AUDIOBOOK RELEASE: Rules for Ghosting
AUDIOBOOK RELEASE: Rules for Ghosting
A tender Queer Trans romance
I’m DIRECTING audiobooks now, too, y’all!
RULES FOR GHOSTING by Shelly Jay Shore is my audiobook directing debut!
This tender Queer romance has paranormal and rom-com elements, wears its heart on its sleeve, and is a beautifully written portrait of love, grief, and family.
I had the pleasure of directing Petey Gibson for PRH Audio’s production of this title, thanks to producers Lauren and Kelly at PRH, and to my friend and colleague, Jennifer Aquino, for training me to direct!
Stepping into the director’s role was a lot more fun than I had anticipated, to be honest. My favorite part of making audiobooks is the narration, after all. But what I realized while prepping the book and working with the producer is that my approach to directing is the same as my approach to narrating… perhaps because for most of my projects, I’m self-directing!
I think acting and directing are very synergetic. They are both interpretive, both concerned with honoring the author’s story while also transforming (and hopefully, enhancing!) it to a different medium. Both are devoted to an honest, intimate connection to the listener. But acting tends to focus more on the connection in the moment while directing tends to focus on the rhythms and components of the whole. I am finding that my mind really enjoys both perspectives, and it’s nice to sometimes just focus on one and not continually balance the both simultaneously.
This is Petey’s second audiobook, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by listening! I feel spoiled that my first directing project was cast with such a talented actor and natural narrator. His pacing, tone, phrasing, emotional connection to the subtext, subtlety and dexterity in moving from moment to moment and character to character are superb. It was a marvelous learning experience to hold space for him to do his thing, and be constantly surprised, delighted, and impressed by his storytelling. Collaborating with him when I had an alternate idea was also incredibly fun and easy since we share the same acting and comedy lingo. It turns out directing is also teaching me to treat my narrator-self with as much grace as I give to the non-self narrators I get to direct! 😅
Excited for the next one!
🖤🤎❤🧡💛💚💙💜 { progress rainbow heart emojis }
Cheers!
Nicky
