I’m thrilled for you to meet Naomi! She has a lovely voice and is a lovely person, as well!
Tell us about yourself and about becoming a narrator.
I spent most of my childhood on an apple orchard in New Mexico. My parents were a couple of hippies when they were younger, so we grew up learning to live off the land on our small farm. I learned a great many things from our hands on lifestyle, including some carpentry that I later used to build my studios sound booth.

Naomi as a little girl.
While still living in Santa Fe, I took an acting class, completed a course in voice-over, spent some years in early childhood education, and meet my husband while walking down the aisle as the maid of honor and he the best man at my sister’s wedding. He lived in Mexico City so we spent some time apart and went back and forth from Mexico to Santa Fe before he finally moved to the U.S.A.. Who ever said long distance relationships don’t work out!

The studio.
Some years later we moved to Florida with our three children, where I sought out private voice lessons. My husband had spent some years as a sound engineer so he had lots of great equipment and know how. After building my studio and learning everything I could from my husband, I launched myself into my voice acting/narration career.
I enjoy cooking in the kitchen but can’t follow a recipe for the life of me. Sometimes that’s a good thing others not so much. My poor kids, but at least it’s reciprocal, I am willing to try any of their concoctions that come from the kitchen and garden. Mostly. We are involved in a great little church where my husband and I run a mid-week children’s ministry.

One of Naomi’s adorable girls.
I love it! You and your family are just precious. Readers check out Naomi here.
https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Oxford-Southern-Hearts-1/dp/B0764KBM3R/
Leave a warm welcome (by 11-13-17) for Naomi to be in the drawing for the Leaving Oxford Audible code! (Void where prohibited.)
HI Janet and Naomi. How exciting Janet to have your story made into an audio story:)
I have two boys (7 and 9) who LOVE listening to audio stories- when we drive (even to school!), when they get restless in the afternoon…out comes my iPod with a story for them. I appreciate the skill and effort put into making a story a great audio story- thanks:)
Blessings:)
Hi Wemble! Isn’t it great?! And Naomi is so gifted!!
Blessings
Wemble. That’s fantastic your boys love audio books, great way to entertain them!
Hi Janet! Welcome Naomi! Thanks Janet for this interview with Naomi and the background info on how a person becomes a narrator. While teaching high school journalism, I taught about being a radio announcer; so today’s blog is especially interesting to this avid reader. I used many narratives in my high school classroom. Even after teaching a work for many years, while listening to Huckleberry Finn or To Kill a Mockingbird; I was always amazed to hear something new – something I had missed in my reading. Love your studio. As a German teacher, before German audio books were readily available; in 1981 in a class at Calvin College a group of German teachers learned how to make sound studio using blankets and a tape recorder. I made several cassette tapes for my students. Wished I had your studio. Personally I do not listen to audio books. Prefer to read at my own pace. Just wanted to say hi and welcome Naomi – SO please DO NOT include me in the giveaway.
Hi Renate! What an interesting perspective! And you sound so intelligent to be able to teach German and all the other background!! I’m impressed :) I just started listening to audio right before this project so it is still new to me. I’m enjoying it.
Blessings
Renate, thanks for the welcome. Interestingly enough the blanket recording is still common practice for some, minus the tape recorder though. What a great idea to use audio for your students!
God’s given narrator Naomi Karez a beautiful voice!
He has! I love it!
Thank you Anke! Blessings
What an interesting and fun career this must be! Your daughter adorable, by the way.
Hi Melynda! I got to meet all three of her daughters, and they are all so precious!
Melynda, Thank you. It is a very enjoyable career! I may be biased, but I think she’s adorable too!
These pictures are adorable!! I love that you built your own sound booth. And that you “mostly” try your kids’ concoctions! I laughed out loud when I read that, having 6 children of our own and totally understanding that. It’s been lovely meeting you on various blogs, and I really look forward to listening to you read. Audio books are a great way to be able to hear the book, while being busy with other things.
Hi Becky! Isn’t it cool that she built it! I’m so not handy that way!
So true Becky. Having 6 children you know full well the importance of multitasking. Busy moms have to get in a a good story too! :)
How fun to get the scoop on your narrator. Its always fun to me to get acquainted with people and how they get to do what they do. Congrats on your audible!!
Hi Dana! It’s neat how God connects us! Thank you! :)
Hi Dana, glad you enjoyed the post! Janet it has been a neat connection!
welcome Naomi. fun post. no need to count me in the give a way. I do not do audio. but just wanted to stop in
Hi Lori! Thanks for saying hello!
Blessings
Thanks for saying hello Lori!
Welcome, Naomi! I’ve never read an interview of a narrator before. I really enjoyed this. Thanks!
Hi Kimberly! I was so blessed to get to meet her due to her family’s storm evacuation. Not that the storm was good, but we got to meet. :)
Kimberly, I am glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for welcome.
Thank you all for the kind welcome! It’s neat to hear from each of you! Glad to hear some of you enjoy audiobooks, and thank you to those who stopped in and took the time to say hello anyway. It sure has been fun work and I have really enjoyed Janet’s stories!
Naomi, I’m so thankful for you!! And Inspy Romance is a great group of readers and authors!
How nice to hear from narrators. We’ve been reading about audio books for a while now (thanks for Valerie Comer and others who have talked about their books being available through audible), but this is the first about the narrators. It’s nice to hear the story behind the people. ;)
Hi Priscila! I’m just so blessed that Naomi is also a sister in Christ! That’s why I so wanted to share her with you all!
Hi Priscila! Glad to hear you’re getting more acquainted with audio books, and enjoyed the story!
Thanks for sharing Naomi’s story! It’s nice to hear the story behind the voice. You have a beatuiful girl Naomi!
Hi Laura! Her three girls are all so adorable! Thanks for stopping in!
Blessings
What an adorable child you have, Naomi. Thank you for sharing this. Blessings
Hi Lucy! The whole family is so sweet!
Blessings
Thank you Lucy and Laura! I am blessed with three wonderful daughters!
Wonderful to meet you, Naomi! I’ve never used Audibles before and haven’t “read” any books on audio either. It’d be a new venture for me!
They are great for listening in the car or exercising on a treadmill, etc!
sbmcmh, how exciting, it will be a new adventure!
This is my first time being here but I really enjoyed hearing from a narrator. I love my Audible books and listen often. So it’s great to learn about the wonderful people who bring the books to life!
Yay for audible and audio-books Missey! It’s always nice to be told a story.
Hi, Janet! Hi, Naomi! I love listening to audio books! They keep me company in the kitchen, my least favorite room in the house. I think it is so cool that Naomi has her own, home built, studio.
I think this is the first time I’ve “met” a current narrator. I had a teacher in high school who was a part-time stage actor and did audio work from “the beginning of time” as he used to say. He was 78 when I was in his class.
Hi Andrea! They are great kitchen companions for sure. Funny story about your teacher:)
Hey, Andrea! Great to see you!
Blessings
How fun growing up living off the land and later built your own studio for your narrator job :-) I bet that brings you much pleasure. Thanks for sharing your story!
I don’t listen to audio books so I’ll pass on the giveaway. I just wanted to chime in though and say hello!
Trixi, thanks for stopping in to say hello!
Thanks for saying hello! :)
Hi Naomi. This was great getting to find out how a narrator got started. I love listening to audio books when driving to doctor appointments over an hour away from home.
Hi Debora! An hour long drive is perfect for an audio book!
Hi Debora! Sorry you have to go to the doctor, but it is a great way to pass the time!
Blessings
Hello Naomi and Janet, Loved the blog Janet and I so enjoyed hearing how you grew up Naomi. So precious!
jennydtipton at gmail dot com
Thank you, Jenny! :)
Hello Jenny, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Nice to meet you, and hello Fellow Floridian!
Hi Ashley! Waving from Mississippi! Love the South :)
Hi Ashley! Thanks for stopping in to say hello. Hope you and your family fared well after the hurricane! Blessings
Hi Naomi and Janet! I’m from MS too, Janet. I would love to listen to this book on audio. I’m sure I would enjoy your voice Naomi from the little I’ve heard. Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi Brenda! Great to have a neighbor here! She has such a wonderful voice! You’ll love it!
Blessings
Hi there Brenda! Mississippi was such a lovely place, we enjoyed our stay! Glad you enjoyed the sample audio! Blessings