It’s been a couple of years now since I retired and I’ve been enjoying it. One of the ways of achieving that has been to keep busy and much of that business has been the recording of my stories.
Why would
I do that?
The
easiest answer would be that I write those stories so that people can be
entertained and the addition of audio books widens the scope of those who can
be entertained. Readers, yes, but now listeners.
But it
also goes back to the last 22 years of my so called “working life”. At least 60% of that time was by myself and
with little to occupy me but the pictures floating around in my imagination.
Sure,
those pictures sometimes turned into the start or perhaps a scene in one of my
stories. Sometimes there was satellite radio or recorded music. But it would
have been far easier and time would pass faster by hearing a story from someone
else.
That did
happen. On at least a half dozen times I trained new drivers and the hours
listening to their stories flew by.
Now, with
the various platforms available, my stories and my voice can be telling those
stories while you’re driving, painting, cutting the grass or vacuuming the
carpet. You can download them to your phone or perhaps to the sound system in
your vehicle. You can also download them to your computer and with a “memory
stick” or “USB drive” carry those stories around from vehicle to vehicle.
Yes, I
have some satisfying responses to the printed and digital stories I have out
there. But I also know there are those who don’t think they can take the time
to read a book, even those who need to do so. With and audio book, you can have
the entertainment, make those “robotic” times more satisfying and the days more
rewarding.
“The Great
Liquor War”, my first published novel and now my first published audio book is
available at audio.com. It, and most others that I’ve looked at have samples on
the “buy” page so you have an idea to what you could be listening. In the case
of GLW it is chapter 19 where the NWMP and BC Police with some volunteers
attempt to stop a train/payroll robbery.
Click on the link and it'll take you right to that sample.
https://www.audible.ca/pd/The-Great-Liquor-War-Audiobook/B0CK3W5HJD?eac_link=ur1bBnmZI3Yz&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0CK3W5HJD&qid=VS0rHUkjoh&eac_id=138-2064358-3015852_VS0rHUkjoh&sr=1-1
Most of my
readers will know that there is a sequel to “The Great Liquor War” entitled “Homesteader:
Finding Sharon” which is what I am recording now.
In the
early fifties I remember my great grandmother McGowan leading me over to a big
floor radio and a fifteen minute or half hour story, often the serialization of
a novel. Some of those stories went into full production with sound effects and
a large cast of actors and others were simply narrations. So far, my stories
are narrations by the author --- which would be me.
I’ve
noticed, as have others, that my reading/voicing one of my stories can supply a
whole new feeling.
Eventually
I hope to have all my stories available in audio versions.
