I’m
delighted today to be participating in the Audiobook Tour for BLOOD LIES
by Andrew Cunningham, the fifth installment in his Lies Mystery Series.
As part
of the tour, sponsored by Audiobookworm Promotions, I’m sharing my thoughts on
the audio and have a Q & A with the narrator, Greg Hernandez.
First,
let’s hear from narrator Greg Hernandez. Please join me in giving Greg a warm welcome.
Welcome, Greg.
When did you know you wanted to be an audiobook narrator?
Greg:
In 2014 I was looking down the road toward retirement
from my federal government job. I knew I
wanted to do something with voice over, but I didn’t want to go to an
office. I read the book, “More Than Just
A Voice: The REAL Secret to Voiceover Success” by Dave Courvoisier. The chapter on audiobooks was very
intriguing. I did some research and
auditioned in late 2014. I was ecstatic
that I was selected quickly. It’s been a
great adventure and learning experience ever since that fateful day.
Did you find it difficult to “break into” audiobook
narration? What skill/tool helped you the most when getting started?
Greg:
I was a radio news reporter in my first career. Being in front of a microphone was my comfort
zone. I was very glad that I got my
first audiobook a few days after my audition.
It helped a lot that I worked with digital audio in 1987 when it was
first introduced at ABC Radio News. Those
skills have worked in my favor as an independent narrator not working with a
publisher. Plus, I was an audio engineer
when I was a student at Syracuse University working with analog audio.
A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre.
Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career?
Greg:
I believe it’s necessary to know a little about acting
because that’s what narrating mysteries and thrillers is all about. Through my first reviews, I learned that
listeners want distinct character voices so that they know who’s speaking. They don’t want to keep rewinding to keep up
with character dialogue. I’ve studied
acting and taken acting classes in order to make the dialogue sound like a
movie soundtrack.
How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to
maintain your enthusiasm for narrating?
Greg:
Audiobook narration is like running a marathon. You have to keep your voice in shape, and you
have to maintain your energy level high throughout the whole book. In my early narrations I’d sometimes have to
re-record sections because the energy was flagging. Now, I make it a point to maintain a constant
energy just like a runner trying to keep up a steady pace.
Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook
format appeals to you?
Greg:
I listen to hundreds of hours of audiobooks each
year. My favorites are biographies
narrated by the author. There’s nothing
like hearing someone’s story as told by them.
I also love mysteries and thrillers.
I also am very picky about narrators.
What are your favorite and least favorite parts of
narrating an audiobook?
Greg:
I enjoy the whole process from narrating, editing and
processing the audio for final production. Since I edit my own narrations, it’s
my goal to make certain the audio is the best quality to give the listener a
terrific experience. The only frustrating part of narrating is when I get a
cold. That shuts down the whole process behind the microphone. That’s when I go
into editing mode.
What would you say are your strongest narration
abilities?
Greg:
Over the past five years, I’ve made it a point to come up
with distinct character voices. I don’t want them to sound over the top. I want
them to sound like everyday people and believable. Some voices come naturally
from the author’s words, and others take a little time to get the right cadence
and inflection.
What about this title compelled you to audition as
narrator?
Greg:
I have narrated six books by Andrew Cunningham. I haven’t
auditioned for a book since 2015. Andrew and I have a great collaboration. I
call him my director because he’ll let me know if I’ve gotten a character’s
voice the way he envisioned it when he wrote the story. There are about four
more books that Andrew wants me to narrate. This latest series allows me
continue voicing the two main characters, Del and Sabrina, that I now consider
my alter egos.
How closely do you prefer to work with authors?
Greg:
I enjoy authors that listen closely to my narration and
provide feedback. I’ve been fortunate to work with Andrew Cunningham on several
books because he provides valuable input that makes my narration all the more
real sounding. I get great satisfaction when an author says I’ve brought their
book to life.
What types of things are harmful to your voice?
Greg:
I try to narrate for no more than four hours at a
stretch. Doing character voices can put a strain on the voice, too. Warm-up
exercises are key to making sure my voice is ready for the session.
Greg,
thank you for joining us today and sharing this insight as a narrator.
BLOOD LIES
By Andrew Cunningham
* Narrator: Greg Hernandez
* Length: 6 hours 12 minutes
* Publisher: Andrew Cunningham⎮2020
* Genre: Mystery/Thriller
* Series: Lies Mystery Thriller Series, Book 5
* Release
date: March 17, 2020
Gunned down on a busy Boston street,
bestselling mystery author Sabrina Spencer is left clinging to life. Media
speculation suggests a deranged fan as the shooter. But was Sabrina really the
intended target?
For Del Honeycutt, a chilling link
emerges between Sabrina’s shooting and that of his father’s murder three years
earlier. Discovering that his father was leading a secret life, he digs deeper,
and the clues lead Del down a dangerous and deadly path.
BLOOD
LIES is available on Audible.
Now for
my thoughts on this audio.
This is a captivating murder mystery that moves at a steady pace with a few twists and
turns along the way.
Narrator
Greg Hernandez does a great job of bringing the characters to life, enhancing
the story with unique voices for each. His tone and pace will hold your
attention and adds depth to this tantalizing story.
This is
the fifth installment in the series but can be read/listened to as a stand-alone.
If you are new to the series, the author weaves enough background along the way
so that it’s easy to keep up and you’re not lost wondering who is who or what
they are talking about.
The flow
of the story pulls you in as the author intertwines a tale of spies, murder, and
intrigue blended with touches of love and humor. The characters are well
developed with qualities readers/listeners can relate to.
This is
an entertaining mystery that is perfect for an afternoon of getting lost in a
world of secrets and mayhem.
I received
this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm
Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Greg Hernandez. The gifting of this
audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Now for
those of you who aren’t familiar with the author here is a bit of background
on him in his own words.
 |
| Author Andrew Cunningham |
I'm the author of novels in several genres, including,
mystery, thriller, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. Under the name A.R.
Cunningham, I've also written the Arthur MacArthur series of mysteries for
children.
I was born in England but have spent most of my life
living in the U.S.—including 25 years on Cape Cod before moving to Florida. A
former interpreter for the deaf and long-time independent bookseller, I've been
a full-time freelance writer and copy editor for many years. A 4th-degree
Master Black belt in Tang Soo Do, I finally retired from active training when
my body said, "Enough already! Why are you doing this to yourself?"
I'm married, with two grown children and two awesome grandsons. My wife and I
spend as much time traveling as we can and are especially fond of cruising the
Caribbean.
I have been gratified by
the response to my books. When I published Eden Rising back in the spring of
2013, I had no idea what to expect. When I sold my first few copies, I was
excited beyond belief that someone was willing to take a chance on it. Numerous
books and thousands of copies later, I am still humbled by the emails I get
from readers telling me that my books kept them up late into the night.
In October of 2014, Wisdom Spring made me an official
Amazon Bestselling author, a thrill I never thought would happen. But it still
comes down to being able to bring a few hours of escape to a reader. That's
what it's all about for me.
I hope you will try my books. Please feel free to email
me with your comments.
For more on Andrew and his writing, connect with him
on the following sites:
Now for
those of you who aren’t familiar with the narrator, the author-preferred narrator of
mysteries and thrillers, here’s a bit of background on him in his own words.
 |
| Narrator Greg Hernandez |
Narrating audiobooks is highly
gratifying. I immerse myself into an author’s story in order to bring it to
life for the listener. I’ve enjoyed working with Andrew Cunningham for several
years. is books are filled with rich characters, and the stories keep me
turning the pages.
I also work as a background
actor in movies and TV shows.
For more than 20 years, I
worked as a radio news reporter and news writer. I spent half of my
broadcasting career at ABC News Radio in the Washington, D.C., bureau. I covered
all the federal agencies as well as Congress and the White House. I reported on
a wide range of stories during my career, including financial and entertainment
industry news.
For nearly 24 years, I worked
as a federal government spokesman at three separate agencies—National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Mint and Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC).
You can connect with Greg on Twitter.
Check out an audio sample of BLOOD LIES below. You can also follow the
full tour by clicking on the link HERE.
Thanks so much for stopping by
today. Have you read or listened to the previous books in this series?
Plugging you into the audio community since 2016.
Sign up as a tour host
here.
