Owing to the rise in popularity of audio books, talking books are now featuring in the Handbag Gallery. Improved digital technology has made the audio book more accessible to readers. I invited bestselling author, Imogen Matthews, to explain how she transformed her words into a talking book with the help of a BAFTA nominated actor. Imogen has charted her book’s journey into the audio world.
At the beginning of this year, I decided to turn my novel, The Hidden Village, into an audiobook, but had no idea where to start. The audiobook market, I’m told, is booming, especially among young people who like to listen to books on their commute, in the gym, when out cycling and running or at home preparing a meal.
Amazon’s ACX (http://www.acx.com/) can take you through the process step-by-step and made it sound fairly straightforward. They would help with everything, from finding a narrator to providing guidance on how to produce my audiobook and getting it distributed onto Amazon and other distribution channels. So far so good. ACX has a big database of narrators all waiting to audition for your book and all you have to do is decide the type of voice, tone and accent you want for your book. I listened to a few narrators and although there was nothing wrong with any of them, I didn’t feel the right connection I so wanted for my book.
In the meantime, some other options arose, which sounded a great deal more exciting. Early on, I had the chance to work with a well known British stage and TV actor and was blown away by his audition…but work got in the way and he simply couldn’t commit as he was on tour in a musical until June. Maybe he’ll be free for my next book?
My disappointment was short-lived after I was introduced to Liam, a BAFTA nominated actor, who has narrated dozens of books. Together with his audiobook producer, the delightful Catherine, an Englishwoman based in the US, they have created and produced my audiobook, and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Working with Liam was a dream. We had several phone conversations in which he asked me searching questions about the narrative, characters and foreign words. He took the job seriously and must have read my book multiple times to get under the skin of each of the characters (of which there are many!). I trusted him to go away and narrate the whole story, which I then listened to, all 9 hours and 37 minutes, over the course of a weekend in April.
It was a very strange and wonderful feeling hearing the words I’d written being brought to life by an actor. Liam added layers of meaning and tension to the story I honestly hadn’t realised were there. It made me realise that my role, as an author, is merely to tell the story – and from then on in, the reader/narrator takes over.
The Hidden Village is available on Amazon (on audible) and iTunes
I did think of asking Imogen to present the audio version of her article. What do you think of audio books?
About Imogen:
Imogen Matthews lives in Oxford, England and is the author of two romantic fiction e-novels. The Hidden Village is her first historical fiction novel. Born in Rijswijk, Holland, to a Dutch mother and English father, the family moved to England when Imogen was very young. She has always enjoyed holidays in Holland and since 1990, has gone regularly with her husband and two children to Nunspeet on the edge of the Veluwe woods. It was here that she discovered the story of the hidden village, and together with her mother’s vivid stories of life in WW2 Holland, she was inspired to write her next novel.
Wartime Holland. Whom can you trust?
Deep in the Veluwe woods lies Berkenhout, a purpose-built village of huts sheltering dozens of persecuted people. But the Germans can find no proof of its existence. The whole community pulls together to help the Berkenhout inhabitants adjust to a difficult new life and, above all, stay safe.
Sofie, a Jewish Dutch girl, struggles to adapt to living in Berkenhout, away from her family and friends. As weeks turn to months, she’s worried they’ll abandon her altogether. Young tearaway Jan likes to help, but he also enjoys roaming the woods looking for adventure and fallen pilots. His dream comes true, until he is found out. Henk is in charge of building the underground huts and organizing provisions to Berkenhout, but his contact with the Germans arouses suspicions.
Whom can you trust? All it takes is one small fatal slip to change the course of all their lives forever.
Do you know the Dutch built a village for the Jewish community in World War Two? Imogen Matthews tells the inspirational story in ‘
About half-way through the book, Jan and his brother, Oscar, are arrested by the Gestapo for helping a fallen American pilot. This extract describes what happens after their terrifying journey in the back of the Nazis’ vehicle.
‘They’re going to lock us up?’
Deep in the Veluwe woods lies a secret that frustrates the Germans. Convinced that Jews are hiding somewhere close by, they can find no proof.
Sofie, a Jewish Dutch girl, is one of the first inhabitants of Berkenhout. At first she refuses to participate in village life and pines for her friends and family. But she realises there is no choice and comes to appreciate the support of the local community who make their survival possible.
In November, I received some mail from Nunspeet, Holland. Imogen Matthews posted an article to 
Across the path was a sign to Het Verscholen Dorp, Dutch for hidden village. It wasn’t easy to see what was there, which was probably the point. We followed a rough path through the trees and ahead of us was a hut of some sort, only partly visible. The roof was covered with moss, vegetation and branches to look like the ground beside it. It was a reconstruction of an underground hut that had stood on this spot.
Today, the woods are a haven for people looking to escape busy lives in towns and cities. The Veluwe is a popular holiday destination, but deep in the woods it’s always tranquil. I imagine how quiet it must have been 74 years ago, although for many the peace was tempered by an undercurrent of threat and fear.
The community hide their Jewish neighbours in attics and summerhouses. Eventually, an entire village is constructed, in the woods, to protect these vulnerable people. It is intriguing to observe how a community work together. In turn, Matthews examines how the hidden villagers feel trapped. It is sad that ‘freedom seemed an impossible dream’ yet we know it is better than the fate of their counterparts outside of the village. How could they have realised the danger? The German occupation is an ever-present menace that pursues the characters. ‘All it took was a stray German to bump into’ one of children running through the woods with supplies. Will they be caught?
A society is developed with rules, regulations and leaders but there is tension. Matthews explores the pressures of a community within a community. She presents some very strong central characters who grow up in this unnatural world. It is heart-breaking to observe how the children lose their innocence. These children live with uncertainty and broken families – they have to find an inner strength. The community spirit is heartening yet wanes under the burden of war. Some of the younger characters rely on friendships to support them but they learn about cold, brutal betrayal.
Imogen: The Dutch have a word “gezellig” that is an emotion we don’t have a word for. So you can make your house “gezellig” by having lots of table lamps and tealights (strictly no overhead lights). A sociable meal with friends and family is also “gezellig”. My mother also used to say it was “gezellig” whenever I used to pop over for coffee. The Danes have stolen a march on this idea with “hygge”, but I can assure you that I’ve been using “gezellig” long before “hygge” became fashionable!