Hello everyone!
I’ve got exciting news!! Alarum, the first book in the Walking Shadows dystopian sci-fi series, has been made into an audiobook and it’s now available on Audible!
Alarum is not only a special favorite of mine, but also a favorite for many of you. Of course this meant that if I was diving into the world of audiobooks then this was a must. This wasn’t a cheap or thoughtless decision and was more than a mere business venture, this was something I’ve been waiting for if only the right voice could cross my path. AND IT DID! Paige Reisenfeld was my first choice and I knew she had to be the one to narrate this book from the first moment I came across her on social media several months ago. When she read a short excerpt from Alarum for the Femme Audio Takeover across BookTok I knew without a doubt she was the one. I was so nervous when I reached out about the project! Thank goodness she seemed as interested in the story as I was in having her read it!
Paige is the sole narrator of this book (except for a guest appearance whom all parties decided to keep a secret for now although if you’ve already read the book then you can probably make a pretty good guess about it) as it’s told in a single first person POV. She really does a phenomenal job in my opinion (and I’m pretty picky with narrators lol hence one of the big reasons why I was so resistant to the idea of audiobooks in the first place). Not only does she read the book (not to mention the various character voices and accents!), but if you recall there are quite a few lyrics sprinkled throughout. This was the other thing that had me absolutely knowing she was the narrator for Alarum – she sings!! Paige has a beautiful voice and she was willing to use it for the book! Normally audiobooks don’t have singing and they certainly are unlikely to have music. But I’m me so this audiobook has both.
Not only will Paige be singing the lyric sections of the book, but I found a composer to create the melody and play the guitar accompaniment for Riker’s love song to Fury! Riccardo Mazzaglia is an Italian musician who poured care and enthusiasm into the project to create a song for me (and seeing as I own it I admit I’m tempted to somehow see it on Spotify ♡). It’s an added element of challenge to coordinate a creative team spread out not only across the country, but across the world. Yet it had to be done because you, dear readers, simply deserve the best. I really hope you enjoy it!
Paige really puts her performance background to work with her narration delivering a style that is pleasant to listen to yet also packed with emotion as it ebbs and flows from character to character and moment to moment. I truly got swept up in her storytelling! I feel so lucky to have found her! She put a lot of effort into helping me produce this audiobook so if that’s a medium you enjoy then I really hope you’ll give it a listen and leave the book/narrator a review!
I not only want to help my books get out onto shelves, but I want to reach all of you audiobook listeners! I don’t want you to feel left out and honestly even if audiobooks aren’t normally your thing I hope you’ll try this one because Paige really did a wonderful job of bringing it to life. (It had me thinking, “Okay, now when does the movie come out??” ha! Although I also happen to think Fifth Sun would make an excellent TV series though I know I’m biased but gosh the narrators are just so good and really got my imagination going!). She also seemed so genuinely enthusiastic about the story itself which I think lends to even better storytelling. Or maybe that’s all in my head haha but it seems like that’s something that would add an unnamable something to the narration that naturally brings it a step above. (In fact, I’ve been so overwhelmingly fortunate to be working with narrators whom all seem to have a genuine love for my books and I can’t tell you how wonderful that feels!).
Oh! Before I forget… all of my audiobooks, including this one, will be non-exclusive to Audible because despite the royalty cut I really want libraries and readers of all kinds to have access. Be sure to ask your local library to request a copy when it becomes available! (Currently it’s only up on Amazon and Audible, but hopefully soon it’ll start being listed on other retailers and library platforms. Keep an eye on my social media where I’ll update you! If for some reason it isn’t available yet on your favorite audiobook platform, just give it a week or so and by then hopefully the full distribution roll out will be complete.)
Thank you, as always, for all of your support! I will continue doing my best to produce bookish content that you’ll (hopefully) love!
ALARUM: The Audiobook
Author: Talis Jones
Narrator: Paige Reisenfeld
Release Date: April 07, 2023
I fled as they destroyed my home.
I watched as they murdered my family.
I stood silent as they stole my name and threw my life in chains.
I stare coldly at my fading reflection with only one question to ask:
Them or Me?
Set in a future where the United States has fallen, a girl is ripped from her home as a child and forced to endure the harshness around her or else surrender to the dust of bones she treads on. Her life becomes simple: kill or be killed. What she didn’t count on was the heavy cost this world would drain from her soul. When she crosses paths with a curious stranger who offers to show her a place without a map, they head across the crumbling land in search of the fabled Sanctuary. Neither enemies nor elements that rip her hair and claw at her heels can stand in the way of her will to survive.
They say demons lurk in the shadows, but here they strut boldly under the angry sun.
Soon to be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Spotify, iBooks, Hoopla, Libby, Libro.fm, and more! Search for the title or request it from your local library!
Still reading? Then you get a bonus tidbit of info! *drumroll* I’ve already contracted a narrator for Solus! Seeing as that’s Bones’ book I wanted it narrated by a male and if you know Paige then you’ll probably be able to guess who this narrator will be… He’s another narrator I knew immediately was the perfect voice I was looking for and can’t believe he’ll actually be taking on the project! This will be a fall release, however, so unfortunately we’ll have to practice the art of patience. *cries*
Looking for an update on the Hunt de las Brujas audiobook? The narrators have just finished recording it!! It’s now being sent to the team of audio engineers for editing, etc. Looks like it’ll be more of a summer release (hey, life gets in the way sometimes and we just have to roll with it) so whether you enjoy the beach months or not this can be something to look forward to!
Keep an eye out for more events and book releases! I’m not finished writing stories yet.
Stay tuned…
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Talis Jones 