Interview with a Narrator: Emily Lawrence

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Emily Lawrence is an actor and writer passionate about bringing stories to life. Her greatest strength as a performer is her ability to bring herself to the role, creating a wide range of emotionally resonant performances that leap off the page, stage, or screen. Her favorite characters are complicated, conflicted, and still searching for their inner truths. Emily’s passion for her work is complimented by her persistence, resilience, and inexhaustible work ethic. She’s narrated more than 200 audiobooks and has also worked in film, television, and theater. Born and raised in New York, Emily moved to Los Angeles shortly after receiving her BFA in drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She also had the privilege of living in London while studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Emily’s greatest loves are acting and reading, so narrating audiobooks is a dream come true. Her other passions include traveling, LARPing, aerial circus, and chocolate.

How did you become interested in performing audiobooks, and how did you get into field itself?

I always loved to read and I have an extensive background in acting, so it was a natural combination. I went to a workshop taught by the wonderful David H. Lawrence XVII where he discussed the various areas of voice acting. It had never occurred to me that narrating audiobooks was something I could do, but when I saw it on the list, I just knew it was perfect. I invested some money in home studio equipment and hit the ground running. About six months later, it was my full time job.

What were your earliest days recording books like?

I started on ACX [Audiobook Creation Exchange] working with independent publishers and authors. My set up was. . . creative. I literally built a fort around my kitchen table in my tiny 300 sq ft apartment. I hung a sleeping bag around a wooden stick I’d tied to a table leg. It was HOT and didn’t do much to block outside noise. I think I only narrated one audiobook that way before realizing I had to come up with something better. I knew absolutely nothing about sound isolation or room treatment at the time, so I had a lot to learn. As soon as I was able, I invested in studio foam and better isolation materials, but yup, I started by narrating inside a sleeping bag.

You are an Audible approved producer. What does it mean to be a producer?

It means that in addition to narrating an audiobook, I’m also able to faciliate all areas of the production. I hire editors, proofers, and audio engineers to process the sound after my narration is complete so that the audiobook has a completely professional sound. Being a producer basically means I can see the process through from beginning to end.

You have performed quite a few paranormal cozy mysteries. What do you enjoy about this genre, and what makes you especially suited for it?

The characters can be really quirky and a lot of fun. I’m a fantasy fan in general, so anything paranormal is fun for me. As to what makes me particularly suited for it, I couldn’t say for sure. You’d have to ask the authors and publishers who hire me. My guess would be maybe having an upbeat voice to relay the more quirky aspects and potentially the versatility to convey a range of characters.

You have performed over 200 audiobooks. Which ones especially stand out to you?

Oh man! There are so many! Some books deeply affected me emotionally while I was performing them and I tend to remember those. I just did a book for Simon and Schuster about two sisters whose mother has Huntington’s Disease. They do the genetic test to see if they’ve inherited it and find one sister has while the other hasn’t. It was such a gripping, moving story and I loved working on it. That was called You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone by Rachel Lynn Solomon.

In addition to performing, you have also written screenplays and episodic scripts, plus three books that you co-wrote with your father. Has the experience of writing enlightened your own audiobook performances?

I definitely think the two are complimentary. Understanding why writers choose to write things a certain way helps me more easily and quickly interpret a story for my narration. And of course, reading hundreds of books more than I likely would have otherwise has given me a better understanding of story structure.

What advice that you were given at the start of your audiobook career do you like to give to new narrators now?

I can’t say I was given much advice, actually. I kind of started in a bubble and learned by doing. But the industry was different back then. I was able to still make a living while honing my craft. I think things are much more competitive now. I would recommend, before starting out as a narrator, make sure you’re giving yourself the tools to succeed. If you come from a theatrical acting or voiceover background, it definitely helps, but narration is still its own skillset. Take classes with people who know what they’re talking about. Set yourself up right. You only have one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it’s a good one!

You state on your website that one of your hobbies is LARPing (live action role play). Since many Fangirl Nation readers are also into such games, can you tell us about the games you like to play?

I live in Los Angeles and I’m pretty active in the So Cal LARP community. I play in probably half a dozen different games. Really, LARPing for me is about the role play so I like anything that has a good, immersive story. I tend to lean towards darker content and prefer games that have heavier consequences for player actions. I actually write and run a LARP called Rendalir Remembered (https://www.facebook.com/RendalirRemembered/) if anyone wants to check it out.

Of your many accomplishments, of what are you most proud? What has been your greatest challenge?

I think making my living as a storyteller is the greatest thing I’ll ever achieve. Whether it’s audiobook narration, writing, or acting, I get to spend every day telling and creating stories. I couldn’t imagine a more artistically fulfilling life and I’m incredibly grateful for it. It has been both my greatest challenge and my greatest accomplishment, but it has and continues to be well worth it. I think back to when I was studying acting in college. There was a lot of fear and uncertainty about if I was wasting my time or if I could make it work. My dad was really supportive but was terrified I wouldn’t be able to support myself. He insisted I take business courses so that I’d have something to fall back on. We used to have huge fights about it. I never did take those business courses, but he’d be the first to say that it all worked out for the best.

What other narrators have inspired you in your own audiobook performance work?

Simon Vance’s lyricism and his ability to make words sound like music. Bahni Turpin’s ability to bring young voices to life in an authentic way. Any narrator who allows me to forget their narration and get lost in the story.

You can learn more about Emily at the following sites:

www.emilylawrence.com
Twitter: @emilylawr
Facebook
Instagram: @emilylawrence.actor

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