narrator cannot resurrect a story that does not compel.
We spent about a year on the written part of the book /audiobook. We are careful and diligent writers. We ensure excellence in terms of editing, proofreading, and production. The book has to be ‘5-star’ before we even start the audiobook production.
Our goal is always ironclad: The voice of the storyteller had to enhance the listener’s experience of our stories.
We were seasoned audiobook producers by the time we came to book 3, Tree Pose. We were excited to once again be working with Rupert.
Our first audiobook, Dead Man’s Pose had captured the imagination of AudioFile, the premier review of audiobooks. It earned an Earphones award and the founder of audiobook, Robin Whitten, provided a ‘Behind the Mic’ podcast interview with Jo Reed.
By the end of the year, Dead Man’s Pose was awarded Best of 2023 in the mystery/suspense category.
Earlier this year, we won an award from IBPA for the Second Audiobook in our series – Cobra Pose. This was in the category of Best Audiobook – Fiction. A month later, we won the Best Audiobook for the (Mystery/Suspense/Thriller,Action/Adventure) category again for Cobra Pose from the Indie Reader Discovery Awards.
The story of Tree Pose takes place on the island of Tasmania Australia and besides Ric and Elaina, the characters include our seasoned outback detective, Jack MacMasters, and Alfred Hastings a man who prefers sleep rough.
Alfred’s voice was particularly difficult for us to describe to Rupert. We liked Chris Hemsworth’s Australian accent, but there was a particular commercial that we had heard where that male voice speaks with a gravelly sound to it. It took us a month to track down the commercial we had heard and describe what we liked about ‘gravelly quality’.
Alfred is one of our characters who likes to sleep rough. He’s been ‘on the ground’ for over ten years. It was that gravelly quality that we were after.
As a connoisseur voice actor, Rupert nailed Alfred’s voice. As Alfred roams around Tasmania, his role becomes instrumental and his voice perfect for this mystery thriller, hinting at just enough romance for this third story in our series.
Recently one of the reviewers of Tree Pose confided they stayed up all night listening to it. Now that is music to our ears!
It makes every minute of the year of unsuccessful listening, the time in our unventilated closet, the nights wondering about ‘What’s the Plan?’ … all worthwhile.
We want every listener to listen to our stories and be so enthralled, they stay up all night to listen. Or they, “go around the block just one more time” so they can hear the end of that story.
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Posted in Audiobooks, Interviews
Tags: action, Action & Adventure Romance, adventure, Audiobooks, author, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, book trailer, bookblogger, books, books to read, booktube, booktuber, ebook, fiction, goodreads, indie author, International Mystery & Crime, John Roosen, kindle, kobo, literature, mystery, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, series, story, Susan Rogers, Susan Rogers and John Roosen, trailer, Tree Pose, writer, writing











