Interview with narrator \ author Connor Crais

1 – How did you come to narrate romantic novels?

Ava Lucas, a very talented fellow romance narrator heard a sample of mine somewhere and kind of recruited me. And I’m certainly glad she did.

2 – Have you narrated books from different genres?

A few, mostly non-fiction. I enjoy doing non-fiction as I always learn something but I’ve been focusing mostly on romance this past year.

3 – What was the most fun \ easy book you narrated?

I love doing Kayley Loring’s books. They read like plays and she has a similar sense of humor as me.

4 – What was the most difficult book \ character you narrated and why?

“For Lucy” by Jewel E. Ann Not to give anything away but there’s a tragedy in that story that had me taking breaks, leaving my studio and heading upstairs to hug my wife and kids.

5 – What are the preparations you make before each project? Do you read the whole book in advance? Do you rehearse out loud before the recording itself? or maybe something else?

I do prep the whole book, though most of the focus is on my half. I don’t rehearse. Not always but I’ve found that my first take is generally the one I like the best.

6 – How long does it take you to record an entire book?

I’m at about 2 to 1, 2 hours of prep/record/edit for every hour of produced audio.

7 – Are you working on more than one book at a time?

Usually I’m recording the bulk of one book. But towards the end I might prep the next, and also edits come in for books that I’ve already uploaded that I’ll take time to complete.

8 – What is the genre you like to read in your free time?

Strange science fiction by strange dudes apparently. Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favorite authors and I’ve read just about everything he ever wrote, and I’m on a Philip K Dick kick lately.

9 – Is there a writer you particularly like? To read or to work with

As I said, Kayley’s one of my favorites. But I’ve enjoyed everyone that I’ve had the privilege to work with. I’m always picking up new things from all the different genres and styles of writing.

10 – Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Maybe not always, but for a very long time at least. Even longer I’ve just wanted to tell stories, in whatever form that took. I told this story on a podcast somewhere but when I was 4, my mother asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her very seriously that I wanted to be a cartoon. I was very upset when she told me that wasn’t possible. But like my favorite cartoons do, I am telling stories. As far as writing, I’d been dabbling for about fifteen years before I published with Kayley.

11 – In your interview with Kayley, you said you were already working on a book before she suggested you co-author with her. Is the book you wrote also in the romance genre?

Yes, that book I mentioned was a romance book. It’s probably 75-85% finished. I might pick it up again someday when I have time. But I’m having too much fun writing with Kayley right now.

12 – Would you ever like to publish a book by yourself?

Absolutely. But between all the things I’m creating with Kayley, all the narrating I get to do, and my family, there really hasn’t been any time. But there will be one someday, I have no doubt.

13 – What is your favorite thing about writing a romance book?

Figuring out how these two particular people meet, fall in love, struggle, have sex, and ultimately find their way to their infinite happy horizon. Each is unique, and in some ways a kind of puzzle once you start chipping away at the stone and the characters and the story begin to reveal themselves. Plus unlike in real life, the guy always gets the girl. That’s certainly satisfying.

Click here for an Interview with author Kayley Loring & Connor Crais