I've recorded a lot of short stories and historical chapters for Librivox. The short stories have ranged from children's stories to romantic material, ghost stories,fables and humorous tales. I've contributed to "A Brief History of Irish Civilization" and "The history of England".
I've been a schoolteacher for twenty one years [knowledgeable, authoritative, yet warm and conversational voice with decent sense of humor helps], and am very adept at "using the right vocal tool for the situation".
I taught Boxing for fourteen years [knowledgeable, authoritative, but also warm, and easy going tone helps], and have taught Feldenkrais Awareness through Movement lessons since 2010 [calm, soothing, somewhat friendly, yet knowledgeable and mildly authoritative voice helps].
I'm currently taking acting classes; and while acting is not quite voiceover, I find it very beneficial to my VO work.
I've taken all levels of Narration classes through Voice One [run by Elaine Clark] in San Francisco. I've also taken classes on Creating Characters, Acting for Voice Over, Documentary, Videogame, Infomercial, and Commercial classes through Voice One. I take Acting Improv. classes, Audition Prep., and basic storytelling classes elsewhere.
I hold a B.A in Humanities, a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential and am a trained Feldenkrais Practioner. As a teacher for the past twenty one years, I've had tons of "onstage" experience in front of classes.
Having coached boxing for many years, and taught Feldenkrais Awareness through Movement classes, I've learned a whole different "acting/teaching repertoire" than simply teaching school. I believe that good teaching involves conscious and deliberate Voice Acting!
I use Audacity recording software on my Personal Computer, and do my own editing. I use a Samson CO1U USB Studio Condenser Mic, and Sony 7509HD Headphones.
I have decades of Movement training behind me and use my body with a lot of awareness. Being a Schoolteacher [Substitute Teacher nowadays] I'm used to speaking to large groups of people, and have a very natural manner which helps them to feel comfortable with me.
Together with teaching school,through many years of teaching Boxing to all ages and genders, and several years of teaching Feldenkrais lessons to Senior Citizens, I feel that I've developed a vocal and emotional range that can accomodate all ages and needs. Formal/Academic, passionate and exciting, conversational, or calm and soothing.
I consider myself to be "worldly and well rounded". I grew up in England [I'm 1/2 Irish] and have lived in France, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S as an adult. I've had close connection with all social classes for my entire life, and as a new immigrant to the U.S, I worked manual laboring jobs for many years before gaining my teaching, and Feldenkrais Credentials. I'm comfortable with people from all walks of life.