Awesome news. AudioFile reviewed White Hot and gave it their coveted Earphones Award.
Narrator Renee Raudman enchants listeners with this unforgettable duo. She nails Nevada’s plainspoken manner and resigned humor and captures her empathy for the vulnerable as it evolves into a steely determination for justice. When Connor uses the voice the author calls his “dragon voice,” Raudman’s delivery expresses sexy Southern charm. Memorable secondary voices, like the jovially psychopathic ice mage and Nevada’s matrimonially pushy grandmother, make the dialogue sparkle.
AudioFile, White Hot review.
In other words, Renee Raudman once again brought the story to life in a remarkable way. She is truly amazing and we’re very grateful to work with her. And – bonus! – I have a special message from her.
Hi Ilona and Gordon!
First, Burn For Me was nominated for an Audie (2015) and now I’ve just heard that White Hot has won an Audiofile Earphones (2017) award! This is very exciting news. It was a blast narrating White Hot. Both my engineer and I were either on the edge of our seats, choked-up or laughing throughout the entire recording process. Your writing (as always) is second to none. (We also felt the same way about Wildfire and are very excited about its upcoming release).
It’s hard to believe we’ve been partnering together for almost 9 years. (November 2008). Thank you for allowing me to bring your babies to life. Also! Please let your fans know how incredibly touched I am for their years of listening and support. They make all the hard work completely worth while, and will never know how much it has meant to me. I love reading all their comments and seeing the enthusiasm they have for each one of your titles. Just like them, I’m always excited (and a little nervous!!!!) to see what you’ll come up with.
There you have it. If you would like to leave any comments for Renee, I know she would really appreciate it.
My boyfriend has dyslexia and can’t really read a book himself without a really long investment of time. Rene, (between you reading Kate and James Marsters reading the Dresden files) he’s finally been able to enjoy books, and I’ve been able to enjoy talking about my favourite world’s with him. Thank you so much from both of us.
Thank you, Renee, and Congratulations!!
Congatulations! I love Renee! Thank you!
I can let you know that, as I was reading Renee’s note, I was a little petrified.
Please, Lord, don’t let this end with “but, I’ve decided to retire from narration to pursue my lifelong dream of collecting cat whiskers to make placemats.”
Thank you, Renee, for sticking with the series through all the nonsense the universe seems determined to throw at you, Ilona, and Gordon. I hope you know how….right it feels to hit play and know that Kate’s snark and Curran’s grump are going to sound right.
Raudman and Andrews forever!
Cat whisker placemats? Rofl.
Renee does a fantastic job in bringing all of your characters to life. Congratulations to you all!
Ilona: While your writing is fantastic, Renee Raudman’s narration adds another couple of dimensions to the enjoyment of the stories. Her ability to bring the characters to life multiplies the impact of each story. We (the fans) are incredibly grateful for this collaboration between authors and narrator. Please, please keep up the excellent work!
Congrats Renee! I read some of the books physically before I listened to the audios, and though they’re amazing on their own, you really brought the characters to life. I’ve even used them to get my dad into reading/listening again. Thanks
Huge, well-deserved congratulations! I have to say, I was a little disconcerted at first by one narrator reading three different series’ in the first person (Kate, Innkeeper, and Hidden Legacy). Kate and Dena were read very differently, though, and Renee did a great job. I enjoyed the narration of Burn for Me, and after White Hot, I admit that I was completely wrong to doubt the narrator. Renee does such a great, great job with Nevada (and your writing) that I can’t imagine anyone else narrating her story. Kudos!
Although I have all your books as books, I love having them as audio books too. Renee is amazing; the number of different characters who are immediately identifiable as they begin to speak boggles my mind when I think about it. So, mostly, I don’t think about it; I just sit back and enjoy the ride. Thanks, Renee! Thanks, authorlords!
Renee,
You so deserve this award for all the amazing work you do.
And it is all your work. When I need to expand my audio library, I look for books you’ve narrated.
Thank you for choosing this career and for working with my favorite authors!
I love her narration of your books. She has a great voice and her deliver really bring the characters to life
Congratulation Renee, you really can made book to come to life. I appreciate and thank you for that. You are one of three audiobook female actors I like best, accompanied by Marguerite Gavin (Hollows) and Kate Reading (aka Jennifer Mendenhall; Wheel of Time), so you have a really good company. I hope you´ll do many more books from Ilona and Gordon. Their books are fun to listen and it is thanks to your effort too.
P.S.: My favorite male narrator is Mark Vietor (Nightside)
I love the Nightside books because of his reading is so evocative! I tried getting in the Drood series on audiobook but couldn’t connect to narrator. Finally came back to them later just as ebook.
Gotta go there. As a person with a visual impairment, audiobooks are primarily how I read. While an author, or in this case authors, can write a fantastic book, a bad narrator can totally kill that very same book. Renée, you are by far one of the best narrators I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to.
People don’t realize how important narration is. Voices add depth to the character, and it makes that story come alive.
Congratulations! This was an honor well deserved.
Congratulations to you guys- because let’s face it, White Hot is AHHH-MAZE-BALLS!! (Yes, that’s a thing in Australia, just go with it ??). But I wouldn’t have enjoyed the audiobooks- Kate, Deena, Nevada or any of the Edge series- anywhere near as much as I have, without Renee’s talent! Brilliant work all round. Thank you for hours of enjoyment & please do carry on!
Congrats everyone. (And yes, as another aussie, can confirm its a thing?)
Hello All! Reading your comments have left me utterly speechless. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and feelings. I’m deeply humbled. And overjoyed. I can’t tell you how how much your words mean to me. Speechless.
Happy and Safe Fourth of July to you all! xo Renee
Congratulations Renee! Thank you for hours of wonderful listening pleasure. Looking forward to the next one!
Rene Raudman is amazing and the perfect fit for your stories! (The gent who narrated Derek’s book, was perfect for Derek btw.) I’m always thrilled when we hear that Rene is narrating another one of your stories. She does such a super job, that I honestly love listening to audio versions of your books frequently. I’ve listened and re-listened to the Kate Daniels series more than I can actually remember to count. They are awesome companions while I work at my dull job. (But hey! It’s got benefits, pays the bills, AND lets me listen to audiobooks!)
Thank you thank you to both the authors and the audiobook narrator! You guys are a fantastic team and I’m ridiculously excited whenever a new story comes out!
A award that is well deserved.
Bask in the knowledge that people really like the combination of Ilona Andrews and Renee Raudman.
Awesome and well deserved. Congratulations ?!
Renee. I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE your EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES of all Ilona and Gordon’s books. The AUTHORLORDS create worlds with their words and you bring their words to LIFE. You are the PERFECT PAIRING of EXCEPTIONAL TALENTS. My thanks to all of you for the many, many hours of pleasure you bring to my life.
Terrific!
Congrats Renee to you and your engineer. I get tension headaches from reading for long periods, so audiobooks are now my preferred way to read novels. Your narration brings the worlds to life and i enjoy them tremendously. Please don’t stop, you have something special there.
I have listened to all the Innkeeper and Rogan-Baylor books out. I recently began to acquire the Kate Daniels and Edge audiobooks. Renee Raudman does a fantastic job with distinct voices for each character. I have all the books published so far. They are some of my favorite rereads and relistens.
I was listening to Magic Bites today and noticed during Kate’s discussion with the knight protestor that he asked for “collaboration” of her connection to Greg Feldman. I think that is supposed to be corroboration.
Sorry this stupid autocorrect keeps changing what I wrote. That should be knight protector.
I’ve listened to hundreds (maybe thousands) of audiobooks and Raudman is is definitely a top notch voice actor! Very few have her range in characterization and can do both genders so convincingly. I’m so glad she is receiving the recognition she deserves!
While I very much appreciate the writing of Ilona Andrews, I really appreciate the added depth of Renee Raudman’s narration. Her clear distinction between characters and emotions is just incredible! Definitely one of the best narrators out there today! I have to say that I’m spending more of my book dollars on audio because I can keep on enjoying the story while eating, cleaning, doing laundry, driving, etc…I’m not limited to sitting. Thanks to the three of you for the hours of happiness you have brought to my life during some trying times – Bless You!
I love Rene’s performances of your excellent books. So congrats to both you for your writing and Rene for her reading. I have listened to many of your books multiple times.
Thanks!
oops! Sorry about the type. Renee, not Rene
I have some hearing issues and sometimes it feels like my brain disconnects from my ears, so I don’t do audiobooks…. but your books would be the ones I would try to listen to, if I was going to start getting into audiobooks. Miss Raudman sounds like a talented reader and a lovely lady!
I don’t know if it’s been mentioned, but both BFM and WH are on sale at Audible right now. (I assume that’s for members only, but I don’t know.) WH was the only Andrews audio I didn’t already have, so I picked it up. I usually listen to the books as soon as I finish reading them, and it’s fascinating to me how different the two experiences are.
Congrats to all of you on the award!
I do the same thing! It’s like getting to enjoy it for the first time TWICE!
I’ve been reading ilona’ s books before they were available in audio form, they were great and I was hooked from the first book I read.
Then they came out on audible, I was sceptical because for the most part I didn’t enjoy listening to books.
With reservation I bought The Edge with a credit, I had read it already, but wanted something to listen to while I was driving from P.A. to Virginia.
Within the first chapter I was sold. Renee brought the book to life, it was already a great book but through her performance it became tangible, real, and I was drawn into Rose’s world.
Her ability to convey emotional and to connect the characters to audience is amazing, and the range of her voice seems never ending. The consistency of her characters is always flawless, (Curran always sounds like Curran) you know who is talking without ever being told.
Thank you Renee for your hard work, and for sharing your amazing talent. You will forever in my mind be the voice of Kate Daniels.
Everyone’s like GOT coming. I’m over here like, yea but Wildfire.