Don't you just love it when you get awarded a job via your audition and you get that excitement of reading the first few sentences or if it's a shorter piece like an advert that one and only sentence? Can't wait for all the new jobs out there that could be in the mind of a client's or on a video editor's computer right now.

2014 is a new year and I thought 2013 was a great year, not everyone thought this about 2013 maybe because of the number 13 but I do love this number and it has been a fairly good year. Here's hoping 2014 is a great year for me and also for all the fellow VA's out there.

Happy New Year for 2014!

A little about the plot and what a plot it is.

Tyler Karras is an honest man, a transplanted Brit living the American dream, but his charmed life takes an unexpected turn when his brother, Nick, is coerced into joining ranks with San Francisco's Russian mafia. Ty intervenes to secure Nick's freedom, yet only succeeds in incurring their wrath. With no choice but to accept Nick's new life, Ty returns to his own, but his dreams are dashed when his wife - pregnant with their first child - is killed, the victim of a reckless crime. Despondent and bitter, Ty macerates his grief in alcohol. From the depths of the bottle screams a voice, howling for vengeance. His target is a stranger, the woman who drew his wife toward her death. He doesn't know her, but he'll find her, and when he does, he will make her pay, for a deal has been struck with Nick's Russian associates, enslaving her into a life of bondage.

A fast paced and high energy story about guilt, anger and learning how to forgive. At times harrowing and very unpredictable. It will have you on the edge of your seat. With an intricate plot, the twists and turns will get you until the very end. Their are links below to the audiobook.

The Mistaken on Audible.co.uk

The Mistaken on Amazon.com

The Mistaken in many formats and now in audiobook format, don't miss out on this cracking read.

Time to make sure your voice is in tip-top shape post Christmas period and because as we go in to 2014, a new year, time for new voice projects, and a number of other pet projects.

There is usually a definite slowdown at Christmas time and as soon as Christmas is over the amount of voice over jobs does not pick up so much because of holiday leave and possibly hangovers and over indulgence (too many parties). Some projects get shelved for a couple of weeks, some just give the client a minor and temporary seasonal bout of Alzheimer. Then as the first few days of January begin the pet projects and the temporary shelved professional voice projects start to get the dust blown off them and get readied for your beautiful voice talent. There is a rapid increase in the amount of work available and the voice artists suddenly begin to feel like their schedules are filling up again. With the workload picking up and everybody starting back refreshed in the new year 2014, all of the same crowd of VA's will be out there looking for jobs as well as yourself, the competition is still high, you still need to hone your skills and you still need to upgrade your equipment if you need to and if you have the budget and work out the formula for staying at the top of your game.

It's important to keep the voice artist to client relationship on a very friendly basis because you don't know who the client who hasn't booked you for a while knows and whoever they know is maybe someone who needs to use you. No-one wants to work with someone who has a chip on their shoulder so always be as nice as pie and contain your thoughts even if a project goes a bit astray because of lack of communication.

"How many of us have been on a project that just seems to go backwards and forwards with communication that doesn't quite communicate fully what the client wants?"

There are always some projects that work out this way but keep your annoyance in check and always play it cool. Many voice projects are easy and the clients you deal with can also be easy going but some jobs just seem to have a complete perfectionist at the other end and nothing ever seems to be right. Bite your tongue, be nice and keep that business relationship well balanced.

With the influx of work and projects that should happen in January 2014 as everyone comes back from their holidays, there should be enough jobs for everyone but you'll still be fishing for jobs by auditioning. New Years Resolution! Let's all learn how to fish better and more efficiently - 2014 is going to be an interesting year!

The Mistaken

Nancy S. Thompson

Tyler Karras is an honest man, a transplanted Brit living the American dream, but his charmed life takes an unexpected turn when his brother, Nick, is coerced into joining ranks with San Francisco's Russian mafia. Ty intervenes to secure Nick's freedom, yet only succeeds in incurring their wrath. With no choice but to accept Nick's new life, Ty returns to his own, but his dreams are dashed when his wife—pregnant with their first child—is killed, the victim of a reckless crime. Despondent and bitter, Ty macerates his grief in alcohol. From the depths of the bottle screams a voice, howling for vengeance. His target is a stranger, the woman who drew his wife toward her death. He doesn't know her, but he'll find her, and when he does, he will make her pay, for a deal has been struck with Nick's Russian associates, enslaving her into a life of bondage.


Nancy S. Thompson started writing fiction rather suddenly one day in 2010.  Inspired by a song, she was struck with an idea she couldn’t shake and just had to write it down.  It was while working on this, her first novel, that she discovered how much she loved writing.  Nancy makes her fiction debut with The Mistaken, and is currently working on its sequel, Leverage. In addition to owning an interior design business, Nancy is also a book editor. A Bay Area, California transplant, Nancy is currently living in Seattle with her husband of 23 years, their son, a student at Seattle University, their giant snow dog, Jack, and his kitty, Skye.

Narration: Read by Glenn McKenzie

Available in unabridged audio-CD library packaging

Also Available for the Cherrybook
 
Cherrybook audio titles come pre-loaded on microSD cards, which are easily inserted into a slot on the player. Loading and changing titles is as simple as popping the old card out and the new card in.

See the Cherrybook at our Online Bookstore:  http://www.CherryHillPublishing.com/Bookstore

http://www.CherryHillPublishing.com

How to Preserve your Voice

Damaging the tiny, delicate vocal cords within the larynx is a huge fear amongst performers and those who use their voice for their work. Like any other tool, they require care and consideration, and not warming them up properly, dehydration and posture can all negatively affect their form. Vocal cord nodules - swollen growths similar to callouses - are a common grievance resulting from vocal cord abuse; these cause a rough, scratchy voice and vastly affect its quality and longevity. Once the vocal cords are damaged, they’re hard to heal as they’re often in use. However, by taking simple steps, such as avoiding alcohol, not raising your voice and keeping your voice limber by performing vocal exercises before using it, you can prevent possible future damage.

Warming up

Warming up the vocal cords, just like any other part of the body you’re about to use, is fundamental to preserving your voice. These exercises improve the flexibility of the cords, improving the quality of the voice and preventing them from straining and incurring damage. Start by breathing in and out deeply, stretching out the lungs and then alternating between “f”, “sh” and “ss” sounds to help build and strengthen the vocal cords. Making other noises, such as ‘ooo – known as the Fog Horn exercise - interspersed with deep breathing into the lower abdomen, blowing out the cheeks and humming through the lips so that they vibrate can also help to gently stretch and warm up the voice.

For those who use their voice for long periods of time, for example, singers voice over actors, the vocal cords need to be thoroughly warmed up in order for them not to become hoarse. Voice over actors tend to begin their voice work in narration type voice related work. This in itself is a way to train the vocal cords for extended use, as it prepares them and slowly strengthens them. A way of keeping the voice warm for such work is to simply use it gently and often so that the vocal cords remain warm and used without putting them under undue strain. Remembering to rest your voice when not using for work is also important to keep your vocal chords in great condition.

Sit up straight

Breathing is vital in allowing the vocal cords to work to their full potential and proper posture allows the lungs to fill and expel breath. Sitting up straight and not slumping will infinitely improve not only the voice itself but the volume and ease of use. When performing voice overs, the performer is often sat for hours at a time, making an upright, correct posture crucial in maintaining the authoritative, strong voice a voice over requires. Strengthening the core muscles, either by practising resistance, core based exercises or Pilates will also aid in drawing in breath and controlling it.

Food and Drink

You may not believe that what you put into your stomach is going to affect your vocal cords in the larynx. However, food and drink are two vital aspects of maintaining a strong, clear voice. Eating a balanced, healthy diet leads to a healthy voice. Nutrient dense foods, such as fruit, vegetables and nuts all help to preserve your voice. However, other foods such as spicy or fried foods can agitate the stomach’s production of stomach acid, resulting in an acid reflux, which is not only dangerous for the vocal cords, but can be extremely uncomfortable, holding you back from your full potential. Alcohol can also have a similar detrimental effect, as it encourages the production of mucous, reducing the flexibility of the vocal cords. Instead, to prevent this from happening, you should avoid alcohol and instead drink water to keep yourself hydrated; this keeps the vocal cords lubricated, limber and in full working order.

The vocal cords are often taken for granted. We chatter away in our everyday lives not taking into consideration how powerful our own, personal instrument is. It’s therefore imperative for everyone, not only those who use their instrument for their job, that the voice is preserved through regular, gentle speaking and not shouting or straining it. Those who need extra help in keeping their vocal cords undamaged should take extra steps to keep them in pristine condition; diet, hydration, breathing, posture and warm up exercises all help in preventing damage and preserving your precious instrument.

Thanks to Guest Blogger: Imogen Reed