In surprise news today, an editor at All Things That Matter, the brave and clever publisher of THE BITTER AND THE SWEET, said there will soon be applications open to record this Vermont historical novel as an audiobook. I am thrilled! People often ask me about this, and it's the first time a publisher has offered to invest in the special version like this.
The first related author task for this process was to provide the sounds of unusual words in the book, like characters (popular names in the 1850s have sure gone out of fashion today) and places. That second part surprised me for a moment, but then I realized that St. Johnsbury might seem a strange name to a "voice actor" from, say, Georgia or Oklahoma.
So here's my list. Do you remember where in the book each one comes up? And if your answer is, you haven't yet read this third book in the Winds of Freedom -- what are you waiting for? It's available on request from local booksellers, as well as online, or you could encourage your local library to pick up a copy that more neighbors could share.
The Bitter and the Sweet -- Pronunciations
Almyra: al-MY-ruh
Antoinette: an-twuh-NET
chamomile: KAM-oh-mile
Crimean: cry-ME-uhn
Dana: DAY-nuh
Eli: EE-lie
Eliphalet: ell-IF-uh-let
Ephraim: EE-frum
Grimkeé: GRIM-kay
Hazen: HAY-zen
Isaiah: eye-ZAY-uh
Jerusha: juh-ROO-shuh
Jewett: JOO-it
medicament: MED-ick-uh-ment
Myles: miles
Peacham: PEECH-um
Potton: POTT-un
Rokeby: ROKE-bee
Stanstead: STAN-stead
St. Johnsbury: Saint JONS-burry
Stowe: STOH
For extra pleasure, check out this online guide to the skills needed to become a successful audiobook narrator, or this one about what makes a GREAT one.
