Interview with Narrator Greg Tremblay – and a Giveaway!

Back in March 2017, I reviewed Rachel Grant’s Tinderbox, the first title in her Flashpoint series of romantic suspense novels. I was already a fan of Ms. Grant’s, having enjoyed several of the books in her Evidence series in both print and audio formats; her novels are tightly plotted and incredibly well-researched, with characters that leap off the page and a nicely steamy romance to go along with the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat storylines. Tinderbox boasted a narrator whose name wasn’t familiar to me, but I decided to give it a whirl and within minutes I knew I was in safe hands. After the first half-hour, I knew I’d found a narrator to add to my “phone book” list. (You know the one – “they’re so good I’d listen to them read the phone book/laundry list” etc.). Greg Tremblay’s performance was simply superb, and since then I’ve been catching up with as much of his back-catalogue as I can find time for. He narrates a LOT of romance (yay!) – m/m and m/f – (some of it under the name Greg Boudreaux – it’s not a secret; it’s in his bio!) alongside the work he does in other genres, and currently has well over 150 titles to his name(s) at Audible. A list, which I’m extremely grateful to see, seems to grow every week!

Also growing is the list of reviews of his work here at AudioGals, so I thought it was about time I caught up with him for a chat. And don’t miss the giveaway at the very end – two winners will be chosen to receive Rachel Grant’s Firestorm audiobook downloads! Thanks for taking the time out to visit us, Greg!

Greg Tremblay: Thanks for having me! And thank you and all the AudioGals crew for some amazingly kind words over the past year or two. Humbling doesn’t quite begin to describe it.

Caz: You’re welcome – and every one of them is very well deserved :) Could you start by telling us a bit about your background and how you became involved with audiobooks?

GT: Well, I studied computer science and theater as an undergrad… see, I had this massive passion for the stage and also for making rent on time? When I graduated, voice acting was one of the things I really wanted to do, and people said things to the effect of “oh, like, sure man… like… move to LA and in a few years or something you can probably find an agent?” … which, to me sounds like the start of a cautionary tale, not much like a PLAN.

So, I did I.T. for a while, tried a few random things, and then in 2013 an actor friend from DC told me about new changes in the audiobook world. I LOVE audiobooks, have been listening to them since the 90’s, and frankly I really thought first you became a famous actor, and then they would ‘let’ you do audiobooks. SO, I looked at this ‘ACX’ thing – which I thought at first was a scam and discovered that it wasn’t… it was legit. I made myself a profile, and leaned on my computer and theater skills and auditioned for 3 books… annnnd here I am today. It’s one of those “and the rest was history” moments. It just really was the perfect fit.

Caz: Given you’re a very well established narrator, do projects come to you, or do you go through an audition process? 

GT: Both! I reach out for some books and audition, and some I’m asked to audition as a small group of finalists, and some come to me. I’m incredibly fortunate at the moment to – sadly – not be able to take on every book that comes my way simply because there aren’t enough hours in the day.

Caz: You narrate books in quite a wide variety of genres. I won’t ask you to play favourites (unless you want to!), but are there any genres or books which present special challenges you particularly enjoy?

GT: *laugh* No, I get you. Honestly I really like best any genre I haven’t done in a while. I’ve loved every genre I work in, but after I do books in a genre back-to-back-to-back, I itch for a change. After a bunch of business books I start to wonder if maybe something could blow up… and then after a bunch of Sci-Fi I’m thinking “man, if someone would just kiss and talk about their feelings?” and so on. I love getting to work in a bunch of genres!

Caz: How do you typically prepare for a narration? 

GT: Prep-reading the script to get a feel for the characters, where the story is going, and anything weird I’m likely to encounter. The only trick is series where a character might just… BOOP become Australian in book 5. It’s not common, but it happens. Once I’ve read the book, I may or may not make detailed notes about it, but I create a script for my screen in the booth that works best for me. I like a narrow column reading format, like a single column in a newspaper article (the paper kind) I also use a sans serif font for that. So I usually pull the script into MS Word and make some tweaks, and then I’m ready to rock!

Caz: You’ve narrated a lot of romances – both m/f and m/m – and from listening to you, it’s obvious that you ‘get it’; you know what romance listeners want to hear, and how to really get to the heart of a scene and a story. From a narrator’s point of view, what – if any – do you think are the biggest challenges in narrating a romance novel as opposed to, say a mystery or sci-fi one?

GT: I think in some ways Romances are easier for me than most genres, because I am an inherently emotional person. Sometimes the sci-fi and mystery titles etc. are less emotionally varied than Romance… so when I get to do those it really feels like I’m plugged into all of my own emotions. I love easily, I cry easily, and I just enjoy the flavor of life so very much, which makes it really feel natural to get right into a Romance scene.

Caz: I said at the beginning that my introduction to your work came through Rachel Grant’s Flashpoint novels – which are AWESOME. What drew you to the series?

GT: Working on the Flashpoint series has been extra fun and challenging in a few ways. Firstly the female characters are in no way helpless and despite often not being the military characters, they aren’t clueless civvies either. There is great character growth by both parties. Also, I got to research different parts of Africa for each book so far, and brush up on some regional accents. Complete blast!

Caz: What was the first book you narrated? What do you know now that you wish you’d known then?

GT: Dirty Kiss by Rhys Ford was my first audiobook. I will always love that series as it was both delightful and got me my whole start in this. I do wish I’d had the sense of trusting myself that I do now, and had been able to let go juuust a bit more. Also, I wish I’d been using an external proofer for that one like I do with ALL books now. That would have saved some angst.

Caz: When you’re not prepping for a narration, what do you like to read for pleasure?

GT: I listen to as wide a variety as I can! I just finished listening to a lovely Regency romance by Georgette Heyer – Venetia – which was recommended by one of my partners… absolutely freaking perfect. The performance by Phyllida Nash was delightful.

I find I don’t sit and READ to myself very much that isn’t for work… so I try to listen listen listen. I listen to memoir and scifi and mystery and romance and anything I can get my hands on. :)

Caz: In your Twitter bio, you list an unusual hobby… you’re a blacksmith?

GT: *Laugh* the blacksmith thing always gets questions. Long story short – one of the things I tried when I was losing my mind as an I.T. drone was shoeing horses. Loved the work, but it’s not easy on the ol’ body… so I left the horses behind, but I kept up on working the metal. I also sail, SCUBA dive and do medieval re-creation (In the SCA, Aethelmearc if you’re playing the home game!)

Caz: What do you have in the pipeline that you can tell us about?

GT: I’ve JUST wrapped up recording on A.M. Arthur’s Saddle Up, the third book in her Clean Slate Ranch series… and then I’m working on a Victorian Paranormal, SemiSteampunk Romance next week. :)

Caz: Victorian Paranormal SemiSteampunk Romance? Count me in!

Greg, thanks so much for taking the time out of what is clearly a busy schedule to stop by and chat – it’s been fun.

GT: Thank you so much for inviting me! It’s always fun to switch gears and talk about the process. :)

Find Greg on Social Media:

Twitter/Facebook – gtremblayvoice
Website: gregtremblay.com

THE GIVEAWAY!

And now for the GIVEAWAY! Two lucky winners will each get an Audible US download code for Rachel Grant’s Firestorm, narrated by Greg Tremblay! Just click below to enter for a chance to win – ends midnight Tuesday, August 7, 2018, Central Standard Time (US).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Fine Print: No purchase is necessary. The giveaway is open from 12 am CST Wednesday August 1, 2018, through 12:00 am CST Wednesday August 8, 2018 (which is midnight Tuesday).

Two winners will be chosen. The prize is 1 download code for the audiobook on Audible US. (approximate value estimated: US$25), therefore, winners may need to have an Audible US account in order to redeem the prize. Anyone over 18 who can redeem an Audible US code and for whom this audiobook title is not geo-restricted is eligible to enter, with the exception that the reviewers at AudioGals and their immediate family members are not eligible. :) Also, not eligible where prohibited by law. :)
One entry per person, please. Winners will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter software. Winners will be notified by email used for entry by 11:59 pm Wednesday, August 8, 2017, and will have 48 hours to respond with the mailing address. If no response is received, another winner will be chosen.