With all the storms in the Gulf and elsewhere this year, it seems timely that this audio book is releasing, since the theme of this book is about God being with us through the storms of life. And 2020 has brought its share of storms.
I often get tired of reading or hearing my own work, but I thought the narrator did a beautiful job on this story of faith. I truly enjoyed hearing it!
About the narrator:
Meet Connie Shabshab!
How did you get into narrating?
I‘m a trained vocalist and stage actress. In 2017 I was a WATCH award finalist for lead actress in the play, ‘night, Mother, at Dominion Stage in the Washington DC area.
The truth is, I never thought of being a voice-over artist until I went to a commercial audition for a large Medical center and was asked to do medical narration for them. (facility with medical terminology wasn’t difficult because I had been a licensed registered nurse for many years.) That work experience triggered the desire to do more narration work which led to narrating audiobooks.
Today, in most instances, voice over artists have their own in-home studios. We are not only acting, we are also in charge of the technical production of the audio. That requires using software to edit and master audio files for the final production in most cases.
I love being a voice-over artist. I can’t wait to get into my studio every day.
I think I’d have to admit to you that one of the highlights of audiobook narration is that as a stage actress, I finally get to play ALL the parts.
That’s so interesting!! Well, I think you’re awesome at it!
A little more about you? What else do you do?
My faith is central to my life and being in a Bible study for the past 20 years has helped to keep me tethered. I enjoy cooking various ethnic dishes, especially with my husband and three children as sous chefs. I take long daily walks with my dog, Finn, and always have one book or another in rotation.
You and I have a common love for Bible study! Probably many of our readers do too! I love my dog and walk her every day as well. I can’t claim to be a great cook, but my son is. That’s wonderful that your family enjoys cooking together!
Do you have a favorite Christian novel?
Like many, I am a fan of C.S. Lewis in all his literary forms. Last year I saw a wonderful production of The Great Divorce by the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington D.C.
I do love C.S. Lewis! Thank you, Connie, for sharing a little about your life with us!
About the novel:
Maggie Marovich couldn’t save her father or her home from Hurricane Katrina, but she’s dedicated her life to meteorology so she can warn others when the monster storms approach. Except…she works three hours inland and rarely risks returning to her childhood hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Both her single-parent sister and the ship pilot Maggie once loved refused to leave the Coast, despite Maggie’s requests. Now a hurricane’s headed toward Mississippi, and Maggie’s sister is seriously injured, leaving Maggie little choice but to head south—into the storm.
The water and tides flow through Josh Bergeron’s veins, and he can’t imagine giving up piloting—even for the love of his life, the infuriating Magnolia Marovich. He tried to move on without her, marrying and having a child. But after his wife abandons him and his little boy, his career choice is threatened by the weight of his parental responsibilities. Moving next door to Maggie’s sister and sharing their child care seems like the perfect set-up. Until Maggie blows back into town.
Being forced to lean on Josh for help washes up the wreckage in Maggie’s faith. Where was God during the destruction of Katrina? Why do some prayers seem to go unanswered? Between the hurricane looming in the Gulf and another gale raging in her heart, can Maggie overcome her past and find the trust to truly live?
The eBook is only 2.99 which usually gives you a discount on the audio! Amazon
Do you listen to audio books? If so, what do you do while you listen?
I’ll be giving away five codes for this. Leave a comment by October 18 to be in the selection! Let me know if U.S. or Europe.
Janet W. Ferguson is a Christy Award finalist and the FHL Readers Choice Award winning author of realistic inspirational fiction. An avid reader, she loved books so much she found a job as a librarian so she could be around them all day. Then she turned that love of story into writing faith-filled novels with characters who feel like best friends. You’ll laugh and cry as the quirky heroes and heroines chase their happily ever after. Janet and her husband live in Mississippi where they say y’all a lot, and she forces him to visit the beach as often as possible. They have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space. Connect with her at http://www.janetfergusonauthor.com/
I love audiobooks and having been born and raised in Puerto Rico and living in Florida for the past 36 years, I am well aware of hurricanes and how it can affect a person.
I have listened a few times. Thank you for sharing. Blessings
I bet you have seen some!
You’re welcome!
I absolutely loved this story…..so sad to see what’s happening in LA these days with storms😥.
I am not into audio books, but glad you had this one done for those who like them!
I know. So sad!
Audiobooks are awesome. I use them when I have extreme headaches or migraines. When my eyes can not handle focusing, I can lay down with them closed and listen to a story quietly. It helps relax me. I also love listening while I’m cleaning or cooking alone.
I’m not into audiobooks, but I’ll definitely be checking the ebook out! I’m a FL native, so I’m used to hurricanes! I’d much rather deal with them than tornadoes and earthquakes! At least I have plenty of warning with a hurricane!
I have listened to a few, but I find that I allow myself to be distracted by what is happening around me and have to go back to relisten and often listening to an audio books takes way longer than when I read the book. So I stick to reading books which I love. [NB: If drawn please redraw for someone who likes audiobooks :)]
I love audio books and listen them all the time … everywhere <3
Audio books are a great way for people to get reading time in. I personally don’t listen to them.
Oh that makes sense! Headaches are the worst!
Thanks! All of them are pretty scary!
Gotcha! I do read faster than the audio, ha!
Awesome! I’ll put you in the drawing!
I enjoy audiobooks on a daily basis. For me, they make mundane house chores (cleaning toilets) bearable, but most often I’m in the kitchen cooking and cleaning my messes while I listen.
Different strokes, right?
Such a good idea!
I have done some voice work so getting to meet Connie is a treat! I have never had good success with audiobooks. My mind wanders too easily. And because I’ve done acting and voice-over work, I can get really picky about the quality which doesn’t make for much fun. I have, in the past, listened to audio courses while commuting, but I don’t have a commute anymore. I suppose I could listen while doing housework but that would mean that I would actually have to do housework. Oh, well. ;)
I just started listening to audiobooks and it has been so fun! I listen to them when I knit and crochet
This sounds like a riveting plot line and I would love to listen to this story play out!
I have listened to another of Connie’s audio books and think she does an amazing
job.
She did a wonderful rendition!
That would be a great combination!
Ha, I get nit-picky when reading so I get it!
I love to listen to audio books on cassettes, I am not very tech savvy so I don’t get the audio codes at all, thank you for this awesome sounding giveaway , but I am not entering it. I love listening to books in audio because I can listen to the books while doing other things around the house, I have also taken my CD player outside and just listen to audio books sitting on our patio swing in our backyard while enjoying the weather. This book sounds like a very good read. I am very Blessed to live where we don’t get hurricanes, here where I live in west Texas we do have a Tornado season. Have a Great week and stay safe. Thank you for sharing about this book , I’m sure it sounds Great in audio. Thank you for introducing us to the lady that narrates this awesome sounding book.
Story sounds beautiful.
I’m not an audiobook person–no need to count me for the giveaway.
I don’t listen to audio books. I gave them a try on a cross-country trip, but I discovered that my mind wanders too much. Something in the story will trigger a thought, and off it goes. I know many people love them.
Lol! I have a bit of wandering on most activities these days!
Thanks, Denise! There’s always the ebook or paperbacks 😊
We have tornadoes in Mississippi too. So scary! I’ve only learned to use the phone for audio in recent years. :)
I don’t listen to audio books because I just can’t focus on them. Funny thing, I can focus on a book where I can block everything else out (to the detriment of my husband, lol!). Maybe because I’m a visual person it’s easier to do with a physical book.
I see your books on on Kindle Unlimited (the whole Coastal Hearts series), so I will be borrowing them :-) They sound good!
I love audiobooks. I listen when I’m driving, exercising, and doing housework!!
I hate to miss reading time!
I’m not big on audio books cause it doesn’t feel like I’m in the story.
I understand, Trixi! I hope you like the series on eBook!
Well, I need to exercise more! Maybe that would be a motivator!
Sometimes I feel that way too! I actually laughed and cried at Connie’s performance, even though I wrote this story, LOL!
I don’t listen to audiobooks that much, but when I listen, I’m mostly doing other things. I listen to an audiobook a couple times before I know the whole book (LOL) But your book sounds really interesting!
Thank you!! I hope you like it!
I love audiobooks. It’s a great way to read and clean the house at the same time :)
I need to do more of that! My house…
I have not listened to an audiobook in years, back when they were on cassette form. E-books have caused my hard/paperback books to gather dust on the shelf. I am interested in this book and think I would like to give audiobook another try.
Oh, thank you!! I hope you enjoy!
I love audiobooks for road trips or when my hands are occupied, but most of the time prefer to read myself as I can read faster and feel I absorb more. I love the hybrid books on kindle unlimited so I can switch back and forth.
I do love audio especially for traveling but thanks to Covid, travel has been nipped in the bud. I am fixing to start some interior painting and I think an audiobook would be great for that mundane job.
I get it!! I read faster too! It is nice to have options!
I’m so tired of Covid! That’s a good idea for painting!
I hate that I saw this too late. I love audiobooks. I sew and do jigsaw puzzles while I listen.