GIVEAWAY of Rational Creatures + interview with audiobook narrator, Victoria Riley!

You can catch Christina Boyd, Austenesque Editor Extraordinaire, in this year's Janeite Convos, but today she's stopped by to have a chat with the narrator of the audiobook version of the feminist-Austen short story collection, Rational Creatures — as well as give three of you a chance to win something!
And keep an eye out, because later in AIA, you'll be hearing some of my thoughts on Rational Creatures!

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WHEN A JANEITE IS THE NARRATOR

by Christina Boyd, Editor, Rational Creatures

Jane Austen’s novels evoke romantic imaginings of fastidious gentlemen and gently bred ladies ... Yet through her veiled wit, honest social commentary, and cleverly constructed prose in a style ahead of her day, Austen’s heroines manage to thwart strict mores—and even the debauchery of Regency England—to reach their fairy tale endings. But have you never wondered about her other colorful characters like Mary Crawford, Hetty Bates, Elinor Tilney, Louisa Musgrove, et al.—and how they came to be? In Persuasion, Mrs. Croft says,

“But I hate to hear you talking so, like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days.”

Those words have always struck me as terribly modern and I have wondered what Mrs. Croft might have been thinking when she said those very words to her brother Captain Frederick Wentworth.

I believe several of Jane Austen’s characters might have had feminist sensibilities, even if they yielded to the expectations of their sphere. It was the intent in our anthology, Rational Creatures, to remain true to the ladies we recognize in Austen’s great works—whilst stirring feminism in the hearts of some of these beloved characters. Publishers Weekly said of this collection of backstories or parallel tales off-stage of canon:

“Austen’s characters glow with the beloved novelist’s timeless blend of romantic intrigue, witticisms, and biting social commentary of life’s absurdities.”

When auditioning a voice actor for our audiobook, we knew the narrator had to have the ability to assume the roles of sixteen different Austen leading ladies as well as the countless supporting characters for each story…without being over-the-topic or making any a caricature of what we have seen in film. We auditioned over eighteen narrators and finally the Rational Creatures team agreed Victoria Riley, a British voiceover artist and audiobook narrator, was our choice. How delighted we were to learn Victoria is also an Austen fan and is quite knowledgeable of our source material! Originally trained as a theater actor, Victoria Riley gradually moved into voice work and is now happiest behind the mic. She loves classic literature and travelling the world. If she isn't recording, she says she’s probably lying in a hammock in some far-flung place, reading book after book after book. Sounds like our kind of people! –Christina

The Interview with Victoria Riley, Voice Actor

AIA: When did you know you wanted to be an audiobook narrator?
Victoria Riley: Well, I've always said that I'd be happy to just sit in a cupboard all day reading books. I didn't know that I could actually do that and get paid for it. Dreams do come true, folks.

AIA: How did you wind up narrating audiobooks? Was it always your goal or was it something you stumbled into by chance?
Victoria Riley: I'm actually a classically trained actress and was originally interested in theatre. When I started out, audiobooks weren't really a big thing and it didn't occur to me as a career. I gradually veered into voiceover and my first audiobook was through my VO agent. I then set up my own studio at home and audiobooks are just one of the things I work on.

AIA: What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator?
Victoria Riley: I LOVE Jane Austen. I love her female characters with their fire and intelligence. To have such strong minds but be so restricted with their options in life. For marriage to be your only way forward when you have so much to offer the world. It makes me feel claustrophobic just thinking about it.

From a working perspective, this is also my first collection of short stories. Short stories are a real art form. You have to draw the reader (or listener!) into the tale very quickly and make them care about the characters without the luxury of a whole novel in which to do it. I really enjoyed each one being a separate little project, so I had a sense of closure and achievement after each one.

AIA: How did you decide how each character should sound in this title?
Victoria Riley: Well, a lot of the characters are very well-known anyway, which helps. I didn't feel as though I was creating them from scratch. Most of them just jump off the page too. There are simple things like class to consider. Also character traits, like arrogance, pomposity, shyness or humility, which affect voice and delivery. I love a character that you can really embody. When it's so obvious how they should sound that you don't even really have to think about it.

AIA: Any funny anecdotes from inside the recording studio?
Victoria Riley: We've all done silly things. Giving an Oscar-worthy performance, then realising you haven't pressed record. Stuffing a cushion up your jumper to stop tummy rumbles reaching the mic. Gradually getting more naked as you stifle in the booth in summer. We've all done it.

Those anecdotes! Too funny. Thank you, Victoria, for sharing a little about yourself and this new audiobook. We wish you much success and look forward to listening to these sixteen stories. (I understand it is about eighteen hours of audiobook! WOW!) Here is a SoundCloud link to the sample clips for Rational Creatures.

Rational Creatures is a collection of humorous, poignant, and engaging short stories set in Georgian England that complement and pay homage to Austen’s great works and great ladies who were, perhaps, the first feminists in an era that was not quite ready for feminism.

Stories by Elizabeth Adams * Nicole Clarkston * Karen M Cox * J. Marie Croft * Amy D’Orazio * Jenetta James * Jessie Lewis * KaraLynne Mackrory * Lona Manning * Christina Morland * Beau North * Sophia Rose * Anngela Schroeder * Joana Starnes * Brooke West * Caitlin Williams * Edited by Christina Boyd * Foreword by Devoney Looser * Narrated by Victoria Riley

Giveaway Time!
Christina Boyd of The Quill Ink Blog will give away a FREE Audible code to download #RationalCreatures audiobook to TWO lucky winners who comment on this blog post.
Also, the Quill Ink will give away a $15 Amazon gift card to one random winner who takes the

  Which RationalCreature are you? QUIZ

(skip over the email sign up—it is not necessary for the results) THEN tell us in the comments which “rational creature” you are.
Giveaway open until September 5th, 2019. Open internationally. Good luck!

And you can connect with Christina anywhere on social!

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Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!