Interview with a Narrator: Megan Tusing

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Megan Tusing is an actor based in New York City. Her love for storytelling developed at a young age when introduced to William Shakespeare. She quickly developed a passion for language which eventually lead her to pursue a career in acting. She has appeared on stage, in films, and on such television programs as Law & Order: SVU & CI, Blue Bloods, and Person of Interest. Megan has recorded audiobooks for independent authors as well as Audible, Hachette Audio, Blackstone Audio and Brilliance Audio. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from James Madison University and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA. When she isn’t narrating, Megan can be found knitting in the company of good friends.

How did you become interested in performing audiobooks?

I was introduced to audiobooks at a young age. My mom and I would listen to them in the car on the way to school. I loved getting lost in the stories and hearing the different character voices. It was this love for storytelling that led me to study acting in college and then move to NYC, where I have been a professional actor for over 10 years.

The opportunity to narrate showed up on my radar when my friend and colleague Andi Arndt mentioned one day “You should really look into audiobooks. I think it would be a good fit for you.” Andi took me under her wing, showed me the ropes and helped me get a foot in the door with several publishers. She’s been an incredible mentor and I’m forever grateful to her.

And you know what? She was so right – narrating audiobooks is the perfect fit for me. I’m an introvert at heart, so I love reading books alone in my cozy booth. Then as an actor I find it really exciting that I get to play ALL the characters, unlike in theatre or film. Also, the audiobook community is one of the most generous and welcoming groups you’ll ever meet. I feel like I found my tribe!

What did you do to accomplish this goal?

First, I signed up for an intro to audiobooks class at Edge Studio with the talented, funny and legendary narrator, Johnny Heller. The class was small, so we were given individual attention, but I also got to see my classmates perform, which I found to be extremely informative. Then I started to explore the Audible Creative Exchange (or ACX) website. ACX is kind of like a dating site for audiobook production, where authors can post books they want to turn into audio and narrators audition to produce them. When I was just getting my feet wet, this was the perfect platform to help build my portfolio. I also became a member of the Audio Publishers Association (APA), so I was able to attend their annual conference, which is where all the industry professionals gather once a year to geek out about audiobooks. I developed some wonderful relationships with fellow narrators and publishers, which led to landing my first book!

You have performed many lead and significant roles in popular TV shows, films, and theater. So what draws you to audiobook performance?

Well, it’s all story telling to me. It doesn’t matter if I’m on a stage in front of a thousand people, in front of a camera with a small crew, or alone in my booth just reading for a single listener. I’m simply telling a story. Narrating is just another way for me to do that, but in a lovely and intimate way. I am given the incredible opportunity to speak the words of an author in hopes of connecting with the listener. It’s that kind of connection and community that truly draws me in.

You perform a lot of romance novels. What makes you especially suited to performing this genre?

My voice allows for me to easily shift between funny and light to sexy and sultry, which I think is well suited for Romance. It’s also a genre that often exposes very raw and intimate emotions. Thanks to my acting training over the years, I’ve learned how to easily tap into these feelings, which helps me to understand how to perform the dialogue in these stories with authenticity and clarity. I also am a huge dork and love to watch romcoms on Netflix while eating ice cream in my pjs, so I fit in really well with the fans of this genre.

How do you prepare to narrate a book? Do you have any tricks to make the recording any easier?

Leslie Odom Jr. said “There’s nothing like preparation to make you fearless.” So I like to take a lot of notes and do as much research as I can before I get in the booth. First I get a general overview of the story and the author’s rhythm. Then I dig more deeply and really examine what makes each character tick. I highlight my characters’ dialogue in different colors, so I can be prepared to easily switch between voices. I also like to give each chapter a funny little title of my own to help remind me of what happens before I start recording. For example, the book I just finished included my personal titles of “Clearing the Air in Granny Panties,” “Disappointing Pie Crust,” and “Conflicted Canoe Kisses.” It makes the process more fun and active.

How do you select the voices that you use, and how do you keep them all straight in your mind?

When I select a voice, I first pay attention to the clues I can find within the text about that character. For example, I might read that a character has a “deep husky voice” or “sweet valley girl sound.” Then from there I find the places within my personal register that feel authentic and match these character traits. I try to be careful not to make anyone a caricature so it isn’t distracting. Less is more, as they say. To remember all the voices I take detailed notes, but also save little sound clips I can go back and refer to later.

Do you think an audiobook narrator needs to enjoy the book she or he is performing? Could you make a book you truly hated seem likeable to an audience?

If I truly feel that I can’t connect with the text or have a strong negative reaction to the material then I won’t take the job. I do this because not only would I be unhappy performing it, but I would be doing a disservice to the author. I also believe that a listener can hear it in your voice when you aren’t fully committed to a performance. When I come across a book that I don’t think I’m a good fit for, I use it as an opportunity to recommend one of my other talented colleagues for the job instead.

What advice did you find especially helpful as you started out performing audiobooks that you like to share with new narrators now?

Tell the author’s truth. When I first started narrating, I got so caught up in the technical details that I was losing my connection to the story. I wasn’t giving the performance I knew I was capable of and the book deserved. Once I relaxed and reminded myself that I was just telling a story, everything started to flow. So don’t sweat the small stuff, just zone in, breathe, and be present with the text.

What narrators have inspired you in your own career?

Well, first and foremost I am in awe of the incredible Andi Arndt. She is not only an extremely talented narrator, but she also is a heck of a businesswoman. I’m also truly inspired by Tanya Eby, Amy Landon, Greg Tremblay, Tom Taylorson and Xe Sands. I also really love listening to memoirs of my favorite actors (like Bryan Cranston’s Life in Parts), as it inspires me as an actor and they often give amazing performances. I could go on and on – there are so many incredible narrators in this business.

What projects do you have coming up in the future?

I just finished recording my first sci-fi novel Port Casper written by Corey Ostman and Justin Pecot, which is the first book in the Cladespace Series.

My alter-ego, Virginia Rose, just finished recording the steamy romance Sordid by Ava Harrison, co-narrated with Christian Fox which comes out later in May.

I have a handful of other titles in the pipeline that are to be released this summer, but the details are still hush-hush. So be sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram for the latest news at @megantusing and @xovirginiarose for all the latest news.

Check out Megan at the following links:

www.megantusing.com
Facebook page
Twitter: @megantusing
Instagram: @megantusing
Audible page

Alter-ego: Virginia Rose
www.xovirginiarose.com
Facebook page
Twitter: @xovirginiarose
Instagram: @xovirginiarose
Audible page

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