The Story Bites Podcast
Tanya Eby and I had a blast putting out The Story Bites Podcast this year! It featured first chapters (or fun excerpts) from a variety of great books in different styles, book news, gossip, and just a whole lot of goodies! All of our Podcast episodes are available via:
iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher
Episode 1: Surrender by Amy Daws
Thank you for joining us on this inaugural adventure! We chose Surrender by Amy Daws, narrated by Will Watt, Piper Goodeve and Charlotte Cole!
Why did we choose to bring you this book first? It has a really unusual style called “duet.” And also? It’s really great!
Here are all your episode links!
Surrender at Audible | Surrender at Amazon
Author Amy Daws | Narrator Pipe Goodeve | Narrator Will Watt | Narrator Charlotte Cole
Episode 2: Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina lauren
Tune in to episode 2, where we discuss how amazing prologues can be! Especially tantalizing, voicey ones!
Here are all your episode links!
Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating at Audible | Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating at Amazon
Author Christina Lauren (aka CLo) | Narrator Todd Haberkorn (his website is called the Habertat!) | Narrator Jayme Mattler
Episode 3: The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson
On Episode 3, we enjoy the heck out of this sample. We aren’t calling it an excerpt, because it turns out that Tanya hates that word. Listen to learn why!
The fist groovy thing about The Almost Sisters is that it’s narrated by the author! It’s a sweeping book with great writing and terrific themes. We can’t wait for you to experience it.
Here are all your episode links!
The Almost Sisters at Audible | The Almost Sisters at Amazon
Author Joshilyn Jackson | Narrator Joshilyn Jackson
Episode 4: A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
Guys! This clever premise was everything! We loved the structure, the narration and the smart heroine.
Here are all your episode links!
A Princess in Theory at Audible | A Princess in Theory at Amazon
Author Alyssa Cole | Narrator Karen Chilton | Published by Dreamscape Media LLC
Episode 5: My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
Q: What happens when an Audible Hall of Fame narrator writes her own book?
A: Magic happens!
Here are all your episode links!
My Oxford Year at Audible | My Oxford Year at Amazon
Author Julia Whelan | Narrator Julia Whelan
Episode 6: Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely
Twelve powerhouse narrators on one book? Yes please. You’ll here three of these superstars in our sample: Andi Arndt, Sebastian York, and Erin Mallon.
Here are all your episode links!
Birthday Suit at Audible | Birthday Suit at Amazon
Author Lauren Blakely| Narrator Andi Arndt| Narrator Sebastian York | Narrator Erin Mallon
Episode 7: Overnight Sensation
Things we learned in Episode 7:
Tanya does not follow sportsball. But she loves double entendres | 2. Hockey is the best, most glamorous sport ever.
3. Narrator Jason Clarke is awesome | 4. Sarina is not so great at planning her life but serendipity is a good plotting tool.
Here are all your episode links!
Overnight Sensation at Audible | Overnight Sensation at Amazon
Author Sarina Bowen| Narrator Jason Clarke | Narrator Savannah Peachwood
Episode 8: Girl on the Edge by CD Reiss
Is Girl on the Edge is “tense, romantic suspense, as Audiofile Magazine puts it? Or romance? Listen and decide!
If you want to read the terrific review we mentioned, you can find it here on the Audiofile website!
Here are all your episode links!
Girl on the Edge at Audible | Girl on the Edge at Amazon
Author CD Reiss| Narrator Maxine Mitchell | Narrator Joe Arden
Episode 9: The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
Today we analyze why we like British accents so much, and we reassure ourselves that it doesn’t mean we’re shallow. Not very shallow, anyway.
Here are all your episode links!
Keeper of Lost Things at Audible | Keeper of Lost Things at Amazon
Author Ruth Hohan| Narrator Jane Collingwood| Narrator Sandra Duncan
Episode 10: Vintage Love Stories
A whole story in one episode!
Vintage Love Stories is a collection of, wait for it, vintage love stories! The time period is vintage, not the work. These are all new romances, and this cool project was Tanya’s brainchild.
Here are all your episode links!
Vintage Love Stories at Audible | Vintage Love Stories at Amazon
Story played Didn't It Rain | Author Kathryn Burns| Narrator Becca Balanger
Episode 11: Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas
Lisa Kleypas is a genius at delayed gratification. This hero is a case study in how to build a series.
AKA how to torture your readers for three years in the best possible way.
Here are all your episode links!
Devil's Daughter at Audible | Devil's Daughter at Amazon
Author Lisa Kleypas| Narrator Mary Jane Wells
Episode 12: Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson
We chose Matchmaking for Beginners for it’s incredible, impeccable voice. So funny! So different in a romance. So…everything.
We also explore the question of What is a Romance? (And why is this so freaking complicated, really?)
Here are all your episode links!
Matchmaking for Beginners at Audible | Matchmaking for Beginners at Amazon
Author Maddie Dawson| Narrator Joyce Bean | Narrator Amy McFadden
Episode 13: Consumed by JR Ward
J.R. Ward is an author that’s fun to watch. She’s had a magical career, quite literally. Her Black Dagger Brotherhood, which features sexy vampires, is up to book #17.
And now she’s writing about firefighters! And we are intrigued.
Here are all your episode links!
Consumed at Audible | Consumed at Amazon
Author JR Ward| Narrator Jim Frangione | Narrator Hillary Huber | Narrator Jason Carpenter | Narrator Pete Simonelli | Produced by Simon & Schuster audio
Episode 14: Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
Sportsball strikes again! Basketball romance for the win!
Tune in to hear about unapologetic love triangles and fierce heroines. Plus Tanya tells us how she preps each new book for narration!
Here are all your episode links!
Long Shot at Audible | Long Shot at Amazon
Author Kennedy Ryan| Narrator Sean Crisden | Narrator Jo Raylan
Episode 15: Hotshot Doc by RS Grey
Sarina picked this one for two reasons.
She loves the raising-your-younger-sibling trope
A hotshot doc is a character archetype with tons of potential!
Here are all your episode links!
Hotshot Doc at Audible | Hotshot Doc at Amazon
Author R.S. Grey| Narrator Aubrey Vincent | Narrator Lee Samuels | Produced by Audible Studios
Episode 16: Lessons from a One Night Stand by Piper Rayne
It’s not just the killer ending to this chapter that hooked us. It’s the charming narration and the introduction of so much promise.
We’re giving this one a warm Alaska welcome. (And did you know that Alaska is trendy?) Join us to hear all about it!
Here are all your episode links!
Lessons from a One-Night Stand at Audible | Lessons from a One-Night Stand at Amazon
Author Piper Rayne| Narrator Tim Paige | Narrator Tanya Eby
Episode 17: Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet
We got together at Apollycon in D.C. and it was so much fun!
In this episode you’ll get the tense opening chapter of Amanda Bouchet’s scifi romance Nightchaser. And then you’ll get an interview with the author. We had such a great time.
Here are all your episode links!
Nightchaser at Audible | Nightchaser at Amazon
Author Amanda Bouchet| Narrator Susan Bennett | Produced by Recorded Books
Episode 18: Shooting for the Stars by Sarina Bowen
Before we left Apollycon in Washington DC, we wanted to interview our friend and narrator Emma Wilder. And a good time was had by all!
Join us for an introduction to Sarina’s snowboard romance and a chat with someone who is living the dream: people pay her to read!
Here are all your episode links!
Shooting for the Stars at Audible | Shooting for the Stars at Amazon
Author Sarina Bowen| Narrator Emma Wilder | Narrator Noel Harrison
Episode 19: Meet Cute by Helena Hunting
Helena Hunting serves up a romcom with a great opener! We discuss how the narrator, Holly Warren, has a special challenge in this chapter. And she delivers!
Correction alert: When we recorded this episode, the wrong male narrator was listed on the book at Audible. The correct narrator is Teddy Hamilton. So now we HAVE to listen to the rest of it!
Here are all your episode links!
Meet Cute at Audible | Meet Cute at Amazon
Author Helena Hunting | Narrator Holly Warren | Narrator Teddy Hamilton | Produced By Hachett Audio
Episode 20: Getaway Girl by Tessa Bailey
Brides, grooms and beavers. Not necessarily in that order.
Tessa Bailey is a veteran romance author with skills for days! Watch how she jumps into a love story for two strangers with a runaway groom and a heroine made for drama with a chip on her shoulder.
Here are all your episode links!
Getaway Girl at Audible | Getaway Girl at Amazon
Author Tessa Bailey| Narrator Joe Hempel | Narrator Lori Prince | Produced by Blunder Woman Productions
Episode 21: The Risk by Elle Kennedy
In this episode we explore the fine line between hate and love, and why hate-to-love-you books are so popular in romance!
Elle Kennedy shows a masterful understanding of this concept as we are introduced to the indomitable Brenna, lovingly rendered by narrator Virginia Rose!
Here are all your episode links!
The Risk at Audible | The Risk at Amazon
Author Elle Kennedy| Narrator Virginia Rose | Narrator Teddy Hamilton| Produced by Audible Studios
Episode 22: The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Keep it weird. Why we loved The Bride Test by Helen Hoang…
The best kind of story is one that takes an old trope and makes it so fresh that you need to read it immediately. And that’s the kind of book The Bride Test is! We are sold on this unique pairing between a Vietnamese heroine and a neurodiverse hero.
Here are all your episode links!
The Bride Test at Audible | The Bride test at Amazon
Author Helen Hoang| Narrator Emily Woo Zeller | Produced by Dreamscape Media LLC
Episode 23: Fluffy by Julia Kent
The who-could-stop-at-chapter-one episode.
Sometimes you need to turn the page because you have no idea what’s going to happen. Or. Sometimes you need to read onward because you need to see it happen. And that’s the genius of Fluffy’s setup.
Here are all your episode links!
Fluffy at Audible | Fluffy at Amazon
Author Julia Kent| Narrator Erin Mallon| Produced by Julia Kent
Episode 24: Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
It is a truth universally acknowledged that only in an overachieving Indian American family can a genius daughter be considered a black sheep. And that’s only the beginning!
The title may focus on our sense of taste, but it’s clear from the first chapter that this is a book of stunning visual imagery.
And we’re getting a hot, broody chef, too? Where do we sign?
Here are all your episode links!
Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors at Audible | Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors at Amazon
Author Sonali Dev| Narrator Soneela Nankani|Produced by Harper Audio
Episode 25: Be the Girl by KA Tucker
Today we ask big questions like: what makes YA YA? Who is it for? What does it all mean? Get philosophical with us as we taste test this intriguing setup.
A teen moving to a new town and getting a new name, too! We are fascinated. (And when can we meet the boy next door?)
Here are all your episode links!
Be The Girl at Audible | Be The Girl at Amazon
Author K.A. Tucker| Narrator Katie Schorr | Produced by Audible Studios
Episode 26: Your Questions About Audio Book Narration Answered!
Part One of our Special Series
We asked our listeners to send us questions about audio book narration and we were not prepared for the deluge! We received so many reader questions that we are going to break our special episode into parts. Today, Tanya answers questions about audio book narration. (How do you choose the narrators? Is it weird when things get steamy?)
And on our next special episode, we’re going to ask our narrator friends to answer questions, too! It’s going to be epic.
Episode 27: Undeniable by Melanie Harlow
Barbie Dolls and Boozy Balls
Gah! This one is so much fun! Melanie Harlow introduces her heroine with a bang! Not that kind of bang, mind you. The kind that happens when you take a boy’s dare and jump off the roof.
Also included in this episode: way too much fun with Barbie. Boozy balls. 1990s vodka and a new definition for “jammed.”
Here are all your episode links!
Undeniable at Audible | Undeniable at Amazon
Author Melanie Harlow| Narrator Savannah Peachwood | Narrator Stephen Dexter| Produced by MH Publishing LLC
Episode 28: Top Secret by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
Sarina’s new book is here! And just wait until you hear why she had to pick Chapter 21 for this episode, and not Chapter 1…
Spoiler: this book is filthy.
Here are all your episode links!
Top Secret at Audible | Top Secret at Amazon
Authors Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen | Narrator Christian Fox | Narrator Teddy Hamilton | Produced by Elle Kennedy Inc
PS: Find the video for Sam Smith’s Promises here
Episode 29: The Ask-A-Narrator Special Episode!
You guys! When we asked you if you had any questions, we didn’t know what to expect. We got a deluge! This is our second special episode, and we have a treat for you!
NOTE: One amazing question was left out of the pack! Click here hear from Gary Furlong!
Here are all your episode links!
Hear from Narrators:
Donna Postel | Jillian Macie | Gary Furlong | Megan Tusing | Karen White | Erin Mallon | Steve West | Amy Landon | Melissa Moran | Renee Chamblis | Erin de Ward
Episode 30: In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton
What a first chapter! This super timely YA had us both asking all the big questions! What happened? Why is Davis there? Gah!
We are hooked!
Here are all your episode links!
In the Neighborhood of True at Audible | In the Neighborhood of True at Amazon
Author Susan Kaplan Carlton| Narrator Rachel Botchan| Produced by Recorded Books
Episode 31: How Not to Fall By Emily Foster
This underappreciated romance follows a whip-smart academic as she tries to navigate sexual experience the same way she navigates her blossoming career in science.
And it doesn’t always go smoothly…
Here are all your episode links!
How Not to Fall at Audible | How Not to Fall at Amazon
Author Susan Emily Foster| Narrator Zoe McKay| Produced by Insatiable Press
Episode 32: Superfan by Sarina Bowen
What does the first cut of an audio book sound like, anyway?
Also up for discussion: how to build tension in a chapter to keep the listener hooked. And Tanya’s thoughts about charcuterie board ingredients. You don’t want to miss it!
Here are all your episode links!
Superfan at Audible | Superfan at Amazon
Author Sarina Bowen| Narrator Virginia Rose| Narrator Aaron Shedlock | Produced by Tuxbury Publishing LLC
Episode 33: Brazen and the Beast by Sarah Maclean
This book! It has everything: great voice, hilarious setup. Curvy heroine with brains for dayyyys.
We loved this new one from Sarah Maclean, and the terrific narration by Justine Eyre.
Here are all your episode links!
Brazen and the Beast at Audible | Brazen and the Beast at Amazon
Author Sarah Maclean| Narrator Justine Eyre| Produced by HarperAudio
Episode 34: An interview with Aaron Shedlock
Sarina Bowen interviews narrator Aaron Shedlock about acting, his favorite narrators, and what happens when people say they listen to performances at 2.0 speed…
Episode 35: Indefinite by Corinne Michaels
We talk breakup scenes and duets. And how do you feel about cliffhangers? We're feeling pretty great about them after listening to this fabulous first chapter.
Also! Sarina and Tanya make a big announcement! You don't want to miss it.
Here are all your episode links!
Indefinite at Audible | Indefinite at Amazon
Author Corinne Michaels| Narrator Andi Arndt| Narrator Jason Clarke| Produced by Corinne Michaels
Episode 36: Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
We don’t like to brag, but we totally called this one! Kennedy Ryan won a RITA award for Long Shot! If you haven’t listened yet, today is the day!
Here are all your episode links!
Long Shot at Audible | Long Shot at Amazon
Author Kennedy Ryan| Narrator Sean Crisden | Narrator Jo Raylan
Episode 37: Advanced Physical Chemistry by Susannah Nix
The heroine is a chemical engineer! This fun tale opens with a classic romance setup: the heroine’s current boyfriend has cheated. Will hottie barista save this curvy girl’s day?
Susannah Nix just won a RITA award for her excellent book. We also discuss awards, and what they mean to us as creators.
Here are all your episode links!
Advanced Physical Chemistry at Audible | Advanced Physical Chemistry at Amazon
Author Susannah Nix| Narrator Caitlin Kelly| Produced by Tantor Audio