Tag Archives: Susan Taki: The New Coven

Interview with Narrator Jeremy Olivier

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Tell us a little about yourself.

I am originally from Minnesota and presently live in Korea as an ESL Teacher. I served in the US ARMY and served in Korea for one year which is what encouraged me to move there. My wife is Korean and we live pretty comfortably, but we have plans to move back to the states in the near future. I presently do Voice Over as a side gig, but I hope to develop it into my full-time work. My hobbies are martial arts (gotta stay in shape), playing video games, and sitting down to some good ol’ Dungeons and Dragons with my friends. 

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How did you get into narration?

This is a fun story. I was working as an English teacher for a nuclear power plant here in Korea (KHNP) and they have E-Learning modules on their website to help them with their English. So, we had a project to record the worker’s scripts in a studio. Here in the city of Busan, the local university has a building that is supported by the government that has a complete recording studio. This studio can be rented out to the public and the sound engineer students work there to help whoever wants to do the recording. After that experience, I had so much fun that I was hooked. I got “bit by the VO bug”. So I did some research and found that the first website that most people recommended was ACX (this is the audiobook creation website for Audible.com). I got my microphone, setup, and started auditioning. 

Which character did you connect to the most in this book?

It was, at first, a hard decision between Jericho Caine and Tom Padilla. However, I have to go with the same character that I know Dee chose. That is, of course, Jericho Caine. The reason I connect with him is that he has the same characteristics as me. I’m not as impulsive as he is, but I am direct and interested in just getting the job done. I also like his “run in and figure things out as they go” method. He is also quite optimistic about coming out on top. I also rely on the help and trust of my friends to make it through anything!

What is your process like when trying to tap into the individual characters when recording the dialogue?

I will always reference to playing Dungeons and Dragons on this one. We always use the phrase “theater of the mind” in our quests and when the Dungeon Master creates the world through their words. I use that exact idea to voice each character. Thanks to Dee’s great explanation of each character in detail, I am able to lock in a solid mental picture of the character. With the words that the character says, I try to feel out how they would speak and the mentality that would come with it. Once you’re able to lock in the mental picture, speaking style, and the character’s motivation in the story; the rest just flows. 

What are some of your favorite genres to work on as a narrator? 

I have to easily start with science fiction. The stories can span from a small town to the edges of the galaxy. I have also been fascinated with the supernatural (and it shows with Dee Rose’s novels). Westerns are quite fun to do because the voices come through quite naturally. I am still extremely interested in anything in the fantasy RPG realm as well with my love for all things D&D. 

What advice would you give to aspiring voice actors or narrators looking to get into narrating audiobooks? 

I can’t stress this enough. DO YOUR RESEARCH! As voice actors, we have to wear many hats. We have to learn a lot about sound engineering with the use of DAW’s (Digital Audio Workstations); knowing which mic to use; and how to treat a space to make sure our sound is the best it can be. Start with Youtube. Oh, and prepare yourself for LOTS of rejection. I always live by the phrase “fail forward”. If you didn’t get the part, there’s always tomorrow. However, this direction has limitless educational opportunities. No one in the industry learns it all. Whatever your initial goal or dream is in voice over, buckle up, you’re gonna get pulled in many directions. Don’t worry, this is a good thing. Finally, connect with voice over communities such as ones on Facebook. The support they offer is there to lift each other up and help you through this crazy audio jungle. Everyone’s voice has a place. I hope that helps a little.   

What does the future hold in store for you? 

Right now, just working at building up my Voice Over business and grinding away to build a successful brand. I want to get myself out there and help whoever I can with my voice. I’d like to get that that eventual point where I can wake up in the morning excited and ready to record something fun for someone. I truly want to add enjoyment to people’s lives, no matter how corny that sounds. 

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Any new projects on the horizon?

I am still in close contact with Dee Rose and kicking around the idea of rounding out and taking the rest of his Hangman Universe into the audiobook realm. Other than that, I am working at building up my presence on freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork. I am also keeping my eyes open for any fun character auditions out there in the aether. 

https://www.acx.com/narrator?p=A3VR8LH4COF79I

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-olivier79/?originalSubdomain=kr

https://www.audible.com/pd/Susan-Taki-The-New-Coven-Audiobook/B099RLGKHQ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
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Interview with Author Dee Rose

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Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I got into writing when I was a senior in high school. I entered a poetry contest, and even though I didn’t win, I received great reviews. From then on, I only wanted to write poetry. 

I went to the Navy two weeks after high school decided to turn poems into raps. I wasn’t bad, but obviously I wasn’t good enough to make a dent in the music industry. I called my style of rap, psycho rap, and made a song called The Hangman. 

When I got out of the Navy, four and a half years later, the writing bug hit me again. I wondered how I could make the Hangman into a novel. However, I wrote two other books before the Hangman, called Cloning Around and Forbidden Love. The love story was dedicated to my sister because she died of cancer, and I wanted to make sure it was the first book I published even though I’d finished Cloning Around first. 

I moved to Denver, Colorado and went to college to study creative writing. I got married and had two beautiful daughters, Nadia, and Nicole. I then wrote The Hangman but developed a serious case of writers bloc soon after. It lasted for years. Tragedy struck again when I was shot in the Aurora Theater Shooting. I was shot in the shoulder, which required a metal plate, and in the back, which caused nerve damage and I developed drop foot syndrome. 

I thought my life was over until I met a young man named Panhnha Tran and offered to write a book, based off his idea, Then I thought, “I want to finish my own books”. So, with his help, we developed a follow-up book to the Hangman called The Grand Librarian: Life of an Immortal. It was a standalone book, but I tied it to the Hangman story, and the Hangman Universe (HMU) was born. I couldn’t stop writing either. Eight books later, on March 21st, I published The Hangman: Vengeance, book ten, and ended the series. I had a blast.

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What inspired you to write your book?

Susan Taki: The New Coven is the eighth book in the HMU series. I didn’t promote it as much as I should have. I always thought of it as just a gateway book between The Death Brothers: A Supernatural Awakening and The Hangman Vengeance. However, a brilliant voice actor named Jeremy Olivier narrated The Death Brothers book. I thought he did an amazing job! He convinced me to continue the audiobook story of the HMU and I agreed. So, Susan Taki lived through his words.

What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

The message I want people to take away from the book is that good can triumph over evil. Love doesn’t require specific genders. And hang the rules. Fantasy is just that…fantasy. If you have a good story to tell, then tell it the way you envisioned.

What drew you into this particular genre?

I’ve always loved fantasy with supernatural elements my whole life. I’m a huge comic book fan. Anyone with abilities or powers… I’m hooked.

If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

If I could sit down with any character in my book, it would Jericho Caine, the vampire slayer. I think he is badass. And I would ask them, why are you such a badass? I think he has the coolest one-liners, and his wit is unmatched.

What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Facebook has been the social media site that has been most helpful in developing my audience. I think it’s because the readers from India and Columbia are the ones that contacted me first about my writing.

What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

My advice to aspiring or just starting authors would be to just get the story out of your head and on paper. Editing is important but save it for later. I can’t count how many times I got caught up so much into a scene I was writing that I smiled the entire time. That let’s me know that it’s a good scene.

What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I believe my future is bright. Right now, I have just released a space opera on Kindle Vella entitled, Hut-Yo Cull: The Hunt Begins. I’m almost finished with the follow-up to Cloning Around called, Special Agent Robert Bassett: Accepting Commonology. I’m also working on another book about people with abilities called, The Bad Guys about a group of villains.

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About the Author

Dee Rose was born on July 5th and resides in Denver, CO. He is the father of two daughters. “They are my life.” He says. He attended Metro State University of Denver, where he majored in Political Science. The Hangman is his third published novel and he plans to make it into a series. “Novels like the Hangman are the reason I started writing in the eleventh grade. I love taking readers on an incredible journey.”

https://www.facebook.com/DeeRoseBooks

https://www.audible.com/pd/Susan-Taki-The-New-Coven-Audiobook/B099RLGKHQ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Susan Taki: The New Coven: The Hangman Universe (HMU), Book 9 by Dee Rose (Narrated by Jeremy Olivier) Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

After awakening from a magically-induced coma, Susan Taki returns to San Diego after helping her demon-hunter boyfriend, and after patrolling the streets at night as a supernatural police officer, she finds herself facing her old coven in author Dee Rose’s “Susan Taki: The New Coven”, the ninth book in The Hangman Universe.

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The Synopsis

Susan Taki awoke from a magic-induced coma in the events of The Death Brothers: A Supernatural Awakening. After helping her boyfriend, the demon hunter, Father Tom Padilla in New York, she has now returned home to San Diego. She is weighing an offer from the vampire slayer, Jericho Caine, to be his partner, while she patrols the streets as a supernatural policeman at night.

However, her old witches coven has returned with a new and powerful leader, Tatiana. They intend to make Susie stand trial for her role in the death of one of their former leaders. The punishment is death. The underworld also has an interest in the outcome of the trial as they know Susie is an ally of their enemies, the Death Brothers, the Grand Librarian, and the Hangman. 

The Review

A fun, thrill-ride of a supernatural fantasy and action novel, author Dee Rose has done a fantastic job of world-building in this narrative. Admittedly, this is my first foray in The Hangman Universe, but the author’s writing and the narrator really do a great job of implementing a cinematic quality to the writing, bringing to mind shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Wynona Earp. 

The vast array of characters and mythology that the author implements into this narrative is engaging to say the least. The story implements a wide array of classic and iconic paranormal elements, from vampires and witches to demons and angels. The author breathes new life into the classic theme of good vs evil, crafting a series of complex characters that both define these two sides and at times stride the line between both. 

The Verdict

A masterful, action-fueled, and entertaining read (and listen!), author Dee Rose’s “Susan Taki: The New Coven” is a great new supernatural thriller. The author does a good job of complimenting the series that has preceded this novel while also giving newcomers a chance to really sink their teeth into the story. Great dialogue and cinematic imagery really craft a fantastic read that fans of the genre won’t be able to get enough of, so be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Dee Rose was born on July 5th and resides in Denver, CO. He is the father of two daughters. “They are my life.” He says. He attended Metro State University of Denver, where he majored in Political Science. The Hangman is his third published novel and he plans to make it into a series. “Novels like the Hangman are the reason I started writing in the eleventh grade. I love taking readers on an incredible journey.”

https://www.facebook.com/DeeRoseBooks

https://www.audible.com/pd/Susan-Taki-The-New-Coven-Audiobook/B099RLGKHQ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp