Narrator Interview - Kim Ismay

For the last 12 years, West-End actress and singer, Kim Ismay, has combined her obsessive love of reading and her fascination for fictional characters in her role as a volunteer narrator for Calibre Audio. Here, Kim tells us about the challenges of recording audiobooks and why she is so pleased to carry on with the role:

“I have learned so much about myself in the course of narrating audiobooks for Calibre. I had no idea quite how much horror books unsettled me until I started reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – I had to make sure I finished that one during daylight hours and I have now requested no more horror stories!

“But I’ve also be pleasantly surprised by some of the books I’ve read. I didn’t expect to like the fantasy genre, but I absolutely loved The Wild Folk by Sylvia Lindsteadt and perhaps two of my favourite books are Lynn Reid Banks’ One More River and Broken Bridge which I found very moving.

“Recording at home is perfect for me as I can fit it in around my work life. As a theatre actress, I quite often record at night when I come home from a performance when my voice is warm and I feel alert. I do find that I can’t record for too long in one sitting; after a couple of hours, mistakes start to creep in as you get tired.

“For me, one of the most important things in recording audiobooks is to be organised and plan well. I always read the whole book first and take note of any hints the author may give about the voices of the characters. This helps me make sure that I’m consistent with each character’s voice throughout the reading. The other key point to remember is to press ‘save’ at the end of each file – you only do THAT once!

“I received a really lovely message from Lynn Reid Banks about my recording of one of her books - it meant so much to me that I had been able to portray the book in a way the author approved of.

“My aunt is partially sighted and listens to audiobooks all the time. She absolutely loves them so I know what a difference a good recording can make. In addition to being a good discipline for me and keeping me at the top of my game, I’m passionate about wanting everyone to be able to read and love books as much as I do.

“If anyone is considering whether to become a volunteer narrator, I would say do it! Although I’ve always loved books, narrating for Calibre has given me the chance to extend my reading into other genres and I am genuinely excited when each new book arrives. I am delighted to be able to do whatever I can to encourage people to enjoy books.

1 July 2022