What is Going Public…In Shorts?
This June, the audiobook community is giving back! Spoken Freely, a group of 30+ professional narrators, has teamed with the Going Public Project to celebrate June is Audiobook Month (JIAM) 2013 by offering a serialized audio story collection: Going
Public…in Shorts. Each narrator has recorded a short piece from the public domain with proceeds going to the Reach Out and Read literacy advocacy organization.
Throughout June, 1-2 stories will be released daily at various sites/blogs as well as at Going Public. You may listen to these stories free for one week (no downloads). In collaboration with Blackstone Audio, stories will also be available for download purchase starting on their day of release, with the full compilation available beginning June 30th.
We talked with Xe Sands about Going Public…In Shorts in a recorded interview here at AudioGals last month and it’s now AudioGals turn to take part in this outstanding event. We are honored to host Hillary Huber performing Guy de Maupassant’s The Necklace.
Immediately below the recording of The Necklace, you’ll find our interview with Hillary.
JIAM 2013 Going Public… In Shorts – The Necklace, by Guy de Maupassant (read by Hillary Huber)
Hillary Huber is a narrator we hold in high regard around here. An official AudioGals narrator friend, Hillary joined Karen White, Cassandra Campbell, and Brenda to discuss Friends Narrating Katie MacAlister. We laughed at a number of her observations about narrating – it was a delightful conversation if you haven’t checked it out.
For Going Public…In Shorts, we decided to keep it short and sweet. Here’s a peek into Hillary’s world!
Lea: Welcome Hillary! It’s so good to have you with us again today!
Hillary: It’s always good to be here!
Lea: What can you tell us about The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant, your choice for Going Public…In Shorts? Why did you choose it?
Hillary: Years ago, Pat Fraley gave me a copy of Guy de Mauppassant’s stories, and we thought it might be a fun book to produce together. That project never got off the ground but this story has always stayed with me. It’s so sad. And the suffering is so unnecessary.
Lea: What sort of training prepared you for narrating audiobooks?
Hillary: Life has been the best training! A love of reading has helped. And of course acting classes. But really, living and experience is the best training of all, and the foundation of any good acting.
Lea: I know rather than theatre, you are more involved in commercial work. Can you share with us some of your past work (and current)?
Hillary: I’ve been doing commercial voice over work for about twenty years. I’ve done thousands of commercials, promos, narration and live award shows like the Emmys. I still do that work but focus much more on audiobooks. It’s more meaningful, especially when the book is good!
Lea: I’m sure we’ll be seeing you around AudioGals again – hopefully soon. Thanks for joining us today to share your performance of The Necklace.
We suggest that you also take a look at June 14th Going Public…In Shorts offerings:
- Author Michael Stephen Daigle features Diane Havens with The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde
- Author JT Kalnay features Scott O’Neill with The Nice People by Henry Cuyler Bunner
And check out tomorrow (June 16th):
Overreader is hosting Kaleo Griffith with The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain.
Going Public…in Shorts is made possible by the efforts of the Spoken Freely narrators and many others who donated their time and energy to bring it to fruition. Engineering and mastering provided by Jeffrey Kafer and SpringBrook Audio. Graphic design provided by f power design. Published by Blackstone Audio. Project coordination and executive production provided by Xe Sands.
What a lovely interview and story offering! Thanks so much for hosting Hillary. And Hillary, thanks so much for the reading of THE NECKLACE.
Fantastic reading of THE NECKLACE Hillary!! It is one of my favorite short stories.
Thanks for hosting Hillary Lea, it’s always a pleasure to read your interviews!
Hillary’s voice is beautiful with The Necklace. I always enjoy her voice but the whisper of French made this listen standout in my ears.
I really enjoyed Kaleo Griffith’s interview at Overreader. His choice of short story is one I grew up on – or should I say in?
My home town is Angel’s Camp in Calaveras County. Mark Twain’s cabin is a local tourist attraction and the annual Frog Jump is big business. The serious frog owners raise them and name them just as you would a race horse – no lie!
I love that story, and since I’ve no French, it’s wonderful to hear it read by someone who can put the right sounds in my head. :) It’s a joy to listen, and to read more about Hillary’s work.
(And thanks, Brenda!)