The Kate Daniels dramatized adaptations have reached the half-way point already: today, Graphic Audio released book 5, Magic Slays, across all retailers and library systems. How time flies when we’re having horde fun!
To celebrate the release, we bring you a guest interview with Nora Achrati, who voices our beloved Kate, adapts the scripts and directs the productions, and Michael Glenn, the growliest Curran in all the lands.
Nora Achrati
Creative Director at Graphic Audio
Nora Achrati is best known to the BDH as Nora Sofyan, the narrator for Sweep of the Heart, and as the voice of Kate in the Graphic Audio adaptation of the Kate Daniels series and Dina in GA’s Innkeeper Chronicles dramatization.
As Creative Director, you wear so many hats for the Kate Daniels adaptations: You adapt the script, direct the voice actors, interpret the main character, and select all the final takes. Do these roles ever come into conflict, or do you feel it’s helpful to have that much control? Do you ever keep a line in the script not because it’s necessary, but because you really want to say it in Kate’s voice as an actor, for example? Or change the script if director Nora feels something isn’t working during recordings?
Oof. This is a fantastic question, and a big one to unpack.
So from a purely practical standpoint, there’s a huge advantage to being able to play Kate myself – our production schedules are incredibly tight, and by playing the “master of ceremonies,” I can make sure I get all the files I need on time. Also – maybe even more critical – I don’t (usually) have to worry about the main actor being unavailable/out of town later in post-production when we inevitably need dialogue and narration retakes, which can definitely be a scramble.
From a creative standpoint, it’s a mixed blessing. I adore Kate, I feel incredibly lucky to get to play her. She’s so different from Dina—I’ll admit I connected more readily to Dina than to Kate, it wasn’t an easy mental/emotional shift—but it’s really fun to be her. And yeah, I can make little tweaks to dialogue or narration along the way if something needs to be more “natural” sounding or if a speech/passage is running a bit long (though IA are such tremendous writers, it’s hard to make cuts).
But self-directing can be a hard, lonely road, and to that end I do sometimes wish I were able to direct someone else or had someone else directing me. Going solo, there’s an opportunity to get stuck in my head twice: first, when recording the lines (“did I say that right?”), and then later, when editing and trying to figure out which take to use (“why the heck did I say it like that?”). To paraphrase a beloved admiral, it’s sometimes a trap.
What is your favorite part of portraying Kate?
Favorite parts: Tapping my inner sassmaster and getting to work with KenYatta Rogers [Ed. note: the actor who portrays Jim in the dramatized adaptations]. I love what a deep, dark, cynical creature she is, and I love every single moment of “oh shit, what have I done / unleashed / gotten myself into” that comes her way.
You didn’t ask, hehe, but least-favorite part (…or how about “most challenging”…) is getting my mouth around the Russian vocab. Ilona is a very, very patient teacher but “volhv” will be the death of me.
The Kate Daniels universe is delightfully complex and has a surprising number of fan-favorite characters who don’t always have lot of screen time, yet are eagerly awaited to come on the scene. It must require a huge cast! How many people do you have working so far on the project? Saiman alone requires up to four different actors in certain books! Do all those actors know they’re “sharing” a role, for example? Is it challenging to cast?
Ok, you’ve made me curious enough about the body count to figure this out. Off the bat, I can tell you that each book so far uses about 30 separate actors, and there are about 40 different people who play characters appearing in two or more books… Well, I’ve just merged my spreadsheets, and when Magic Slays is done, there’ll have been a total of 105 separate actors who’ve played in this universe so far. That’s amazing. I need a nap.
Most of us have a vision of dramatized adaptations being recorded, probably based on period dramas that show radio plays. All the actors sitting together in a studio with microphone stands and paper scripts, and maybe a sound effects person in a corner making storm sounds with a sheet of metal. But that’s not at all the modern version of the process, is it? Do you still record scenes together or separately with each actor? Do they all get the entire script? Do you do all the scenes in order or do you give the more difficult/important one’s priority?
Haha! It’d be AMAZING to be able to stage a radio-playstyle reading of a script, foley and all! They’re so big and so long, though, we’d have to rent out an auditorium and turn it into a sleepover. Which would also be amazing.
Each cast member does receive the whole script, as well as a character description and a brief synopsis of the story. Because these are book-length scripts, we only expect the main characters to read them through—most actors are only asked to familiarize themselves with their specific scenes.
In each recording session, I’m working with a single actor at a time, reading the script with them, providing cues and context, and answering questions/giving direction, as needed. Afterward, actors send in their recording sessions, and we (the directors) listen through and select the takes to use. Working and playing with actors is hands down my favorite part of the whole process.
Could you tell us about your upcoming projects, the ones you are most excited about? (Not limited to Ilona Andrews projects.)
Haha, I’ll be doing Kate Daniels ’til the lamassu come home. I’m also excited to be doing some voicework for an upcoming Sarah J. Maas title.
And I’m very, very excited for our vacation – we’re taking a big family trip to Algeria, where my dad is from, and where most of his family still lives. It’ll be the first time my husband and my youngest have been. I cannot wait to show them the desert.
Do you have any recommendations for the Book Devouring Horde?
I’m currently digging on Graphic Audio’s adaptations of the Murderbot series, The Sidekick’s Initiative or of Eric Carter. And I’ll never turn down a chance to promote anything by Chuck Rogers, or C.J. Cherryh. We took a long road trip over the winter holidays and entertained the kids with the entire Archie reboot (regular series, not the horror titles, though those are fun, too) – after which my 5-year-old declared she’s changing her name to Veronica. She’s a lil bit of a diva.
Michael Glenn
Voice Actor at Graphic Audio
Michael is familiar to us as the voice behind Curran, not only in GA adaptations, but also in the Wilmington Years series and Small Magics audiobook.
The first thing we are dying to know, do you do any special voice prep or recovery after you record Curran’s growly parts? The bloopers Nora generously shares with us show the incredible vocal strain you sometimes go through to get just the right roar!
The roars are tough. Fight scenes are hard too, a lot of loud bursts of sound. Curran is great though, because it’s not just roars and fights! I’ve recorded… wow, literally thousands of characters for Graphic Audio over the years, and I’d say the vast majority of them have been random zombies, or soon-to-die outlaws, or rampaging mutants. Those are genuinely hard, because there’s no break, it’s all screams and grunts and dying noises. For an hour. No complaints though, who else has a job like this?!
Curran is also fun because, as you might have heard in those bloopers or in other Graphic Audio books, he’s lower than my normal speaking voice. So vocally, I get to really drop him into my gut when I record. I know I’ve hit the right register when I can feel the bass in my voice rumble my spine. Recovery is usually no worse than a nice cup of coffee or tea, and a little vocal rest. After so many years in this business, and most of them projecting for theaters, my instrument is well tuned!
[Ed. Note: Some Curran fight cues where we can hear exactly what he means: ]
Do you have a favorite Curran scene so far?
I really liked the first meeting between Kate and Curran, the held anticipation on both sides. I liked the soup scene a lot, like a kitten playing with yarn. I will say, the hot tub scene turned out fantastic, but it was SOOOO awkward to record. I’ve known Nora for a long time, and we know each other’s spouses and kids. We joked and laughed a lot during that session. “This job is so weird!”
[Ed. note: referenced the Curran’s POV Soup, included with Magic Burns; Hot tub scene POV included with Magic Strikes]
Hehe. Were there any other unexpected challenges along the way? Do you feel more at ease doing the Beast Lord fight scenes, or the relationship banter?
Having COVID around the last book was tough, trying to find a time to record when I wasn’t exhausted and sounding like it. Also, the way that Curran’s backstory is revealed over time proved tricky to get the tone just right for that first book. Again, credit to Nora for knowing how all the pieces are supposed to move.
Recording the Curran POVs from Small Magics that Graphic Audio are adapting alongside the main series—do you try to get in a different mental space when interpreting Curran through his own view rather than how he is seen through Kate’s eyes?
The great thing about the way Graphic Audio records is that you just skip around and do your parts in the dialogue sections. Spoiler! We’re not actually in the room with each other when we record. I’ve never recorded a single Graphic Audio scene with anyone other than the director as my scene partner (who, in this case luckily, was also Kate). That’s the genius of their editing; they make it all sound so smooth! So recording the POV section was really no different than the other parts, I’m always reading through Curran’s eyes.
Well, it’s safe to say you are blowing us away with your romantic male lead portrayal of Curran, from your excellent interpretation of his humor tones all the way to the sexy
purring. Have you always portrayed the dashing male protagonists or do you consider
yourself more of a “character actor”?
It’s funny, I have a whole different career in the voice-over world than I do as an in-person actor. For most of my career, I’ve been a stage actor, and primarily a character actor. I’ve never really been seen for the “male protagonist” or “romantic male lead” parts. “Male antagonist” maybe. “Male best friend” or “2nd male lead”, certainly. I usually land parts in comedies; I like to think I have a good sense of timing, and a talent for physical gags (more so in my youth when my body recovered faster, certainly). I’ve also developed a skill for fostering new plays, and am really enthusiastic when I get to help generate new work. Last year, I was in Ink and The Seafarer, both at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland.
However, when I started working for Graphic Audio, initially it was to play The Flash for a series of DC Comic adaptations they were working on. I think because I record fast, I can do a lot of accents, and I’m not afraid to fully commit in the booth, I ended up getting more and more work with Graphic Audio. As that work and my voice have evolved over the years, I’ve started doing more and more of these gruff or “sexy purring” parts. Just the genetic gift of a deep register and a gravelly early morning grumble!
Could you tell us about your upcoming projects, the ones you are most excited about?
(Not limited to Ilona Andrews projects.)
The project I’m most excited about at the moment actually has nothing to do with acting. Thanks in no small part to playing Curran this past year, I’m looking into a big kitchen renovation for my house!
Do you have any recommendations for our readers?
Blue Eyed Samurai on Netflix; any comic by Brian K. Vaughan; The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson; The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh (just for the audacity of that much nightly destruction!); Tracy Bonham’s Blink the Brightest album… I could do this all day.
These interviews are great. thank you for organising this.
😀 Hope it was surprise enough!
A very nice surprise. Thank you.
Yes, even more so when it was confirmed that I didn’t imagine the whole reading/picking up a clue in the previous comments section about a surprise!
I can put my circa 1920s Miss Marple hat firmly back on 🤣🤣🤣🤣
hmmm…imagining Agatha Christie adaptations with a House Andrews snark twist. Now those might be some cool GA adaptations I’d pay to listen to.
But who am I kidding any GA adaptation of a HA production is an automatic pre order for me.
Of the other GA productions in now slightly addicted to, I’ve started listening to see if any of our favourite players are part of the cast.
So far I’ve found Nora two of my other favourites the Rylee Adamson series and Fred the vampire accountant.
I’m sure I remember hearing Michael’s name in one of the other productions, but can’t recall which one.
I do have one question for the GA team.
Is it true that actors have to have unique registered names and (if its true and it applies across all acting fields from voice to screen and stage); does that mean that if a voice actor has the same name as a screen actor, that they are one and the same?
Thank you 😊
I will ask 🙂
thank you
That rule changed a few years ago. Michael Keaton, for example, was born Michael Douglas, I believe, but there was already an actor by that name, so he changed it for acting. Michael J. Fox didn’t have a middle name, I don’t think, so he added the J because there was already a Michael Fox. Richard Dean Anderson had to add his middle name because there was already a Richard Anderson. (I’m pretty sure I have all those right; it’s been a while since I heard them.)
The rules changed a few years ago, which is why there are two actresses named Vanessa Williams.
I think one of them goes by Vanessa L. Williams, if I’m not mistaken.
Not when you look on IMDB.com. There’s two just as Vanessa Williams, one as Vanessa Anne Williams, and another one as Vanessa Nicole Williams. Vanessa L. might have been the second until they change the rule and then she might have dropped the L.
oh, thank you, that is interesting to know. I kept reading one of Nora and Michael’s colleagues names as Christopher Walken (it was walker, but I was imagining the actor to possibly be the same one from sleepy hollow etc.)
Great great great interview!!! Thank you for this surprise 😍 I always like to know how things work “behind the scenes” 🥰
I love these behind-the-scenes peeks.
Thank you to Nora and Michael for letting us take a peek at what’s happening behind the magic curtain, and to Mod-R for orchestrating. 🙏🏼
OK…..so I really want to read the blog. BUT Magic Slays just finished downloading. What do I do!?! …….gonna go listen. But I’ll be back. 🙂
Thanks Mod R!
Those growly sounds of Michael as Curran makes me laugh. You really have to have a bass voice to get those growls right, and Michael has that in spades. 😀
Snark (Kate) meet your match in a kitty, kitty, kitty (Curran). And after a lot of issues, problems, and Hugh, the match lit up.
This is a lovely treat. I was “meh” going into Graphic Audio. I am now firmly in the camp of wanting to grab random people and explain very earnestly to them how this will change their life.
I’m also glad to read that it looks like we’ll be getting Kate Daniels for the foreseeable future. *GA Happy Dance* (Please tell me I read that correctly and didn’t do a crazy BDH intrepretation of what Nora said.)
I love — enthusiastically and with much hand waving — the voice casting. I really appreciate Nora, Michael & co. keeping me company on the road . . . and everyone fits in the car. 🙂
We’ll be getting Magic Gifts next, and the rest of the Kate main series up to Magic Triumphs, and all the Curran POVs from Small Magics, and Jim’s POV.
Magic Tests is included with this release. We’ll probably see Retribution Clause too.
More than that I’ve been sworn to secrecy about 😉
Yay! for the rest of the Kate main series!
Yay! for cool things ModR has been sworn to secrecy about!
that’s wonderful
Thank you for the wonderful surprise Mod R! It’s so interesting to learn about what happens behind the microphone and the questions were perfect!
I’m already listening to the release as I got lucky and it dropped into my GA app late last night. Woo hoo!
I love GA and Nora. Im always sad when I ran out of GA. Im saving the last sanderson novel because of that. So dumb question if Nora did narrator for sweep of heart did she also voice Dina?
Not a silly question at all :).
Yes, Nora has voiced Dina twice-over. She portrayed her (as well as adapted the scripts and directed the entire Innkeeper series) for Graphic Audio https://www.graphicaudiointernational.net/our-productions/series/f-j/innkeeper-chronicles.html
Privately, not linked to Graphic Audio, she recorded the traditional audiobook of Sweep of the Heart for House Andrews: the unabridged, one-narrator version https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/happy-audio-release-to-sweep-of-the-heart/
She was so good as the single narrator. She did an excellent job of reproducing the voices of other characters that we have heard on Graphic Audio. Her Gaston was right on!
I can’t believe they’ve released half of the books already! Congrats!
I just got this alert from Audible. Really excited to start on GA KD. So far Innkeeper is wonderful.
yay thanks for the interviews! very cool
Enjoyed the interviews! What a great surprise. Looking forward to more of the GraphicAudio Kate books. 😀
Loved this Mod R!
Thanks to all who play parts in both Dina and Kate stories, you are amazing!
Off to listen to GA Magic Slays! (so excited!)
First of all I’m so excited and this was a really fun and interesting blog post. I loved the guest interviews. I’m excited for Michael’s kitchen dreams to become a reality.
Anyway –
I’m sorry if this has already been asked and answered. Will we get a graphic audio adaption of Hidden Legacy?
There is no official news on that front, I’m afraid. But we can hope – maybe it just takes getting closer to the end of Kate until they can schedule new things ☺️.
Because the Baylors would be a-mah-zing in the dramatized version!
I hope all IA’s books come to GA. I love them! Hidden Legacy would be amazing in GA and hopefully, wouldn’t take too much time away from IA’s regular schedule with contracts, coordination, explanations, etc. I can listen to all the GAs over and over. Saving the latest for next week when i have a ton of time to kill after a procedure….we’ll see if i last that long.
Ahhhhhh! Weee! I saw the title of this post and sprinted to my library link YES! It was there and I am First of the Horde to borrow it! I promise to have it back on the ‘shelf’ as soon as I finish it so another of my people may enjoy. Thank you!
Thank you for this!!It didn’t even occur to me to check my library!!!
Thank you so much for the interviews! As a reader, I too often think of audiobooks as “storytime” for adults. (As a librarian working in the children’s section, and as a parent, I’ve done my share of storytime for kids.) It is so easy to forget that when you are recording for a massive audience that there is a lot of “behind the scenes” work needed to bring it all to life.
This was fun! Thanks much!
I’m surprised at least some of the actors don’t sit together to do their scenes. It seems like it would be harder for the editor to match volume levels to make it sounds like they’re in the same room.
<3 Thank you for bringing these interviews to us, I love reading about more people's thoughts on House IA books. And the emotional interpretation of the actors is so awesome. I have my own way in which I've incorporated these books into my life, so hearing different views is very fun.
I loved these interviews. The questions were great, and the responses were interesting, funny, and engaging. Thank you!
P.S. Did Nora already read the whole series? (Since the lamassu are in the next book, and I don’t think they’ve recorded it yet.)
Did Michael previously read the books? Or does he just read them in preparation for recording?
Nora has read ahead and also almost finished the adaptation for book 6 😁. She’s incredibly good at what she does and she knocks the scripts out seemingly effortlessly. House Andrews are on hand for questions, so she’s aware of nuances and Easter Eggs or Horde favourite moments.
I’m not sure about Michael, but I do know Michael’s spouse is of the Horde and the news that he would be Curran was met with excitement hehe. And he ofc voiced the Willmington Years traditional audiobook for House Andrews, so he does know ahead anyway!
oh wow, lucky lady to have an official curran growl in her daily life!
In the MP3 version, some of the audio is missing between part 1 and part 2. Just checking if it’s just me?
Hey Therese, the best solution to this is to contact GA directly https://graphicaudio.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new – they’ll be able to check your download and advise or provide a new iteration of it.
I haven’t had anyone else comment with this issue yet.
They fixed and I was able to redownload. 😀
So happy to hear! 🙂
I also have the same problem with the MP3 download. I’ll try to contact GraphicAudio via the link you provided, Mod R. Thanks!
Graphic Audio have updated the mp3 file, you can just redownload it now and it will be correct 🙂
Thanks, Mod R! 😘
Sa-weet!!
I really needed this today – thank you! Already deep into Magic Slays, and it’s a crazy busy day. Thanks to today’s release, I’ll make through better than anticipated.
Thanks for a peek behind the GA scenes too.
It’s here! So exciting! I kept refreshing GA app😅
I’m a bit surprised about Luthers voice, I thought it’s going to be closer to nerdy/Saiman working persona/Gastek. Oh well, you can’t win them all, the rest is fabulous😁
thank you so much for the insight – I LURVE GA, and Nora, Michael and team.
Just wanted to say how I am enjoying these dramatic productions!! I have read the books and listened to the audiobooks of the entire Kate series several times, but I am still loving these new ways to enjoy these fabulous stories.
So glad that Kate Daniels has been so popular that Michael Glenn is remodeling his kitchen!
Re: His comments about difference in parts between stage/movie/tv roles and voice acting. I know actors can be rejected because they don’t “look” the part. With Graphic Audio they can portray so many different roles and accents. I love encountering our IA actors in other GA productions.
Thank you for sharing! Lover hearing the crew’s POV on recording GA and their recommendations. They’re amazing!!!
Wow, I’m blown away by these interviews and appreciate them so much.
What a treat! Such lovely people pouring their abundant talents into their work.
“’til the lamassu come home”? 😀 What a great sense of humor! <3
Just when you think, it couldn't get any better, the recommendations hit home:
Namedropping my favorite album by Tracy Bonham… unreal!
Sending love from Europe – E
Fascinating; thank you!
I listened to Magic Slays from GA in less than 24 hours. It was AWESOME!
Out of curiosity, do you know yet if Gunmetal Magic, Andrea and Rafael’s story, will be on GA? It’s told at the same time as Magic Gifts and it’s an entire novel, which is why I’m asking. Thank you.
At the moment, GA is only adapting the main series Kate books and Small Magics. There is no official news for anything else but who knows, once those are done, they might look around 😉
Perfect voices for these characters. This interview has sent me to start a relisten of tides/clams. Great fun.
I am now wondering how Kate is going to manage to leave her new bodyguard behind when they do their summer grandparent visit!
This was very cool view behind the curtain
Dear BDH,
Me and my twice concussed brain were wondering if anyone out there downloaded the GA for Magic Slays from ye olde Audible and if so, was it just one mega file void of selectable chapters?
The brain fog is real at the moment and I can’t tell if it’s a me thing or an Audible thing. I tried redownloading and was about as successful as watching Netflix during a magic wave. Help me, Obi Horde Kenobi! You’re my only hope.
Xxoo
kels
Hi Kels,
So sorry to hear about the concussions!
It is, indeed, one mega file. You’re doing it right. I’ll try to check with Graphic Audio if they can adjust this, but making no promises.
Thank you, Mod R! It’s a relief to know I’m doing it right! For a while there I was worried I forgot how to internet 🙃
I appreciate you reaching out to Team GA (and also everything you do for us Hordlings!)