When Timothy Campbell did his superb voice narration of the stories in “Bedlam’s Door,” I was astonished at his versatilit
y in performing the voices of the characters. I was even more amazed in listening to the stories. It was a different experience from having read these true tales (which sometimes sounded like fiction). The characters truly came alive as they talked. It reminded me of being a kid listening to the radio and being sucked in by the drama conveyed by the voices.
Hearing the stories acted out took them to another dimension, one I could not have foreseen when I wrote them. It seemed I could appreciate the stories from another perspective.
Yes, when a skilled narrator reads a story, the human voice can convey thoughts, feelings, nuances, intonations, and subtleties that enhance a story. It’s a power that has mesmerized people for thousands of years.
Even when human beings lived in caves they wanted to be told stories.
Alafair Burke is the New York Times bestselling author of 13 novels. She is also the
Reed Farrel Coleman, known to thriller lovers everywhere, is the author of the New York Times-bestselling Robert B. Parker’s The Devil Wins, in addition to having written twenty-two other novels. Because of his writing style, he’s been dubbed a “hard-boiled poet” and the “noir poet laureate”. He’s received the Shamus Award three times for best detective novel of the year, and has also won the Barry Award and the Anthony Award, in addition to being a three-time Edgar Award nominee. His books include nine novels in the Moe Prager series.
Tami Hoag is an internationally bestselling author of more than thirty books. Over forty million copies are in print in thirty languages. She is known for crafting intricate and intense psychological thrillers probing the darkest corners of her characters’ minds.
Robert Crais, known to lovers of suspense and crime novels for having written many New York Times bestsellers, including Suspect and Taken, has just completed The Promise, his twentieth novel and the latest in his Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series.
Patricia Cornwell is known to millions of readers worldwide. She has won nearly every literary award for popular fiction and has authored 29 New York Times bestsellers. Her novels center primarily on medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, along with her tech-savvy niece Lucy and investigator Pete Marino.
Karin Slaughter’s first book, Blindsighted, became an international success published in 30 languages, and made the Crime Writer’s Association’s Dagger Award shortlist for “Best Thriller Debut” of 2001. More than 30 million copies of her books have been sold in 32 languages. Her Grant County series has been very popular, as has her Will Trent series of novels. She’s also written standalone novels.
Simon Toyne left a successful television career as a writer, director, and producer to take a gamble on novel-writing. The risk paid off, resulting in his penning the internationally bestselling Sanctus trilogy. Sanctus, The Key, and The Tower have been translated into dozens of languages.