Meet Zara Ramm, narrator of Jodi Taylor's books on Audible
Hello all you lovely Jodi Taylor fans out there.. My name is Zara Ramm and I am the reader of all those wonderful tales from St. Mary’s.
Jodi has asked me to say a little about how I bring her brilliant words to your eyes and ears.
So where to start?
Well…..I have been an actor for twenty seven years doing mainly theatre and television. In the last ten years I have also been recording audio books as well which I sort of fell into and found I really enjoy. Which is lucky as I do quite a lot of them.
It’s a funny old job as you sit and prep the book (i.e make tons of notes and decisions about what voices and accents you are going to give all the different characters) and then spend two or three days sitting in a tiny studio with a producer in the next room making sure you don’t talk total rubbish and letting you out for a cup of tea every few hours.
You could of course risk not reading it before you record it and just wing it in the studio. Not a great idea though as you might get to the end of the recording and find out that all the characters were French!
I love a dialect so am very happy to give characters all manner of them but sometimes a change of pitch or pace is all that is needed to distinguish one character from another.
Unless specifically requested by the author I will always narrate in my own accent and then add different voices for lesser parts as I get to them, as sustaining a voice that isn’t your natural voice for a whole book is pretty demanding. I did do that with a Geordie accent once and also Glaswegian but it was quite hard work!
Reading and recording The Chronicles of St. Mary’s is always a treat...here’s to many more! Thanks Jodie for giving me the opportunity to record them and thank you readers and lovers of audio books for continuing to read and listen to them.
CLICK HERE to discover the full range of books on Audible
42 comments
Share this
Readers Q&A's
Dear Zara.
I have just downloaded the new Jodi Taylor book About time. I cant wait to hear your voice. You are just an amazing Artist. Please please don’t stop ! As others have said I can’t imagine listening to these books without your voice. You bring such life and colour to these amazing books by Jodi. You got me through lockdown not sure how I would have coped without you. Thank you so much 🙏 to your both. Best wishes Jill
Thank you, Zara, for your incredible talent! After I finished all the current St. Mary’s books I was so sad, a desolate feeling wrapped around my heart and ears…then I dipped in to The Time Police…and the angels sang! I love every minute I have spent with you. This is the first audiobook I have ever selected as my book club selection and we are talking about it TONIGHT! I bow down in gratitude for you and your talent. Finished the newest Time Police book in just a few days…and will have to sit and have a think until the next St. Mary’s or TP comes out. LOVE YOUR WORK!!
I’ve started with The Time Police series where your narration is excellent. St Marys to follow
Your voice and St Mary’s are forever intertwined , I thought I’d give the first book a go as I was curious and now I can’t stop!!
Thanks for everything!
Bx
Leave a comment