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Angela A. Lambru
Top 10 Questions Children's Book Wr
1. Why should I
hire a professional voice actor for my children's book?
Hiring
a professional voice actor for your children's book ensures high-quality
narration, engages young listeners, and brings the characters to life with
expert storytelling and versatile voices.
2. What qualities
should I look for in a voice actor for a children's book narration?
Look
for a narrator with a strong storytelling ability, warmth, and versatility,
especially in character driven work. You
will want someone with experienced in children’s books or animated
content such as a podcast, is a plus, as it shows they understand how to engage
younger audiences. Most importantly, can
they express emotion and distinguish characters clearly? A professionally
recorded samples or demo is key to evaluate their tone, pacing, and performance
quality.
3. How does the
narration process work for children's books?Initial consultation:
Discuss the project details including
the book's theme, characters, and desired tone.
Script Review: The book's manuscript is reviewed, noting any specific directions such
as age, pronunciations, or character voices
Sample Audition: A short sample of narration can be provided to make sure
the voice and style match the author's vision and character(s)
Recording: The full narration is recorded ensuring high-quality audio and
professional studio quality.
Editing: The recording is edited to remove any errors, adjust pacing, and add
sound effects or music if needed.
Final Review & Delivery: The final version is shared with the
author for approval.The completed audio file is delivered either in mp3 or wav
format depending on what is agreed upon.
4. How can I prepare
my book for narration?Format Clearly.
Ensure the text is easy to read aloud, a word doc is
preferable.
Guide Pronunciations: Clarify names, foreign words, or made-up terms.
Describe Characters: Specifiy any notes on voice, age, or personality.Highlight Emotions: Identify key emotional moments. Highlighting the
text with a marker is helpful.
Clarify Tone: Communicate the intended mood and style.
Share Background: Provide context about the story, pictures, setting, or
characters.
5. How much does
it typically cost to hire a voice actor for a children's book?
Rates
typically range from $200 to $500 per finished hour of narration. The
total cost can vary based on the book's length, and any additional services
required, such as editing, sound effects, language preference and the voice
actors experience.
6. What are the
common mistakes to avoid when hiring a voice actor.
Not
Listening to Demos:
Always review samples of their work.
Ignoring
Experience:
Experience is important, look for actors with relevant work in children's book
narration, in character work such as podcasting, audio drama or animation.
Unclear
Instructions:
Provide detailed guidelines and expectations.
Skipping
Auditions:
Request custom auditions to ensure a good fit.
Rushing
the Process:
Allow enough time for a quality performance and revisions.
7. How can I
evaluate a voice actor's suitability for my book?
Listen
to Demos:
Review their previous work in children's book narration or character work.
Request
a Custom Audition:
Hear how they interpret a passage from your book.
Assess
Versatility:
Can they voice multiple characters or emotional moments convincingly?
Check
References and Reviews: Look at feedback from previous clients. For voice actors with no references request a
short audition or a free sample narration from the book to give authors a sense
of their capabilities.
8. What is the turnaround time for narrating a
children's book?
Turnaround
times is generally from 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the length and
complexity of the book, the narrator’s availability, and any editing needs.
Shorter books or simpler projects may be completed in a few days, while longer
or multi-character stories may take a bit more time.
9. Can the narration be done in multiple languages and
what are the benefits?
Language
Ability- Ask
if they can narrate in more than one language
Wider
Audience Reach:
Makes your book accessible to more families.
Cultural
Inclusivity:
Promotes diversity and inclusion.
Educational
Value:
Helps children learn new languages.
Enhanced
Marketability:
Increases appeal in international markets.
Accessibility:
Reaches
children with varying linguistic needs.
10. What are some
tips for promoting my children's book with its new narration?
Create
Engaging Audio Samples: And share the clips or shorts on social media.
Use
QR Codes:
Link your print book to audio samples.
Feature
on Your Website:
Embed audio players or demo videos.
Collaborate
with Influencers:
Partner with children's book bloggers and influencers.
Host
a Listen Party:
Conduct live or recorded readings with the narration either in person or on
Zoom.
Looking back at my voice over journey in the character genre and considering the classes and workshops I’ve immerse myself into lately, it’s interesting to see how much I did quite by instinct. In reality voice acting is just acting and if you have a background in acting you have a good foundation to begin with. My experience as an actor has given me that foundation. However, I also discovered how much more there is to learn in building a multi-dimensional character in voice overs. There is clearly a difference between acting and voice acting. But let me tell you how I found my first three characters for my storytelling podcast The Kit Bull Story.
Understanding the Characters
Since I wrote the story and created the characters, I knew them very well and knew exactly what I wanted from them. So, naturally I took my first cue from the personalities of the three characters I had created and would play. All were female, each one of them completely different from the other in voice type and age, ranging from young tween, to a middle-aged woman with an accent and one with a mature, matronly voice.
Sustaining Voice Style
I didn’t want to hurt my voice in terms of tone and pitch. This was something I had read once on a blog on animation. Not only did I have to feel comfortable, but I also had to be able to sustain the voice characterizations long term without hurting my vocal cords and it had to feel natural.
Breathing Life into Characters
It was fun discovering where the voices would go as I layered each character with emotional range; anger, surprise, sadness, joy and so on. By adjusting pacing, tone and nuance and incorporating unique qualities and distinctions the characters became even more defined. It was like creating a person! Being a voice actor is more than just having a nice voice; it's about infusing life into stories and characters, giving them breadth and depth. For Kit it was her sweetness, kind and inquisitive nature, for my French lady Fran it was her eccentricity, warmth and friendliness, and for Mrs. Stern it was her icy demeanor and snooty manner—they're not just roles; they're the expression of emotion and narrative.
The Journey Ahead
Looking ahead, I see a canvas filled with possibilities, characters waiting to be discovered. Each voice whether for animation, commercial, corporate narration or other type of voice acting is a new adventure, a fresh exploration into the world of imagination. As a voice actor, you’re always learning and taking classes. It is an ongoing process of discovery and a constant dance between vocal artistry and storytelling.
So, as I wrap up this chapter of my voice-over journey, I'm profoundly grateful for the vibrant characters that have sprung to life in The Kit Bull Story Podcast. Kit Bull, Fran, and Mrs. Stern go beyond mere voices—they're living expressions, embodying the artistry of storytelling through sound. See for yourself and listen to the podcast www.thekitbullstory.com
As a dancer turned voice actor, I discovered firsthand the need and importance for voice actors to stay fit as it is for dancers. It wasn’t long after I made the transition from the big stage to a small recording booth, when I realized that if you don’t maintain a strong and healthy body it will most definitely affect your work as a voice actor. I was focused with the ever-increasing demands of my voice over business, and not so much to the decline of my dance life and workouts, but soon my body was crying out for help!
From Very Active to Sitting in my Booth
I went from being a very active dancer to practically no activity sitting in my booth. I wasn’t used to being confined to a small space; sometimes for long periods of time. Although I would alternate sitting and standing, I still felt uncomfortable and began to feel stiff. I had aches and pains all over and knew something had to change. Because not only did it affect my voice over performance but my attitude as well. Unbelievably, I even questioned whether voice over was what I really wanted to do! I felt conflicted because I know I love performing and love using my voice to tell stories, and to engage an audience. But my body was crying out and I had to listen. I realized I had to start moving again and incorporate some of the level of discipline I had as a dancer to keep my body and mental well-being from falling apart. This experience taught me many things from the perspective of a dancer and a voice actor that I felt are worth sharing!
A dancer’s body is her instrument and that instrument must be kept in the best condition with regular training not only to build strength, but for endurance, flexibility, and mental alertness as well. All which contributes to the ability to perform at the highest level. Voice over work may not require the same level of physical exertion as dancing, but it still demands a strong and resilient body.
Staying Fit is Essential for Voice Actors as it is for Dancers, Here’s Why.
Stretching- Dancers always stretch before and after a performance. By stretching you are increasing your flexibility and blood flow to your muscles, it improves your posture, it’s great for stress relief and it calms your mind. Voice actors can incorporate five to ten minutes of stretching before, after or in between recording sessions. It’s probably the easiest and most doable exercise to do!
Breath Control- Dancers rely on proper breathing techniques to execute movements with grace and precision, voice actors need excellent breath control to deliver lines effectively. Doing some form of cardiovascular exercise can help improve lung capacity and breath control, allowing voice actors to sustain long recording sessions without fatigue. Try jumping jacks, jogging in place, squat jumps or go for a brisk walk.
Posture- Good posture is super important for projecting confidence and authority in voice over performances. Dancers work on maintaining proper alignment to prevent injuries and optimize performance, therefore incorporating exercises that strengthen the core, back, and neck muscles can help voice actors maintain good posture as well. Doing Yoga or in combination with stretching works wonders. Downward facing dog, cat-cow, chest opener or child’s pose are just a few you can get started with.
Energy and Endurance- A voice over session can take its toll on the body, requiring actors to maintain focus and energy for long periods of time. Just as dancers require strength to get through long rehearsals and performances, voice actors benefit from staying physically fit to sustain energy levels throughout recording sessions. Going for long walks, jogging, taking the stairs instead of elevators and if you have a dog take them for some fun in the park!
Emotional Well-being- Physically activity isn't just about building strength and stamina—it's also essential for supporting mental and emotional well-being. Exercise helps to reduce stress, boost mood, and enhance creativity, all valuable assets for voice actors navigating the challenges of the industry. Taking a mental break is so important, I do it by hanging out with my cat Marmaly or doing some
Incorporating a fitness routine into your life however you want to do it can make a big difference in your voice over career. Choose dance, do yoga or any other activity that you enjoy and supports your overall health and well-being. Remember, just like dancers, as voice actors, our bodies are our instruments, and taking care of them is crucial for delivering first-rate performances.
Let's stay fit, healthy, and keep voicing our passions with strength and vitality.