#WorldBookDay

This has just popped up on my Twitter feed...

...I'm genuinely astonished!
  

Good afternoon! So here I am on this very cold and snowy day, having returned from a recording mission in the even colder environs of Nottingham, to mention the (February 23rd) release of an audio book from The Black Library: Lukas the Trickster.

Before this latest audio book, I'd played 'Wolf Lord Kjarl Grimblood' in the audio drama 'The Art of Provocation'. On that occasion, BL stalwart Toby Longworth played Lukas and, as ever, did a fine job. No pressure at all then to follow in his footsteps by voicing Lukas in this audio book adventure!

Here are some details and fabulous artwork from The Black Library:

Lukas the Trickster

A Space Wolves story

When the drukhari come to raid Fenris itself, Lukas the Trickster takes to the battlefield to face a rival unlike any he has fought before…

Among the Space Wolves there are as many sagas as there are warriors. Though none quite like that of Lukas the Trickster. Renowned and reviled in equal measure, the Jackalwolf has ever stood apart from his brothers, passed from pack to pack by embittered Wolf Lords.

But as a new enemy invades the icy reaches of Fenris at the height of the Helwinter, Lukas finds himself facing a foe who may rival even his legendary cunning – the drukhari corsair, Duke Sliscus.

In the battle between wolf and serpent, who will emerge triumphant, and who will lay on red snow?

Written by Josh Reynolds, Narrated by John Banks & Produced by Kylia Whitehead

                                  
Audio book running time: 10 hours and 30 minutes

                         

* * * * *

The last few weeks have been busy indeed, with some very exciting projects working their way through to final release. This morning, the text of a new audio book arrived, which is scheduled to be recorded next week, assuming I can plough my way to the studio! So, not much prep time for this one and at first glance, it appears to be quite a challenging story; we shall see! 

I'd love to reveal details here and now, but alas, as usual, I'm honour bound to keep things 'under my hat' until officially allowed to give them a proper mention. As I'm about to venture outdoors, it's probably a good idea to keep everything else under my hat!

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens! 

Doctor Who: Ghost Walk

Good afternoon!

It was summer and it was very warm when we recorded Ghost Walk. I remember it fondly for a number of reasons; this was the first story I'd worked on with Matthew Waterhouse, whom I found to be charming and friendly and it was fun to work with Fenella Woolgar again. The last time Fenella and I worked together was on Nevermore, with Paul McGann and Emilia Fox, amongst others.

It's always an absolute joy to be in the company of Carolyn Seymour and working with her on this story was a real treat. Having not seen her since the recording, I can honestly say that I miss her; I miss her wit and her intelligence and her hugely charismatic energy.  I also remember my fabulous friend, Sarah Sutton, giving me a lift home from the studio and our getting stuck in incredibly dense traffic - thank goodness for the joy of easy conversation - and air-con!

Director Barnaby Edwards always creates a great working environment and Ghost Walk was consequently a lot of fun to record. I'm not sure that my role in this audio drama is especially pivotal, but I do look forward to giving a listen.

Here are some details:

"This is a city of ghosts and no-one knows them better than Leanne. Twice a night she leads tourists to visit the most haunted sites - the Hanging Yard, the Witch Pool, the Screaming House, and, of course, the Catacombs.

Leanne’s realised the ghosts of the city are real. Something’s lurking in the Catacombs - an ancient force that has been growing in the darkness for centuries. Sabaoth is returning and they must be stopped before they devour the world. Leanne knows this, because a ghost told her.

A ghost called The Doctor."

Peter Davison (The Doctor) Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka) Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) Matthew Waterhouse (Adric) Fenella Woolgar (Leanne) Sacha Dhawan (Matthew)  

Stephen Greif (Sabaoth) Carolyn Seymour (Mrs Stubbs) Philip Childs (Giles)  
John Banks (Louie) Rebecca Tromans (Nancy)

Written by James Goss
Directed by Barnaby Edwards 

 

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens! 

PS: some very exciting projects in the pipeline over the next few weeks and months; details to follow! 

Scarlet City: Part II Rise

Good afternoon! A brief lull, nay, 'respite' from a hectic recording schedule allows me just enough time to mention the second episode of Scarlet City and here are some details from Audible Studios:

This Original multicast drama piece blends history with fiction to tell the story of Jonah and his rise to fame through war, disease, ruin and riches.

London, 1337. England is at war, and the King is in financial straits, meaning that Jonah's hard-earned business and fortune hang in the balance.

A far cry from his humble beginnings as a draper's apprentice, Jonah is now one of the influential merchants in England, and he manages to secure the hand of the daughter of one of the most powerful and dangerous nobles in the country.

As Jonah's wealth and prominence grow, so do his enemies and the threats they bring - and even Jonah's close relationship with the King doesn't guarantee security. The King is at war, and he wants Jonah there beside him.

Told in three parts, hear Medieval London come to life in this historical epic, Audible Original's most ambitious production to date.



Narrated by Miriam Margolyes, OBE (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Romeo + Juliet, Mulan) and starring Douglas Booth (Riot Club, Loving Vincent, Shelley) as Jonah and Samuel West (BAFTA nominated; Mr Selfridge, Howards End) as Willcox.

Also featuring:

Josephine Arden, Timothy Bentinck, John Banks, Clare Buckfield, Elliot Chapman, Oliver Coopersmith, Raymond Coulthard, Gareth David-Lloyd, Raj Ghatak, Joe Jameson, James Joyce, Barry McCarthy, Olly McCauley, Tony Millan, George Naylor, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Steven Pacey, Nicholas Pegg, David Schofield, Jane Slavin, Dan Starkey, Jonty Stephens, Julie Teal, Alexander Vlahos, Niky Wardley, Lizzie Waterworth-Santo, Samuel West, Finty Williams. 
 

©2002 Rebecca Gablé (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

As you can see, an epic tale and a fairly epic cast! Needless to say, there wasn't room or time to have us all in together and apparently, no camera lens wide enough to include the entire company!

But here's an image of some of those called in for an early recording session; I even know some of them!

* * * * *

I'm enjoying a bit of 'time out' this week, as I mentioned above. In some ways, I'm now having the Christmas holiday I missed as a result of having to prep an audio book which started recording on 3rd January, the first of four audio books I recorded in January. A very 'full on' start to 2018! 

Next up for me is a very interesting audio drama, alas, top secret at the moment, followed by another drama recording and another audio book, which takes me up to mid-March. So, there it is; lots to look forward to, but a little more time to prepare and record than I had in the crazy pre-Christmas schedule.

Free time... what to do...?

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens! 

 

Senlin Ascends: The Books of Babel, Book 1

Good morning! This remarkable and astonishingly original novel, Senlin Ascends, written by Josiah Bancroft, is now available in a freashly published edition from the Little, Brown Book Group and as an audiobook, which was released yesterday in the UK and on 17th in the US.

Josiah originally self-published his story in 2013 and I'd be fascinated to know the journey the book has undertaken in order to have been picked up by a major international publishing house like Little, Brown. The release of the audio book seems to have generated quite a bit of interest and I'm delighted to have heard directly from Josiah, that he is pleased with how his novel has transferred to audio. His very generous comments with regard to my voice characterisations are gratifying indeed and I thank him for them.

The story is quite tricky to summarise, though this is a pretty good shot from Nazia at Little, Brown UK: “Try to imagine what would happen if Studio Ghibli and William Goldman collaborated with Mervyn Peake, and they reimagined Dante’s Divine Comedy.”  Indeed!

The audio book is available from audible and amazon and here are some details:

"Mild-mannered headmaster Thomas Senlin prefers his adventures to be safely contained within the pages of a book. So when he loses his new bride shortly after embarking on the honeymoon of their dreams, he is ill-prepared for the trouble that follows.

To find her, Senlin must enter the Tower of Babel - a world of geniuses and tyrants, of menace and wonder, of unusual animals and mysterious machines. He must endure betrayal, assassination attempts and the long guns of a flying fortress. And if he hopes to ever see his wife again, he will have to do more than just survive...this quiet man of letters must become a man of action."

Narrated by John Banks - unabridged audio book: 14 hours - 13 minutes 


"John Banks' wonderful narration of the Senlin Ascends audio book is available today in the UK. 
I'm so happy to finally be able to share John Banks' excellent performance with everyone!"

                                                                                                                Josiah Bancroft - author

 

Reviews for the book:

"One of my favourite books of all time." (Mark Lawrence)

 

"An extraordinary debut that is well worthy of the hype. A beautifully written, highly engaging page-turning masterpiece." (Fantasy Book Review)

 

"Thomas Senlin is the most unlikely yet likeable hero since a certain hobbit rushed out of Bag End leaving his second breakfast half-finished and entirely unwashed-up." (Fantasy Faction)

©2013 Josiah Bancroft (P)2018 Little, Brown Book Group

* * * * *

Senlin Ascends is the first novel of a trilogy, part two of which, Arm of The Sphinx, I start recording next week, once again with producer Neil Gardner; should be fun!

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens! 

 

Dark Imperium

With the release of Dark Imperium from The Black Library, it now feels as though the working year has begun. Although, behind the scenes of course, work has never really stopped. The Christmas and New Year 'holiday' was taken up with preparation for recording the first audio book of 2018, which was done 3rd to 5th of January and as I keep mentioning, I have a further three books to prep and record by the first week of February, so no time off at all - Happy Days!

And so, here we go; Good Luck 2018!

Dark Imperium

Warhammer 40,000

The galaxy has changed. Darkness spreads, warp storms split reality and Chaos is everywhere – even Ultramar. As Roboute Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade draws to a close, he must brave the perils of the warp to reach his home and save it from the depredations of the Plague God.

Fell times have come to the galaxy. Cadia has fallen, destroyed by the onslaught of Chaos. A Great Rift in the warp has opened and from its depths spew daemons and the horrors of Old Night. But all hope is not lost...

A hero, long absent, has returned and with him comes the wrath of the Ultramarines reborn. Roboute Guilliman has arisen to lead the Imperium out of darkness on a crusade the likes of which has not been seen since the fabled days of the Emperor.

But never before have the forces of Ruin amassed in such numbers, and nowhere is safe from despoliation. From the dreaded Scourge Stars come the hordes of the Plaguefather, Lord Nurgle, and their pustulent eye is fixed on Macragge.

As the Indomitas Crusade draws to an end, Guilliman races to Ultramar and a confrontation with the Death Guard.

Written by Guy Haley, Narrated by John Banks & Produced by Kylia Whitehead

 Audiobook running time: 12 hours and 45 minutes

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

 

The Maggotkin of Nurgle...

And we're already into the second week of 2018; how extraordinarily swiftly does time fly by! January, for me, continues pretty much as December ended - busily! As mentioned previously, I have four audiobooks to record this month and into the first week of February. At the moment, one book has been completed and I'm once again, deep in preparation for the next three, which are to be recorded over a very intense two-week period.

So far, there are no new releases to mention, although the first of this year's recordings should be available next week sometime and I'll post details here when I know more. In the meantime, Games Workshop and The Black Library are promoting new story lines to accompany new games and figures, featuring The Grandfather - Nurgle himself and his rot infested army!

Part of that promotion is this trailer, which I recorded a couple of weeks ago. It was great fun to come up with voices for these three characters and I'm delighted to see the accompanying animation, which has been so imaginatively and skillfully created by Laura at Games Workshop.

In my opinion, the artwork for this game and story line is quite exceptional and if I knew who was responsible for it, I would be delighted to credit them here - what fabulous work!

I hope you 'enjoy' listening to the brothers Glottkin trailer - make sure to play it loud!

* * * * *

As a quick post script: I mentioned that one of last month's Advent stories, The Autumn Prince, had the wrong cast credited to it on the Black Library web site. The cast I published here is correct and I'm assured that Steve Conlin does indeed appear at the very beginning of the story; I'll have to listen to it more carefully!

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Happy New Year!

My thanks to all who have dropped by to peruse this web site over the last year and I hope you'll keep checking in throughout 2018, which, professionally speaking, is about to start for me tomorrow. I have four audio books scheduled to record this month, so there has been no slacking over the - short - festive break.

There's nothing to report yet in terms of available recordings or other items of news; however, there is the final 'Advent' recording to mention from last month/year from the Black Library and here are some details:

The Autumn Prince

A Warhammer Age of Sigmar audio drama

An aelven wanderer prince seeks to wrest the secret of cheating death from one of the Katophranes in Shadespire. But why does a nigh-immortal aelf seek power over death?

Lured into the cursed city of Shadespire by the promise of the secret of cheating death, the aelf wanderer Prince Maesa seeks the Katophrane Thanaton.

Surrounded by the spirits of the dead who cannot die, trapped in the last moments before the city's destruction, Maesa nears his goal… but just why does a nigh-immortal aelf seek this power over death?

John Banks, Beth Chalmers, Tim Bruce, Melvyn Rawlinson, Luis Soto, Steve Conlin

Written by Guy Haley & Produced by Matt Renshaw

I'm playing Prince Maesa in this story and having now had the chance to listen to it, I think the BL web site has credited the wrong cast for this production. I have given the correct cast list above, although, having again announced on the actual recording, that Steve Conlin is in this story, in fact, I can't hear his very distinctive voice and so, I think his inclusion may also be incorrect. I'll update when I've clarified the situation with the folks at BL.

In the meantime, that's...

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens - Happy New Year! 

 

Cardinal Richelieu & Konrad Curze - how festive!

December is turning out to be a bit of a crazy month for audio releases. Including The Cardinal's Man and A Lesson In Darkness, there have been fifteen so far and I think there are more to come.

Although, when we're all 'driving home for Christmas' and we get stuck in a traffic jam, at least there'll be something to listen to in the car...

Here are details of the latest to have made it into the public domain:

The Cardinal's Man

With enemies advancing on all sides and Cardinal Richelieu's health failing, France is at breaking point. Yet salvation may arrive in the most unlikely form....

Born into poverty and with terrible deformities, Sebastian Morra is a dwarf with the wit of Tyrion Lannister and three foot, four inches of brazen pluck.

Through a mixture of brains and luck, he has travelled far from his village to become a jester at the royal court.

And with a talent for making enemies, he is soon drawn into the twilight world of Cardinal Richelieu, where he discovers he might just be the only man with the talents to save France from her deadliest foes.
 
©2017 MG Sinclair (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Written by MG Sinclair, Produced by Neil Gardner & Narrated by John Banks

Unabridged audio book: 10 hrs and 33 mins

* * * * * 

 

Konrad Curze: A Lesson in Darkness

 

A Primarchs audio drama
A world refuses unity, preferring to remain free of mankind's Imperium. But that cannot be tolerated. And so the Night Lords arrive to take the peaceful planet by force…

Piamen is a tranquil world in the far reaches of the galaxy. Since throwing off the yoke of alien invaders, they have remained free and peaceful… until the coming of the Imperium.

When they refuse to join mankind's star-spanning empire, a force of Legiones Astartes is despatched to bring the planet to compliance. And when the Night Lords come, darkness falls. Piamen will never be the same…

Performed by John Banks, Beth Chalmers, Matthew Hunt, Jonathan Keeble & Toby Longworth

Written by Ian St. Martin & Produced by Matt Renshaw

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens! 

Ghostly Tales...

In a previous posting, I mentioned the release of an audio collection called "Gather 'Round The Sound", which featured a Charles Dickens story, 'The Signalman', which I'd recorded with Simon Callow and Dan Starkey. The original intention was for that story, along with three others, to be released just before Christmas from Audible Originals, as an anthology with the title "Ghostly Tales".

And now, all is clear; "Gather 'Round" was released in the USA and "Ghostly Tales" has been released here in the UK, complete with full sound design, created by the fantastic Martin Montague. I haven't heard it yet, but hope to get my ears around a copy soonest - somehow!

Simon Callow, Sally Phillips, Dan Starkey, me and producer Neil Gardner

Here are some details:

The days are getting colder, the nights are getting longer, and as Christmas approaches the time is high for some ghostly tales. As an exclusive gift for Audible members, settle down, snuggle up and listen to four chilling ghost stories, read by Simon Callow. Four great stories, one master storyteller - what could be simpler than that?


Also featuring Sally Phillips, John Banks and Dan Starkey, this exclusive recording includes:

'Between the Lights' by E.F. Benson,
'A Strange Christmas Game' by J.H. Riddell
'Was It an Illusion' by Emelia B. Edwards
'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens



©2017 Audible, Ltd (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens! 

 

Advent Adventures...

As December progresses, with now only a few more days before 'the big birthday', here's a collection of recent Black Library releases from their 2017 advent series; yup, I'm in them - somewhere!

And so, in reverse order of release after Heart of Decay, ( ie: the most recent is at the top ), which I mentioned in a previous posting, here are the stories so far:
 

The Rage of Asmodai

A Warhammer 40,000 audio drama

Captain Vidarna of the Relictors finds a mission to capture a Chaos artefact complicated by Dark Angels Chaplain Asmodai, who has his own sinister mission.

Captain Vidarna of the Relictors leads a squad of his brothers in pursuit of a dark artefact on a world riven by heresy. But the appearance of Chaplain Asmodai of the Dark Angels changes his mission.

The Dark Angel claims to have the relic they seek – but to claim it, the Relictors need to aid him in capturing the leader of the rebellion, a mysterious black-armoured Space Marine whose armour bears symbols similar to that of the Dark Angels themselves…

  John Banks, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble, Toby Longworth & Saul Reichlin

Written by CZ Dunn & Produced by Matt Renshhaw

 

A Place of Reflection

A Warhammer Age of Sigmar audio drama

Moribus of the Sons of Mallus seeks a deadly foe in the labyrinths of Shadespire. But in a land of shattered glass and twisted reflections, can he trust what he sees – or even his own memories?

Moribus, Stormcast Eternals Decimator of the Sons of Mallus, wanders the glass labyrinths of Shadespire, alone. Somewhere out of sight, his brothers can be heard, and together they search for a dangerous creature, a malignant spirit that haunts this wasteland.

This foe carries a cache of shardglass, which Sigmar hopes can cure the Stormcast Eternals of the degradations that come with their reforging. As Moribus remembers his many deaths to focus his mind, he begins to doubt his senses and reality – and danger beckons.

John Banks, Tim Bruce, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Melvyn Rawlinson & Andrew Wincott.

Written by David Guymer & Produced by Matt Renshaw

First Lord Of The Imperium 

A Primarchs audio drama
 
Malcador the Sigillite sits vigil by the bed of a dying friend and the two discuss the past, present and future – and revelations are made.

As the Horus Heresy rages and the death toll rises, one more will be added to the numberless dead: Sibel Niasta, personal astropath to the First Lord of the Imperium, Malcador the Sigillite.

As her end approaches, Malcador sits vigil by her bedside, and pair discuss their friendship and what it means – how the past and present have shaped Malcador and the Imperium, and what the future holds.

                  Beth                                                                                                                               Jenny

John Banks, Beth Chalmers, Jenny Funnell,
Jonathan Keeble & Toby Longworth

Written by LJ Goulding & Produced by Matt Renshaw

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Fabius Bile: Clonelord

One of my favourite characters from The Black Library, Fabius Bile, returns to audio in this fabulous story, which I had terrific fun recording. I love playing the 'baddies' and Fabius is way up there with the best of them. I was delighted to have been asked to record this latest tale from Josh Reynolds, having previously recorded Fabius Bile: Primogenitor some months ago.

Here are some details and fantastic artwork:

Fabius Bile: Clonelord

Fabius Bile Book 2

Drawn back into the deadly machinations of his former Legion, Fabius Bile finds his destiny lies in a forgotten world on the Eastern Fringe… a world called Solemnace.

Once a loyal son of the Emperor’s Children, Fabius Bile now loathes those he once called brother. But when a former comrade requests his aid on a mission he cannot refuse, Bile is drawn once more into the sinister machinations of his former Legion.

Now, accompanied by new allies and old enemies alike, Fabius Bile must travel deep into the wilds of the Eastern Fringe, in search of a world unlike any other. A world which might hold the key to his very survival. A world called Solemnace…

Narrated by John Banks & Produced by Kylia Whitehead 

Running time 15 hours 3 mins

I'm really looking forward to listening to this story; might have to set some time aside after the festivities are over and I need some January cheer; 'cheer' I'm sure, is the right word to use about the adventures of Fabius Bile!

This is Kylia Whitehead's first audio book as producer and great thanks go to her for making the recording process so rewarding and so much fun!

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Heart of Decay

Tempting perhaps, to think of this as a story about dentists, but no. Instead, it's the latest audio drama release form The Black Library's Advent series and here are some details:

Heart of Decay

A Relictors audio drama

Two heroes of the Relictors Space Marine Chapter interrogate a prisoner – a hideous servant of the Dark Gods, a Traitor Astartes of the Death Guard.

The Relictors Space Marine Chapter are renowned for gathering artefacts of Chaos and delving into the secrets of the Dark Gods. Captain Vidarna and Apothecary Achaon are tasked with the interrogation – and torture if necessary – of a captured prisoner, a warrior of the Death Guard. After ten thousand years of war and corruption, what secrets might he yield? The pair attempt to find out, with hideous results.

Performed by John Banks, Matthew Hunt and Toby Longworth

Written by Ben Counter, Produced by Matt Renshaw with Sound Design by Howard Carter

Should it be of interest, there's a very favourable review online and on Twitter from Michael at Track of Words - and here's a link: HEART OF DECAY: Review at Track of Words

I vividly remember recording this story, not least because it has some of the most extreme vocal characterisation I've ever done; if you give it a listen, you'll know what I mean. As usual, we rehearsed briefly before recording, and I was rather hoping that we would get the more extreme stuff in one take. Alas, after 'giving it the beans', Matt just calmly gave me his notes - and we went again... once or twice! 

I should also say, that Howard Carter, has once again worked his magic with the sound design and thoroughly deserves proper credit. Of course, during recording in the studio, we had no idea how the finished thing would sound, or what Howard might do with our 'raw material'. In conclusion, I will allow myself a brief indulgeance and say, I think it turned out pretty well!

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

 

Renegades of Elysia

December has been a very busy month for new audio releases in recent years; the Black Library has it's Advent Stories as well as other 'main range' releases and other companies have their Christmas 'specials' too. The next few postings here, are a reflection of this variety, starting with this audio drama from the Black Library:

Warhammer 40,000 Audio Dramas

Renegades of Elysia

An Astra Militarum audio drama

"When Zachariah and a handful of men barely out of training are sent on a deadly reconnaissance mission he begins to wonder if his life might be in jeopardy.

After a disastrous mission leaves their ranks decimated, Sergeant Zachariah must rapidly train a fresh batch of recruits to restore the 158th Elysian. The regime is harsh, lethal, and only the best will survive to become full–fledged drop troopers.

But when a savage feud with a high-ranking officer threatens the 158th and Zachariah and a handful of men barely out of training are sent on a deadly reconnaissance mission he begins to wonder if his life might also be in jeopardy."

No cast list has been issued for this story, though I can tell you that I'm playing a small role and narrating and will probably read out a 'who's in it' list, sould you find yourself listening to it.

* * * * *

Next up is a slightly odd and quite unexpected 'collection'. Last week, I recorded four classic ghost stories and hopefully, that anthology will also be released in time for Christmas, which was the original plan. Should that be the case, I'll post full details when I have them. In this release, which I had no idea was ever going to be published, I appear only in The Signalman by Charles Dickens. I play 'The Signalman' opposite Simon Callow, who narrates and plays 'The Narrator', if that makes sense, along with my pal from many a Big Finish adventure, Dan Starkey, who performs a variety of roles at the end of the story. I think this collection is only available to audible subscribers, but hey, what do I know?

Gather 'Round the Sound: Holiday Stories from Beloved Authors and Great Performers Across the Globe 

2017 has been a monumental year for Audible, having just celebrated our 20th anniversary, a milestone that would have never been possible without our wonderful and loyal listeners.

One of our major commitments is bringing new and diverse audio experiences to our members, so this year, as our gift to you, we pulled together a collection that reflects a little bit of everything we've been up to recently: a surprising and heartwarming documentary, a selection of stories from our partners around the world, and even some improvised comedic carols we hope will make you laugh as much as they did us.

The lineup includes: 

Zip Code 12345
This mini-documentary centers around a peculiar holiday tradition at General Electric's headquarters in Schenectady, NY. For two decades, GE has been receiving thousands of letters from kids - children who think they're reaching Santa Claus. And every year, a handful of GE employees give up their December lunchbreaks to respond to each and every letter.

An Aussie Night Before Christmas, by Yvonne Morrison, performed by Magda Szubanksi
This rollicking rewrite of the famous old poem 'Twas The Night Before Christmas gives the original version a hilarious Aussie twist. Magda Szubanski, Australia's most trusted personality, caries this incredibly fun romp. Kangaroos pulling the sleigh, a beer for Santa, and all the over-the-top Australian lingo, it's everything you'd expect.


The Music Coming from the House, by Paulo Coehlo, performed by Daniel Frances-Berenson
In this magical story from the author of The Alchemist - the master of the modern parable - a disguised king visits a poor village, and what he sees through the window of a house changes his life, and those of the occupants.


The Signal-man, by Charles Dickens, performed by Simon Callow, Dan Starkey, and John Banks
For literature lovers, the holiday season needs a little Dickens. We dug up a story of his that you may not be familiar with, originally published in the Christmas edition of a Victorian short story periodical. Of course, ghosts are involved in this 19th century work told by Simon Callow (Outlander) and Dan Starkey (Dr. Who).

A Very Improvised Holiday Musical
What would the holidays be without some carols? Vern, a New York City-based improv troupe, performs a few improvised holiday songs.

©2017 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2017 Audible Originals, LLC


I 'love' the way I've been credited for The Signalman; three of us are listed, but apparently only two actually 'told' the story... ah, well!

And so, on that slightly 'bum note', that's...

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!