I’m so pleased that not only are all of my books available as audiobooks, but I have fantastic narrators!
My Secret Staircase Mysteries are produced by Macmillan Audio and narrated by Soneela Nankani. Soneela captures not only Tempest’s voice wonderfully, but also the nuances of the whole cast. Not only that, but she captures the whimsical and mysterious spirit of the books.
I hope you’ll enjoy the interview with Soneela below!
Audiobook narrator Soneela Nankani (photo by Jody Christopherson)
What's your favorite thing about being an audiobook narrator?
I’m a huge book nerd. I love to lose myself in stories, learn new things, walk in characters’ shoes. As a kid, I was always toting at least 5 books around. And when I was in 8th grade, I discovered the theater (fun fact: I was cast as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors) and it ignited my love of performance. I’m still a book nerd and I went on to get my MFA in Acting. So I guess I would say, my favorite part of being a narrator is the fact that everyday I get to do two of my absolute favorite things - read and perform.
I also really enjoy discovering new writers through my work. And soaking up new information through each and every book - I am the self-professed queen of random facts.
What's the most surprising thing you've learned about narrating?
It’s demanding and requires a lot of discipline! After the very first recording session I ever had, I went home and slept for 3 hours. Now I know a lot more about how to prepare. I have to do quite a bit of research to prepare for each book. I have to get a good amount of sleep the night before a session. I have to warm up my voice and body before stepping into the studio. I have to take lots of breaks to move and drink water during each session. There’s a lot more that goes into it than you might think!
Who's your favorite character from Gigi's books that you've narrated?
It’s so hard to choose! I love quirky characters and Gigi’s got loads. Obviously Tempest. I love her audacity and totally relate to her journey to find herself after the death of her mother and the sabotaging of her career. Also Ash, Ivy and Nicodemus. I adore all of them in their own right, but also because of their complicatedly caring relationships with Tempest. And Moriarty, in the last book especially, has become so fascinatingly complex. I can’t wait to see what happens with him.
Anything else you'd like to add?
In my experience as a narrator, there’s something particularly special about getting to work on a series. Getting to spend time with the same characters book after book. Getting to go along for the ride as the characters grow and change. After a while, the main characters start to feel like good friends that I get excited about visiting each time. I definitely feel that for Tempest and her family and the Secret Staircase Construction crew. I can’t wait to see what Ash is cooking up the next time I see them.