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WIN some fantastic prizes!
We are thrilled to announce that
The Dreamstone, book two in
The Dream Keeper Chronicles is now available in audiobook. If have never had the opportunity to listen to an audiobook before, now is your time! An audiobook is a wonderful way to enjoy a book. It brings a level of richness and art to the book you can't get with just words alone.
Dorothy called it Oz, Alice Called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.
There is a world inside our own,
but we can’t see it
when we are
awake—only when we sleep.
It is then we find ourselves in Dreams.
Synopsis for book 1: The Dream Keeper
When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it
falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope
lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to
save their world?
Synopsis for book 2: The Dreamstone
When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him
and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab
isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way
to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.
Check out what people are saying
about The Dream Keeper Chronicles!
"A fun, fantastic ride through both Dream and
Nightmare. Brooks has written a book that can be enjoyed by young and
old alike. Bravo!" ~Michaelbrent Collings, bestselling author of
The Billy Saga
“A wild stallion of a story: fast, thrilling, and
unpredictable. If this one isn’t a kid-pleaser, I don’t know what is.”
~Michelle Isenhoff, author of the
Taylor Davis Series
"I listened to
The Dream Keeper on audiobook and absolutely loved it! Anthony Bianco did an outstanding job of bringing each character to life." ~L.R.W Lee, author of
The Andy Smithson Series
"My heart hammered and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page. I felt every emotion the characters did, I laughed, I cried, I felt fear while reading this book." ~Amazon reviewer
"If you like the
Percy Jackson,
Fablehaven, or the
Harry Potter series, you'll love this!" ~Amazon reviewer
Check out this interview
with the narrator, Anthony Bianco!
What have you enjoyed most about narrating The Dream Keeper Chronicles?
Bringing the
mythology that Mikey has created to life. There is a sense of innocence,
wonder, and possibility on the world of Awake and Dreams. Our dreams are one of
the nearest things we still have to magic. And discovering the story has helped
remind me to continue to look for the magic in the world around me.
How did you go about finding a distinct voice for each
character?
Many times
Mikey provided some kind of description of the character that would inform the
choices I would make. Age, gender, body size/ shape. I imagine how the voices
sound when I am reading and do my best to apply those changes when I get in the
booth. I would like to think that all of the choices that I made were informed
by the text. I did my best to fully imagine what Mikey created and trust that
when he is satisfied with the result I have done my job.
You work as a professional actor; do you find your
profession helps you in narrating books?
I find it
incredibly helpful. The fact that I am not in front of an audience doesn't make
a lot of a difference to me. The act of storytelling is the same no matter what
the medium. Many of the skills needed: articulation, breath support, vocal
flexibility, emotion (to highlight a few) all come into play when recording.
When you are in the booth you have to be hyper aware of every movement and
sound. Even though nobody can see what you look like, any extraneous movements
can cause sounds which can be picked up by the mic. It is essential to have the
physical and vocal awareness to keep those sounds to a minimum. At the same
time you can't allow that to keep you from bing expressive and energized when
telling the story. It can be a tricky balance sometimes. But the years of
training help to balance those factors.
Is there a character in the book you related to the most and
why?
I think
Gladamyr was the easiest to relate to, even though he is a Dream keeper. I love
the tortured heroes. Plus, Gladamyr's powers are the coolest! Many of my
favorite fantasy characters have been Shape-shifters or have had an ability
similar to Gladamyr. It probably appeals to the actor in me, being able to
shift and morph would be like the ultimate costume change.
If you were to dream up a nightmare what would it be?
Absolutely
terrifying. Probably something similar to Minion, a monster made from a swarm
of spiders. When I have nightmares they are the worst. I am usually being
chased by a dark formless, shifting shadow (not unlike Gladamyr now that I
think about it). There are always lost of teeth and it is fast; constantly
changing throughout the dream. The worst nightmares know when to change and get
worse when you think it can get any worse.
How do you manage to smoothly accentuate the “voice” of the
different characters?
Breath, breath,
breath. You can't transition from voice to voice without the proper breath
support to fuel the instrument. If it sounds smooth it is a combination of
quality editing and quality vocal control by the narrator.
How did you become a book narrator? Did anything specific
prompt you to undertake this career?
A friend
encouraged me to pursue it. He made the transition from actor to narrator full
time and thought I would also be good at it. So, he gave me the initial push. I
haven't been able to make that transition fully, though. I am still working and
audition for gigs in bother careers. As well as working at a coffee shop and
doing odd work as a ranch hand and landscaper to make ends meet. I am still at
the begging of my narrating career but what has prompted me to continue to
pursue it is the flexibility to create my own hours, work from home, and the
complete artistic control of the storytelling.
Narrator Bio:
Anthony Bianco
is a professional actor living and working in Denver, Colorado. He is a native
Oregonian and has been acting and storytelling for the past
eighteen years. He received a BFA in Acting with a minor in Shakespeare
Studies at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. Anthony
then went on to receive is MFA in Acting from University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. Anthony moved to Denver five years ago and has worked for three
seasons with the Denver Center Theatre Company, one season at Colorado
Shakespeare Festival and most recently appeared as Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby at the Arvada Center
for the Arts and Humanities.
Author Bio:
Mikey Brooks is
a small child masquerading as an adult. On occasion you’ll catch him dancing
the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown
up. He is the author/illustrator of the best-selling middle-grade series The Dream Keeper Chronicles, The Stone of Valhalla, and The Gates of Atlantis: Battle for
Acropolis. His picture books include the best-selling ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures and Bean’s Dragons. His art can be seen in many forms from picture
books to full room murals. He loves to daydream with his three daughters and
explore the worlds that only the imagination of children can create. Mikey has
a BS degree in English from Utah State University and works full-time as a
freelance illustrator, cover designer, and author. As a member of the
Emblazoners, he is one of many authors devoted to ‘writing stories on the
hearts of children’ (www.emblazoners.com). You can find more about
him and his books at: www.insidemikeysworld.com
Check out the books!
The Dream Keeper
The Dreamstone
Check out the GIVEAWAY!
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