Behind the Mic: Crafting Riveting Audio Dramas with Author George Sirois

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is George Sirois, author, podcast host, and audiobook narrator. Today, he is here to chat with us about audio dramas – what they are, why an author might want to consider audio drama, and how to go about producing them.

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I just released an exciting new episode of the Online For Authors podcast all about a creative way for authors to adapt their books into an immersive audio experience - audio dramas!

My guest this week was George Sirois, an author, podcaster, and audiobook narrator who recently adapted his own sci-fi novel Excelsior into an audio drama. He shared his journey of condensing a 7-hour audiobook into a compelling 1-hour dramatization, complete with a full cast of voice actors, sound effects, and an original music score.

Some key takeaways on creating your own audio drama adaptation:

Start by condensing your book into a fast-paced audio script with a clear beginning, middle and end. Decide what scenes are essential to the core story.

Dialogue is key! Since the audience can only hear the story, not see it, write dialogue that builds the characters and advances the plot. Use sound effects to set the scene.

Assemble a talented team - voice actors to bring the characters to life, a composer for an evocative original score, and ideally a director and sound editor.

If you don't have access to a full production team, get creative! Audition voice actors, reach out to musician friends, and learn basic sound editing skills yourself.

Audio dramas can either be recorded and edited like an audiobook, or performed and streamed live like an old-fashioned radio drama. Pick the format that works best for your story and resources.

George's enthusiasm for pushing the boundaries of storytelling is contagious. As he put it, adapting your book into an audio drama is an amazing opportunity to "maintain control over what you're doing but at the same time pivot in terms of getting your work adapted to a different medium." It allows you to explore which aspects of the story are essential and which can be trimmed away.

I encourage you to check out the full interview for a fascinating deep dive into the process of adapting a novel into an immersive audio experience. It may inspire you to bring your own characters to life in a whole new way! Happy listening!

P.S. Want to keep the conversation going? Head over to the Novels & Latte Book Club on Facebook, where authors and avid readers dish about the writing life. See you there!

Purchase Excelsior on Amazon:

Book 1 – Paperback: https://amzn.to/3SEkOOz

Book 2 – Paperback: https://amzn.to/4cnwhcH

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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