Labyrinthine Chapters 4-6

Labyrinthine

CHAPTER 4

 

At that precise moment, a ragged, jaded old woman with a plume of matted, white hair clung to a trolley as it careered down a steep hill. She laughed hysterically to herself whilst muttering to the three dolls perched on the wire mesh. Each doll was dressed as an angel and gazed into the distance with crooked doll eyes. Onlookers gazed at the eccentric old woman.

          “You haven’t seen me, you’ll forget… I forgot... so will you.”

The time had come. She had been called. She had a role to play; she just wished she knew the source of the knowledge.

 

CHAPTER 5

 

Olivia pulled her knees into her chest and sat with her back against the white wall. Whenever she moved, she winced. Had she been beaten? Drugged? 

“What do you want from me?” she asked again.

The intruder made a sideways glance, “I don’t want anything from you in particular.”

“Look - stop playing games. I know you’re here to…” Olivia gestured at the dark shape.

It waved the object like a toy. “Oh this... No, you have it all wrong. It’s not so much that I’m here to kill you - it’s a mere warning. There are powers at work of which you have no understanding. And it’s far better you know of such things now, before you make any discoveries.”

Olivia gazed suspiciously at the person before her: had someone sent it? Chewing her lip, she frowned. Why warn an artist trying to make a comeback? Olivia glanced at the door. Could she get past?

“I know what you’re thinking and I wouldn’t try it if I were you,” it said.

 

CHAPTER 6

 

Max grabbed a white towel from the rack and admired his perfectly sculpted physique in the mirror. He spent hours at the gym pounding the machines for that very reason; he was attractive and knew it. He could have anyone, but he had become ‘stuck’ with Olivia. She was the deal, and he was attached to her until the exhibition was complete.

He glanced at his mobile and huffed; he had to call her. Reluctantly he dialled and waited. After three rings, Olivia’s answering machine clicked on.

“Good morning, darling. I hope everything is okay with the exhibition. I wish I could be there to support you but you know how these conferences go. Work, work, work! Anyway, good luck with the hanging – you know it will look fantastic. Anyway lo…ve you and see you when I get back.”

He checked his watch seven-thirty am and frowned. He called her mobile. No answer.

“Where are you Olivia? You hardly sleep so what are you doing? Get that bloody work up and get me my money!”

To listen to Labyrinthine on audible:

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Labyrinthine-Audiobook/B011N0QVN0/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1445681627&sr=1-3#publisher-summary

 

Labyrinthine Chapter 2 & 3

Labyrinthine

 

 

CHAPTER 2

 

In the exhibition hall of an exclusive art gallery, a plump, fuming, fifty-something art agent paced up and down muttering under his breath. As he loosened his tie, his shifty eyes darted about in agitation. Hunching his shoulders, he grew increasingly rigid.

“That girl’s always late! It’s her last bloody chance!”

He scraped his chubby fingers over his balding head.

“Complete and utter disrespect! What does she think I am?”

He paused by a white framed window and stared out. For a moment, he just shook his head and checked his watch. I’m sick of it! If she doesn’t get here soon, I’ll have her bloody killed, that way her work might be worth something!

The agent’s face grew increasingly crimson, “This is her last bloody chance!” he spat.

 

CHAPTER 3

 

In a luxurious hotel, overlooking Bournemouth’s sandy beaches, Max laid on his king-size bed, smiling at the naked woman before him. He admired her curves as he traced his finger across her tanned, lean stomach. She smiled a coy smile, removed his hand from her hip, and slipped on her black, satin dress. “Time for me to go,” she said.

He sighed, “You don’t really have to go, do you?”

“You know I do.”

She gazed at him, bent over and kissed him on the forehead. Max gazed at her breasts and then into her eyes. She shook her head, turned, and glanced over her shoulder as she walked towards the door.

He watched the elegant woman leave the room and adjusted himself. He would never see her again.

“Damn, I have to call Olivia!”

 

Max yawned, rolled over and reached for his mobile. He resented having to call Olivia. She had an exhibition looming and would be at her wits end. Did he really need to deal with all that stress? He huffed; what he put himself through just to be with her was ridiculous. Max smiled wryly; he had his reasons and it was nearly time.
To listen to Labyrinthine on audible:

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Labyrinthine-Audiobook/B011N0QVN0/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1445681627&sr=1-3#publisher-summary

 

 

Finding the right voice for your audio book.

How important is a voice?

When I first heard the audition for the Labyrinthine, as the audiobook, my hair stood on end. Of all the various voices - this one stood out. It is funny how you just 'know' when something is right. What set this actress apart was her capacity to 'become' the characters and reveal their perspectives. In truth, she simply blew me away. Labyrinthine, the book being turned into audio, is a book with character depths based on symbolic archetypes. That was why the voice was paramount. In one moment she could be an old hag and the next a sexless being. She understood what was needed and literally vocally transformed.

I guess there are numerous authors involved in having their books made into audio and to be quite honest I had no idea what was involved. A novel of around 120,000 words is a recording of approximately twelve hours with numerous takes. The reason that I mention this is because you will have to listen to those twelve hours numerous times and be detailed in your response to the numerous takes. It is not a step for the faint hearted. This is your book and you want it to be the best it can be. What's more, there are moments when you will squirm, when a part of the book you wanted read in a certain way will sound clichéd. It is a heavy process to go through, but one that is worth it in the end because audio books are some of the highest sellers thanks to Audible. What's more, hearing your book come to life is an experience that will blow you away.

Some of my friends asked why I didn't read my books myself. Well the simple truth is: I don't think I could listen to my own voice for twelve hours in repetition. I certainly could not maintain consistency - I would rather let a professional with a fantastic voice do that while I focus on writing my books.

The book that is being made into audio is Labyrinthine, a book I loved writing and a book I feel provides so rather insightful answers about life. Of all the books I have written, I am not surprised that this one was picked at this time.

Read it if you are ready to experience and understand synchronicity:)

Click on this link if you dare: http://amzn.com/B008Y65FWU