Audio Recording St. George

Wow!  It's hard to believe another year has flown by.  2014 was a big year at Straight to Audio Productions as we released our third audio book titled, WHEN ASSISTED SUICIDE AND COSMETICS COLLIDE . . . Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book  http://tinyurl.com/GadzooksAudible I feel blessed to have worked with such a fantastic group of actors on both the audio book and the video to promote it  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4SU-a6u4FY&feature=youtu.be Looking ahead to 2015, fans of the Quirky Audio Book Series can look forward to more wacky videos and even some memes!  I will be posting a series of funny ads on YouTube under the title #Quirky Polygamist.  We've even got our own Twitter Account  https://twitter.com/QuirkyPoly Here's hoping that the New Year brings Peace, Prosperity, Joy, Good Health and Love to you and your family.  Happy New Year from Straight to Audio Productions  http://www.quirkyaudiobooks.com

On today's blog piece, we're featuring a synopsis of the book, SurviRial by Ken Benton. The deadliest flu season in a hundred years is about to turn a whole lot deadlier. When an accident at a famous medical research facility lets a mutated avian flu strain out, a nightmare scenario unfolds. Before authorities can react, millions are infectedóand thatís just the beginning. The mortality rate exceeds 80%. Leaders and elected officials soon learn the man-manipulated virus respects neither rank nor stature. The resulting chain reaction leads to a collapse of modern societyóeven in Colorado, where no cases of the killer strain have yet appeared. Clint Stonebreaker, a happily-married software engineer living in Denver, doesnít like watching the news. He especially doesnít let Jake, his wacky doomsday-prepping brother, watch it when he visits. But when chaos goes viral through the entire country, Clint and his wife Jenny are forced to acknowled

Wow!  It's hard to believe that another year is coming to a close.  2014 was a great year at Straight to Audio Productions.  In early October, we released WHEN ASSISTED SUICIDE AND COSMETICS COLLIDE . . . Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book  http://tinyurl.com/GadzooksAudible As with all my projects, I also produced a wacky video to promote sales on Audible and Amazon.com. Here's the video we did for Gadzooks!   http://tinyurl.com/quirkyaudio-book In the New Year, the plan is to produce a series of videos under the brand, #Quirky Polygamist.  These messages are designed to make people laugh and also give audio book listeners a peek into the area where the action is set in the Quirky Audio Book Series.  #Quirky Polygamist also has its own Twitter handle https://twitter.com/QuirkyPoly From my studio to your home, here's wishing you the Happiest Holiday Season ever!

In today's blog post, I'd like to share some information about Ghosts & Gold by R.W. Lang http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Gold-R-W-Lang/dp/1499203322 The novel Ghosts & Gold is part tragedy, fantasy, and romance. Dr Jack Martin, a veterinarian, loses his wife and daughter in a vehicular accident. Distraught, Jack decides to sell his house and business in Bel Air, Maryland, and temporarily moves in with his sister, and lesbian lover in Palm Springs, California. He buys a pickup and camper, adopts a red and white Irish Setter named Domino, then travels throughout northern Nevada. Jack breaks his leg digging for gold in Rhyolite, Nevada, and Dr. Taylor Adams saves him. She convinces him to move in with her to ease his recovery, and they fall in love. You have to read the book to find out about the Ghosts!

I stumbled across one of the best Christmas movies I've seen in a long time on Lifetime the other night. Wishin' and Hopin' is based on the New York Times best-selling novel written by Wally Lamb http://www.amazon.com/Wishin-Hopin-CD-Wally-Lamb/dp/B0045EPDAO . Besides being an outrageously funny comedy about a kid attending Catholic School back in the 1960s, this little ditty features a huge cast of stars: Molly Ringwald, Chevy Chase, Cheri Oteri just to name a few. Wishin' and Hopin' chronicles the adventures of Felix Funicello (cousin of the infamous Annette Funicello). Young Felix himself in one pickle after another, unwisely re-telling dirty jokes that he doesn't get. His classmates are similarly wacky, from his best friend, Lonny (the dumbest kid in the class), to Zhenya, a quirky Russian transplant. Anyone who grew up Catholic will appreciate the comedic illustration of the Catholic School Bureaucracy. Conchata Ferrell, known

Fearless Puppy on American Road and Reincarnation Through Common Sense have twenty-five 5* reviews on Amazon between them and make the perfect holiday gifts! These books will entertain, but they have a serious purpose as well. ALL author profits will be used to sponsor Wisdom Professionals, beginning with, but not exclusive to, Tibetan Monks, Nuns, and causes. Money from book sales will establish permanent funding sources (businesses/funds). These will make it financially viable for an increase in the number of Wisdom Professionals worldwide. A motel-type guesthouse can be built near a temple or meditation center. Money raised from the patronage of business travelers, vacationers, students coming to the center for teachings, and youth and tour groups can then be used to perpetually support and provide the basics (food, clothing, shelter, books, medical expenses) to an ever-increasing number of Wisdom Teachers. An ordinary contribution is spent and gone. The Fearless

I had high expectations for the audio book version of The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Phone-Call-Heaven/dp/0062294377 I've been a fan of Albom's work ever since I stumbled upon The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Unfortunately, The First Phone Call from Heaven didn't intrigue me in the same way my previous introduction to Albom's work did. The First Phone Call from Heaven is about what happens to the people living in a small town in Michigan who begin receiving phone calls from their departed loved ones. The plot was very intriguing – were the phone calls real or was someone pulling off an elaborate hoax? The downfall in this story for me was an inability to truly care about the characters in the story. I suppose I just didn't warm to the individual characters which may have led to my general malaise towards this audio book. This was a huge departure from the way I felt about the chara

I was happy to discover the movie, Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever, playing on Lifetime.  Aubrey Plaza (actress of Parks and Rec fame), does the voice of Grumpy Cat.  This little ditty really put me in the mood for Christmas, but apparently, I'm alone on this one. In doing some research for my blog, I was surprised to learn so many critics panned this movie.  I'm not sure where there are coming from.  Clearly, the makers of the film were laughing at themselves, even poking fun at Grumpy Cat memes and the over-commercialization of this feline icon.  There were even a few jabs at the Lifetime Network. In addition to some genuine belly laughs, Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever also had some poignant moments.  I thought the lead human in the show, a 12 year old girl played by Megan Charpentier, was super cute and a good actress to boot.   Despite the majority of nay-sayers, I'm putting Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever on my list of great shows to watch d

I read a lot of books on the Law of Attraction – some are better than others. I agree with the principal: what you think about is what you attract into your life. What I don't believe is the idea that all we have to do is wish for things and then sit back and wait for them to come to us. In my mind, The Law of Attraction = Action. Mike Dooley, one of my favorite authors, talks about starting with an end goal in mind and then working backwards. The operative word here is work . Dooley encourages people to take steps in the general direction of their goals, leaving the “cursed hows” to the universe. All of this requires action, not thought. I'm not a religious person, but the phrase, “Faith without Works is Dead,” certainly rings true for me. How can I expect good things to happen in life if I'm not doing my part to bring about those desires? And even if I could just make things materialize simply by wishing them to be so, how much joy could

I'm pleased to welcome Carlyn Craig as a guest writer for the Quirky Audio Books Blog.  Carlyn shares some interesting information about the Odyssey of a Slave Trilogy.   Patrick Bowman’s Odyssey of a Slave  Trilogy is a bold re-imagining of Homer’s Odyssey and the Mediterranean world that inspired it some three thousand years ago. The young adult reader already familiar with the landscape of Greek myth and legend and the reader looking for an entertaining introduction can both enjoy this trilogy, which begins in the smoking ruins of Troy, in the wake of the Greek sacking of the city, (courtesy of the “Trojan Horse”).  Fifteen year old Alexi tries to escape, but caught and is taken as a slave by Odysseus himself, to serve on his ship for the return trip to Ithaca. This is the Odyssey of Homer, but the adventures are Alexi’s own. He negotiates between his status as a slave and the demands on a hero, as one adventure succeeds another. Alexi is forthright and br

Just who is January Jones? Although this particular January Jones is not an actress on “Mad Men,” she is a celebrity. This January Jones is the author of Thou Shalt Not Whine . . . The Eleventh Commandment, Jackie Ari & Jack: The Tragic Love Triangle and Oh, No . . . Jackie-O! and The Christina: The Oasis Odyssey . January Jones is also a syndicated talk show hostess! I had the pleasure of once again being a guest on January Jones Sharing Success Stories. The show is now in syndication on three networks: Talk4Media http://w4cy.com/radio-personalities/january-jones/, iHeart Radio http://www.iheart.com/show/53-January-Jones-Sharing-Succ/ and Blog Talk Radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/januaryjones. During the show we talked at length about what success means to both of us, as well as the trials and tribulations of using modern technology to sell books and audio books. January is someone I consider to be an expert on the subject due to her impressive resu

Listeners who prefer mp3 downloads to physical media can now enjoy Gadzooks! Audible.com on Audible.com  http://tinyurl.com/GadzooksAudible One of the advantages of using Audible.com is that it is less expensive because consumers aren't paying for a physical product (not to mention shipping costs!)   Many listeners load their audio books onto their ipods and then plug the device into their car stereo systems.  Isn't technology grand?   I'd like to give a special shout out to Audible.com today for working with me to get Gadzooks! up for sale on their site.  Thanks, Audible!   http://tinyurl.com/GadzooksAudible

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ASSISTED SUICIDE AND COSMETICS COLLIDE? Find out in Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book . Gadzooks! has been approved by ACX and will soon be available for sale on Audible.com. This is a great option for audio book lovers who don't want the trouble or expense of listening to their favorite stories on disc. I am currently selling two projects on Audible.com: Jitters-A Quirky Little Audio Book is a 2011 Audie Award Winner in the Multi-Voiced Category http://tinyurl.com/AudieWinner Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book is also available on Audible http://tinyurl.com/QuirkyProduction For those who aren't using an ipod to listen to audio books, Gadzooks! is available on disc on Amazon http://tinyurl.com/GadzooksComedy .

Art Piece Created by Rob Wilson  My name is Rob Wilson and I am a professor of Art at Dixie State University and a volunteer board member of five non profit arts organizations including the Utah Mural Art Foundation of which I am the director.  When I am not involved in the arts I am spending my time out hiking, jogging, playing outdoor sports, enjoying the beautiful weather and park amenities we have in Washington county.  While arts and recreation are my life, I want to speak to someone who may be less involved and might not fully understand what this city currently has and will be offering in the future in terms of Recreation Arts and Parks.   Washington county is a major destination for tourism and recreation.  Cultural arts are very strong and are continuing to grow as a major economic vehicle in this area.  The RAP tax or proposition 3 is a public opinion vote that is going on the ballot which you may vote for or against on November 4th.  This tax is a proposed sales

There may not be such a thing as a free lunch, but you can win a free copy of Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book on CelebrityCafe.com http://thecelebritycafe.com/contests/audio-book-giveaway-gadzooks-comically-quirky-audio-book Celebrity Cafe has lots of contests that are open to the public.  Enter to win all kinds of cool stuff from books to bath products.  I've been amazed at how easy and fun this site is.   Check out some of the other interesting things CelebrityCafe.com has to offer including news about the stars and other interesting, timely topics http://thecelebritycafe.com/ Thanks, CelebrityCafe.com for sponsoring the contest to give away Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book http://thecelebritycafe.com/contests/audio-book-giveaway-gadzooks-comically-quirky-audio-book

The first reviews of Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book are up on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=gadzooks+a+comically+quirky+audio+book&sprefix=gadzooks%2Cstripbooks%2C198 The review program offered by Amazon is great not only for consumers trying to make decisions about which products to buy, but also for the sellers who need honest feed back. I've been very impressed with how easy it is to use Amazon Advantage to sell my products https://www.amazon.com/gp/seller-account/mm-product-page.html?topic=200329780 If I had to try and sell my audio books on an international level, it would take a lifetime to find potential stores to carry them, not to mention all the headaches that would arise from trying to keep track of payments. With Amazon Advantage, I don't have to worry about a thing. Once my products are up on their site, Amazon does the rest. I'm so grateful f

WHEN ASSISTED SUICIDE AND COSMETICS COLLIDE . . . Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book by Adele Park In the eyes of Nadine, a polygamist and serial bride, nudging her husbands into heaven is a testament to love. Even Nancy Neptune, a notorious shock jock, is gobsmacked by Nadine's so-called “Celestial Send-Offs.” Things go to hell in a hurry when Nadine offs the wrong guy and is charged with assisted suicide. Meanwhile, Blue McKenna has problems of her own. A power outage has leveled Blue's medical marijuana dispensary. Scottie Sphincter, lead singer of a band called The Rectal Surgeons, is fingered as a suspect. Blue makes an unusual discovery as she works to unmask the inscrutable Sphincter. Using witty narratives, a cast of nine actors transport listeners to Navel, Utah, a place where voyages to the afterlife are done with God Speed. Cosmic mirth and hilarity abound in Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book. You'll di

I'm honored to have P.S. Winn as a guest blogger today.  Ms. Winn lives in Cedar City, Utah, where she keeps busy with her 17 children and 18 grandchildren.  Winn says she's always wanted to be a writer, but didn't really begin her career in this field until 2012.  Amazingly, Winn has penned 18 books (composed in long hand) since that time.  Winn's 16th book is called "Lies in Shadows."  Read on about what Winn has to say about this intriguing work. The book "Lies in Shadows" is a supernatural paranormal thriller.  I wanted to write a ghost story but not one that was just plain horror or like the TV series where people stand around looking afraid and doing nothing about it. In "Lies in Shadows" you meet Lucretia. She was protected as a child and even though in her thirties she lives with her mother. When Lucretia's mother dies Lucretia is conflicted. She misses her but at the same time she also feels a sense of freedom. When afte

I came across Mystery of the Witches' Bridge by accident. I had been searching for other books written by May Nickerson Wallace, author of The Ghost of Dibble Hollow . Anyone who uses Amazon is familiar with their “You might also like . . .” feature. In this case, I mistakenly thought Mystery of the Witches' Bridge had been penned by May Nickerson Wallace. As it turns out, the actual writer is Barbee Oliver Carleton http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Witches-Bridge-Barbee-Carleton/dp/0590413988/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412080124&sr=1-1&keywords=mystery+of+the+witches+bridge I can see why Amazon linked these two books. Both are about young boys who go to an unfamiliar place for the summer only to encounter a mystery involving family rivalries from long ago. I'm a sucker for these types of novels. I love the idea of solving a mystery over a summer and the search for lost treasure which which exonerates those who have been wrongl

I'll be the first to admit I'm often late in coming to the party as far as social trends are concerned. In the case of the TV show, Freaks and Geeks , I'm about 14 years behind schedule. Thanks to my recent decision to get Netflix on my TV, I finally discovered the comedy gem others have been gushing about for more than a decade http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0193676/ Freaks and Geeks isn't just another funny show about teenage angst. There are some important life lessons imparted here, especially as it relates to bullying and social pressure. As a writer, I'm impressed with how these issues are handled within the contexts of a sitcom. Besides the brilliant plots, Freaks and Geeks has a laundry list of fabulous actors: James Franko, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel just to name a few. Linda Cardellini, the star of the show, really shows off her acting chops in this show. Cardellini has such a wonderful way of expressing her befuddlement at the situ

I'm always happy when I discover one of my favorite writers has come out with a book in paperback. It's not that I'm opposed to paying full price for a hardbound book, it's just that they're heavy and hard to read in bed! Needless to say, I was thrilled when I came across John Grisham's novel, The Racketeer, in paperback http://www.amazon.com/Racketeer-Novel-John-Grisham/dp/0345530578/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410873178&sr=1-1&keywords=the+racketeer+john+grisham I've heard some literary types poo-pooing writers like Johh Grisham, though I often wonder why. For starters, anyone who can pump out as many best selling books as Grisham must be doing something right. More importantly, Grisham has a gift of sucking readers into the lives of his characters within the first pages of every book he's ever written http://www.jgrisham.com/ Writing is about communication, not flowery words. Grisham puts a fine po

Steve Campbell (Old Doc Pinkerton) has been singing and acting all his life.  In the 60’s and 70’s he acted in plays and performed on radio and television and motion pictures. Commercials, voiceovers, modeling, traveling the country dong Industrial Shows.  He sang with a “Big Band” in Detroit Michigan for six years.  since moving to St George in 2002 he and his wife Cindy Have been working as Realtors at ERA.  His real love is still singing and acting.  He has done a few commercials and professional voice work since moving to St George but you may know him best from his stage performances with Dixie State University, St George Musical Theater, Space In Between, Broadway West, Hurricane Valley, or singing at various events or at the public library on Monday mornings doing “Story-time “for the kids.  It has been a real treat for him to work with talented Adele Park and her wonderful audio books.  He says “It’s a blast!” A Note from Adele I've had the pleasur

In my world, the phrase, “and so it came to pass,” usually doesn't refer to deadlines. As someone who spent nearly 20 years working as a reporter and news anchor, deadlines are sacred to me. That's why it was especially painful to miss a deadline that has been in place for nearly two years. One of the challenges with the type of work that I do is that everything is a long term project. It takes at least a year for me to write an audio book and another one to produce it. Originally, I had set September 22, 2014 as the deadline to release Gadzooks! Another Quirky Audio Book . Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be a reality. While I'm in the final stages of finishing Gadzooks! I'm afraid to set another deadline, still stinging from missing the first one. I try not to be too hard on myself, remembering that I've put forth a major effort to meet my original deadline. I just didn't anticipate the final stages of this project w

I was born and raised in Bountiful, Utah, and have spent the better part of my life performing and/or producing. I’ve had the pleasure of plying my performance wares on stage, screen, radio and as a voice actor, having recently been on stage in “2 Across” and “Spring Equinox! An Evening of Tunes & Tales.” A Note from Adele I have truly enjoyed working with Kent. He is funny, professional and very good at what he does. Kent first came to Straight to Audio Productions to perform the role of Randall Smoot in Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book . Kent's back and better than ever in his rendition of Scottie Sphincter in Gadzooks! Another Quirky Audio Book set to be released on September 22, 2014.  

I grew up in beautiful Park City, enamored with the ski-racers and sporty thrill seekers of my community, but I always sought out my adrenalin rush through performing.  I continued to chase that rush, studying musical theater at Webster Conservatory in St. Louis, and at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, England (founded by Sir Paul McCartney).   Now having lived in New York City for over nine years, I've had the thrill of acting in film (notably 2012 Sundance rom-com Price Check with Parker Posey) and in television (Showtime's The Big C , ABC's Cupid;  Kitty on HBO's Boardwalk Empire , Amanda Stone in the upcoming season of Blue Bloods on CBS). My biggest highs are on stage, though, in roles like Roxie ( Chicago) , Eliza Doolittle ( My Fair Lady) , and Annie Oakley ( Annie Get Your Gun). Along the way, I've discovered a love for voice over work and have lent my voice to commercial spots for Audi, Disney, Snickers, Sealy, Vitamin Shoppe, and th

I grew up in St. George, Utah and began studying theatre at Tuacahn High School. From there I made my way to Southern Utah University where I completed a degree in Theatre Arts and Dance. I'm a bit of a nomad performing all around the world. Recently, I was in Germany and France with the International Tour of West Side Story in the role of Action. However one of my favorite places to come back to is Southern Utah where I often work with the Utah Shakespeare Festival as an actor and choreographer. A Note from Adele Rhett returns to Straight to Audio Productions for an encore performance as Steven Finch. Rhett's narration style for this role is laugh-out-loud! It's been my pleasure to work with Rhett who is now in Chicago performing at the prestigious Goodman Theatre.  

I grew up in Normal, Illinois, which will forever link me to one of my favorite films of all time, Young Frankenstein, for obvious reasons if you know the film! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH97lImrr0Q I studied theatre at Columbia College in Chicago. While in Chicago I had the extraordinary experience of playing Lydie in the original production of John Guare's 'Lydie Breeze', directed by the brilliant Vito D'Ambrosio http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0195101/ After several years of working as a paleobotanist at The Desert Research Institute in Reno, NV, I returned to the field of acting as a Voiceover Artist, specializing in character work for games and animation, and developing an intense passion for Audiobook Narration. A Note from Adele I really enjoyed working with Abby. Not only is she Abby from Normal – a perfect fit for the Quirky Audio Book Series – but she is a real delight to work with! Abby did an excellent job in her r

One of the best things about working hard, is playing even harder.  Normally, my idea of a vacation is to engage in some kind of activity that stimulates me, but might wear someone else out.  I'm an athletic person by nature, so my time off tends to be filled with bicycling, hiking, jet skiing, ATV riding and the like.  Not so with this vacation! I'm on my way to beautiful Reno, Nevada, to enjoy a little trip with some of my girlfriends.  On the agenda:  two shows, a day at the spa and a cruise on Lake Tahoe.  I don't expect to break a sweat the whole time! When I return, I'll be in the final sprint of a two year marathon to write and produce Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book.  I intend to come back refreshed and ready to bowl over the fans of the Quirky Audio Book Series with my latest creation.  Until then, Bon Voyage and a Happy Summer to All!