Idiosyncratic Fables

Dive into the world of audiobooks with one of the industry's most versatile and prolific voices! In this episode of Idiosyncratic Fables, I sit down with Chris Ciulla, the award-winning narrator known as @BostonVoiceGuy.

With over 600 audiobooks narrated—including multiple Earphones Awards and an Audie in the mix—Chris has brought grit, heart, and killer accents to thrillers, noir, horror, and more. He's the voice behind characters in Fallout 4, Mafia III, Starfield, and on-screen roles in Gotham and Castle. Former sports radio host, boxing commentator, improv comic, and now CEO of Leonardo Audio and founder of Nor'easter Publishing, Chris shares his origin story: that life-changing Barnes & Noble moment hearing Michael Beck narrate Grisham in 2009, the mentors who shaped his craft, flipping between Boston tough-guy and Russian mobster effortlessly, producing star-studded projects, coaching the next generation of narrators, and building a legacy in honor of his late father.

Whether you're an aspiring narrator, audiobook fan, or storyteller at heart, this conversation is packed with booth wisdom, hilarious behind-the-scenes tales, and inspiration for anyone chasing a voice-driven career.

https://www.leonardoaudio.com

Listen now and subscribe for more deep dives into the craft of narration.

Join my Discord community here:

https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc

#AudiobookNarrator #VoiceActing #Audiobooks #Podcast #ChrisCiulla #BostonVoiceGuy #NarrationCraft #AudiobookPodcast #VoiceOver #LeonardoAudio #IdiosyncraticFables #NarratorLife #ThrillerNarrator #AudiobookCommunity #Storytelling

As a fellow narrator, I was thrilled to welcome John Solo to Idiosyncratic Fables! We geek out over the art of audiobook narration, building voices for complex characters, navigating steamy MM romance moments, staying true across multi-book series, and the joy of stories that stick with you.

John opens up about his favorites, collaborations with top authors, trends in the genre, and tips for breaking in. If his voice has ever made you swoon or tear up, you'll love hearing the man behind it.

Tune in, subscribe, and share your favorite John Solo narration in the comments!

To listen to more of John's books, click this link to see his Audible page: John Solo Audible

To join my Discord server, click this link here: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc

#IdiosyncraticFables #JohnSolo #AudiobookNarrator #MMRomance #Podcast

I sat down with the incredible married duo behind @237collective — Abby Long-Williams and Paxton Williams — right here in Cedar Rapids. From Paxton's graffiti-inspired upcycled fashion shows to creating a welcoming 'third place' for underrepresented artists, poetry nights, open studios, and community magic... their story is a modern fable about turning passion into a thriving non-profit hub.

Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates and information:

237 on Instagram

If you would like to be a guest on my show, fill out the contact form on my website: https://www.narratorjames.com

To be a part of the Wilderness Fire Productions discord server, click this link here: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc

#IdiosyncraticFables #wildernssfireproductions #podcast #237Collective #CedarRapidsArt #IowaCreatives #UnderrepresentedArtists #UpcycledFashion #LocalArtScene #CommunityHub #ArtAndCommunity #CedarRapidsIowa 

On today's episode, I sat down with Curtis Michael Holland. From toy bowling pins turned into microphones and cardboard-box stages in small-town Canada… to a custom-built, double-walled vocal booth in Hong Kong… we talk about his journey across the globe to where he's at now. A former international IB theatre teacher and director with 12+ years across Kuwait, Italy, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, Curtis pivoted to full-time narration during the pandemic — right after a near-death illness on a tropical island left him rethinking everything. Today he’s a SAG-AFTRA, PANA, and APA member living in Hong Kong with his partner, two ginger cats, and one very opinionated Boston Terrier. With 150+ audiobooks under his belt for Penguin Random House, Tantor, Dreamscape, Podium, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, and more, Curtis specializes in romance, horror, humor, young adult, sci-fi, and authentic queer stories. His mixed-race, LGBTQIA2S+ background and fluency in accents & languages (Mandarin, Arabic, French, Italian, plus a huge range of character voices) bring depth and representation that listeners rave about.

You can find out more about him at his website at www.curtismichaelholland.com

If you would like to be a guest on the show, let me know by visiting my website at https://www.narratorjames.com

If you would like to join my community on Discord, that link is here: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc

Join me as I talk with audiobook narrator Stacy Carolan. We talk about his journey into audiobook narration, concert trumpet performer, being a husband and a father, as well as finding humor in all things. Stacy and I also touch on what it means to be unique, or dare I say, idiosyncratic. There is no such thing as "normal". Everyone has their own merits and flaws that are unlike anyone else. 

To learn more about Stacy and his audiobook career, feel free to check out his website at: https://www.mrstacycarolan.com

If you would like to be a guest on my podcast, I would love to have you! Send me an email through my website at: https://www.narratorjames.com

And if you would like to join my Discord server for behind the scenes content with audiobook narration, you are welcome to join! Follow that link here: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc

#podcast #idiosyncraticfables #audiobooks #narrator #wildernessfireproductions #storytelling 

Our guest is James Anderson Foster—award-winning narrator with over 500 titles under his belt, producer extraordinaire, and someone who's been praised by AudioFile Magazine for his energy, focus, and that spot-on delivery that makes you feel like the voice in your head came to life. Join us as we dive in to his work flow, love for thrillers, and real authentic characters. To keep up to date with what James is narrating and likewise writing, you can find him online at the following sites:

https://jamesandersonfoster.net

https://jafosterbooks.com

And hey, if you want to go even deeper into the audiobook world—watch live narration sessions (Monday through Friday afternoons, Central Time), catch behind-the-scenes action, chat craft, share stories, and hang out with a great community of listeners, narrators, and authors—come join me over on my Discord server, Wilderness Fire Productions. It's where the magic happens in real time, and I'd love to see you there. Grab the invite here: https://discord.gg/42VrCCKKXk

Join me as I talk with audiobook narrator Johnny Heller. He's been a narrator for decades and has learned so much over the years, and also shares his knowledge as a coach along with being a narrator. We discuss how he approaches the craft of narrating, some key elements when it comes to character creation, as well as pacing. To learn more about Johnny Heller, I invite you to check out his website at: https://mrjohnnyheller.com

To see how audiobooks are made and to be a part of the behind-the-scenes action, I invite you to join me in Discord in my personal server of Wilderness Fire Productions. I narrate live Monday through Friday from 1pm to 5pm Central Time, and I would love to have you join me there. The link is here: https://discord.gg/8GUHWbutYA

#AudiobookNarrator #JohnnyHeller #Audiobooks #NarrationLife #VoiceActor #RomanceBooks #BehindTheMic #IndieAuthors #IdiosyncraticFables #PodcastEpisode #NarratorInterview #StorytellingCraft #BoothLife

Stepping into the booth with Audie‑nominated narrator Drew Gibson was an absolute masterclass in craft, identity, and genre‑hopping. From horror intensity to romance vulnerability, Drew breaks down how he builds characters, protects his voice, and brings emotional truth to every performance. If you love storytelling, narration, or just hearing how the magic happens behind the mic, this episode is for you.

Join my Discord server: https://discord.gg/8GUHWbutYA

#AudiobookNarrator #DrewGibson #BlakeLockheart #Audiobooks #NarrationLife #VoiceActor #HorrorBooks #RomanceBooks #BehindTheMic #IndieAuthors #IdiosyncraticFables #PodcastEpisode #NarratorInterview #StorytellingCraft #BoothLife