From Page to Sound: The Journey of Bringing Cursed Gift to Audible
I’ll admit, creating an audiobook for Cursed Gift wasn’t initially on my radar. In fact, I hadn’t given it a single thought—until a call from my good friend and old bandmate, Joe Savia. Joe, a multi-talented musician, entrepreneur, and aspiring writer (check out JoeSavia.com), reached out during a pivotal moment on my trip.
Ken, my traveling companion and brother-from-another-mother, had just received devastating news—his mother’s health had taken a severe turn, and he needed to return home immediately. It was a heart-wrenching moment. Left alone to process the weight of everything, I wandered the streets of London, eventually finding a small brewery, where I ordered a beer and some fries and sat with my thoughts.
That’s when Joe called.
We talked about life, shared memories, and naturally, Cursed Gift came up. After plugging the book, Joe—always honest but gentle—admitted he hadn’t read it yet. “I’m more of an audiobook guy,” he said. Then he offered a suggestion that got me thinking: Why not narrate the book yourself?
Over the years, I’d listened to countless audiobooks, especially during the 35,000 miles I used to clock each year in my car. Audiobooks and music were my companions on those long drives. Suddenly, it all clicked—why hadn’t I thought of this before?
Excited, I decided to give it a shot. But what seemed simple turned out to be far more challenging than I expected.
Growing up in Newfoundland, Canada, I have an accent that’s a unique blend of Irish heritage and nearly 25 years of living in the U.S. On top of that, I tend to speak too fast, and I quickly realized how tough it is to maintain pacing, consistency, and voice-acting nuances. Meeting ACX’s (Audible’s) technical requirements for sound quality was another challenge entirely. I soon realized I was in over my head.
That’s when Claire came into the picture. She’s a talented actor and voice artist, and when I heard her read the first two chapters, I knew immediately she was the voice Cursed Gift needed. Her narration brought my characters to life in a way I hadn’t imagined. Listening to her, I felt the book come alive in a whole new way.
Thanks to Joe, Ken, and Claire, Cursed Gift isn’t just a book anymore—it’s a living, breathing story.
Till next time!
Len
