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🎙️ How Fourth Wing & Heart’s Gambit Were Recorded | Audiobook Narrator Tips, Auditions, PFH Rates & Multicast Secrets

The circus lights flare. The band swells. Two voices step forward to turn ink into electricity.

In this behind-the-scenes audiobook deep dive, we go inside the booth with Eric Lockley and Kyra Frates (narrator of Fourth Wing) to unpack how Heart’s Gambit became an immersive multicast audiobook — and what it really takes to record bestselling fantasy.

Yes, we talk about:

• 🎧 The recording process for Fourth Wing
• 🎙️ How Heart’s Gambit was brought to life in audio
• 📚 What publishers look for in audiobook narrators
• 💰 What “per finished hour” (PFH) really means
• 🎭 How to land auditions and record self-tapes
• 🎤 Voice protection, stamina, and vocal warmups
• 🔥 Recording intense, romantic, and emotionally heavy scenes
• 🎬 Working with directors and engineers
• 🎧 How narrators stay consistent when recording on different days

If you’ve ever wondered:

• How do you become an audiobook narrator?
• How did Khaya Frates record Fourth Wing?
• What does a fantasy audiobook recording session actually look like?
• How do multicast audiobooks stay aligned?
• How do you break into Macmillan’s narrator program?
• What does Atlas Talent do for voice actors?
• Is Ahab a real pathway into audiobook work?

We get into all of it.

Eric and Kyra share practical, actionable tips and resources for aspiring audiobook narrators — including workshops, agency routes, community platforms, and how to build a sustainable voice acting career. From audition sides (usually 2–3 pages) to author approvals, from breath control to emotional pacing, this episode breaks down the craft AND the business.

Genre fans will especially love the conversation on narrating fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and YA — from banter and intimacy to grief, catharsis, and recording “spicy” scenes safely in graphic audio formats.

We also talk about:
✨ Representation in audio
✨ Expanding identity through sound
✨ Pro

Support the show

🎙️ Craft Chat Chronicles with J.D. Myall
Candid conversations on writing, publishing, and creative life — featuring bestselling authors, MFA students, and writers at every stage of the journey.

About J.D. Myall
J.D. Myall is the co-chair of Drexel University’s MFA Alumni Association and a publishing and library professional. She is the creator and host of Craft Chat Chronicles, where she interviews authors, agents, and industry insiders about the art and business of writing.

Her work has appeared in Ms. Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and HuffPost. Her debut novel, Heart’s Gambit, releases with Wednesday Books/Macmillan in February 2026.

When she’s not conjuring magic, murder, and mayhem on the page, J.D. mentors emerging writers through workshops and alumni programs, fostering community among aspiring and published authors alike.

💜 Connect with J.D. Myall
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