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What do apples, hot water, and Aquaphor have in common?

I use them all to help my voice as I’m recording an audiobook.

I record my own audiobooks, and right now, I’m working on the audio for The Stone Eater. I’m nearly done recording, though I haven’t gotten very far on editing the sound files yet (the biggest part of the project).

Mouths make a lot of noises that we aren’t aware of when we’re talking normally! Mics pick up pops and clicks that we ignore otherwise. So I frequently drink and gargle with hot water to help make my mouth less “clicky.” I also eat diced apple while I record; it’s supposed to help keep the mouth lubricated. And I put Aquaphor moisturizer/ointment on my lips so they're smooth and not “smacky.” I even got a spray bottle of stuff called Entertainer’s Secret that’s supposed to help with dry mouth from talking too much, though I can’t tell how much it actually works!

I enjoy the audiobook-production process, but I’m always glad when it’s over! (My tongue will be glad too—I’ve burned it a few times this week when my hot water was a little too hot.)

While I love audiobooks, nothing replaces a good, old-fashioned book that you read...even if it’s a somewhat less old-fashioned ebook. Let’s move on to this week’s book recommendations!

This Week’s New Release

Speed Dating With Authors: Fantasy Novella Edition is a box set that just released yesterday! “Speed date” 11 fantasy authors, reading their fantasy novellas, for just $0.99. Buy your digital box set here!

This Week’s Affordable Reads

Space Jumpers is an action-packed YA sci-fi adventure novel, the first in a series...and it’s on sale for just $0.99 this week in preparation for Book 3 in the series releasing soon! Buy it for $0.99 or read free on Kindle Unlimited by clicking here.

Tin is an adventurous Faerie love story set in Oz! It’s an affordable read with great reviews, and if you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read it free. Check it out here.

This Week’s Free Reads

Hooked is the beginning to a YA dystopian sci-fi series with romance, and it’s “on sale”for free for a very limited time! Download your free copy here.

32 sci-fi and fantasy freebies to choose from? Spectacular! But check them out soon; this giveaway ends Sunday! Click here to download.

And I’ve got even more freebies for you in this giveaway! Over 20 sci-fi and fantasy tales to choose from, but this giveaway ends on the 30th! Download your faves here.

This Week’s 20-Second Story

Every week, I share a super-short story with you. Hope you enjoy this week’s! I write these on Twitter daily; you can follow me @CBethAnderson.

Enjoy stories like this? I have an entire book of them! Check out The Curio Cabinet on Amazon and other retailers!

Happy New Year!

-Beth 

You can always check out all my books at this link—including The Seer’s Sister, free to newsletter subscribers!