Actor/Narrator
The smoke has cleared. . . for now.
7/21/2026
Updating the news is a struggle today. I'm crossing things off my to-do list, but feeling uninspired or down about the state of the planet & country. At least the air quality in Chicago is finally "Fair", so I'm going to open those windows and go to a PANA social tonight, hopefully that lifts my spirits!
Audiobook NEWS:
Audiobook life has been slow this year. It doesn't help to hear about AI scammers preying on indie authors or authors using AI to write their books; it makes it so tough for legit writers slogging away out there.
On a positive note, I had a helpful summer session with George the Tech featuring Jesse Bickford who gave me specific advice on my reading of YA fantasy romance, something new to me. It will be very useful in my approach to that genre if I get a chance to audition for it. I also had a terrific class about reaching out to indie authors with Jess Herring of Audiobook Empire. Now I have to practice reaching out!
In the meantime, I'll plug my spring release of a public domain book I produced with Spoken Realms. It was a doozy (21+hours), but I LOVED recording it. We (the author and I) share a love of Chicago, which features prominently in the book, and given that I am her age at the end, I felt a connection to the heroine's constant reflection of her life choices and reasoning. I also had major frustrations with her. But isn't that what a good book gives you? Introspection and frustration with the flawed heroes? I was genuinely surpised at how well the book held my attention, given the year it was written and the fact that I hadn't heard of it prior to discovering the title while researching Early Autumn a few years ago. The story was like comfort food; an easy escape into life before social media & internet distractions.
Years of Grace by Margaret Ayer Barnes was a labor of love that I honestly hope people will listen to and then contact me to discuss it, not for feedback on my narration, but like a book discussion. I have codes for free audiobooks in exchange for a review, if anyone happens to see this! If you make this commitment, I want to know how you felt about the novel-- so if you listen to or read it, let me know!
Theatre NEWS:
Currently, I am in a new show! Tongue of a Bird by Ellen McLaughlin will be onstage at The Greenhouse Theatre July 11th-Aug. 1st. I LOVE the role and the play and am thrilled to have that creative outlet right now. We were Chicago Reader recommended! I haven't read the review, as I wait until after the show, but I'm delighted they came out.
The description sounds heavy and, I cannot lie, it is heartbreaking, but there is a LOT of humor, which makes things more heartbreaking because the dialogue is so real. I would say it's cathartic in the end. One of my favorite kinds of theatre to see & do.
TV/Film NEWS:
I had a terrific end of the month of June, in that I booked a print ad and a commercial in the same week! And the schedule worked around the theatre! I've also been seeing some more auditions lately from my agents, so thankfully it's been busier than April & May. Perfect for saving some cash for our upcoming trip to Germany!
Life NEWS:
We're heading to Germany in September!
My partner is a brewer of German lagers, part-owned and founded an award-winning Chicago craft brewery for almost 15 years, even went to Germany as part of his education, but he's never been to Oktoberfest in Munich!
Neither have I for that matter, nor have I ever been to Germany. I could also go anywhere and be happy, so this seemed as good of an idea as any. I purchased a vintage dirndle from a German dress maker over Etsy and just got it fitted for alterations yesterday. This trip has been on hold in my brain, but it's suddenly happening soon!!!!!!!!
Hope this finds you sipping your favorite cool beverage and not moping for a walk like Raffi,
~AmyJ
