Deborah Balm is a British female narrator with over sixty audiobook credits. Born in Yorkshire, she now lives in Cambridge following an indirect route via Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Wales. Her voice is warm, intriguing, and engaging. She loves narrating historical romance, crime thrillers, and fantasy novels.

What path did you take to get to be a voice artist, how did you get your start, and did you have any formal training?

I have always loved audiobooks. I remember as a teen hanging out in the audio format section of the library and along with my allocation of print books, usually cosy mystery or fantasy, or maybe a Sydney Sheldon Thriller, I would come home with a sweeping Romance Audiobook in one of these big black vinyl folders with 12 cassette tapes inside and I couldn’t wait to get started listening on my Walkman. Romance because it seemed that was all that was available in my small-town library in the North of England.

I was involved in local community theatre and pantomime when I was younger which I loved. I have been a member of a few different choirs too, most notably when I lived in Basel in Switzerland, I sang Stainer’s Crucifixion in an incredible gothic church which was a brilliantly fitting venue for that piece.

I started in audiobooks though quite by accident. My husband and I loved online computer gaming (MMORPGs), and we had some recording equipment lying around. In 2016 I discovered Librivox, an online community with the goal of recording all public domain books into audio. I kind of got hooked. I loved telling the stories and I liked the tech and the editing process. My husband built me a home studio, then I started coaching with Sean Pratt and I’ve never looked back.

Of course, I have been through several iterations of tech and studio since then. A big change was when I upgraded my home studio to a Studiobricks booth. I can deliver a pro-studio sound from it. That meant I could get a higher end mic too which pleased my inner tech geek no end! 

I have regular 1:1 coaching from working on specific areas of performance to accent coaching and of course audiobook business coaching. I have completed all of Joel Froomkin’s Acting for Audio semesters. I have coached at different times with Andi Arndt, Johnny Heller, and currently I’m working with Paul Ruben.

When did you realise that you had a good voice?

It wasn't a sudden realization, but rather a gradual discovery. People often commented on the warm tones and soothing style of my voice, and of course I’d had singing coaching so I knew I could sound good.

I have naturally quite a deep voice for a woman, so didn’t initially feel like I was a good fit for more youthful castings. But as I grew in skill and started experimenting with different characters and accents, I realised that actually I could perform younger voices authentically and a range of possibilities opened up.

Could you describe your process for preparing for a voice artist project? Where did your inspiration come from for voices? Or are guided by your clients? Do you use any other mediums / mood board to get a vibe for a project?

I really like it when the author has a clear vision of who their characters are, and they share that with me. It’s good to know three adjectives, a demographic, and a dream casting for each character. 

My preparation is quite thorough. First, I read the book and then I go back, making notes on characters, pacing, and tone. I create character profiles, noting their age, background, and arc. I draw from various sources: real-life observations, films, theatre, and other audiobooks. Rights Holder guidance upfront is helpful. If it’s a new series, I might create mood boards or playlists especially for fantasy or romantasy projects.

Do you have a routine for keeping your voice in good order?

Absolutely! I have a daily routine that includes warm-ups, hydration, and vocal exercises.  Sometimes I sinus rinse if I have been out recently in environments with lots of people (I know, eeuw!!).  I don’t eat or drink anything containing milk while recording, and no cheese is allowed until the end of the day, which is sad because I love cheese.

I prioritize rest and avoid straining my voice. I use a humidifier, especially during dry months, and incorporate regular breaks during long recording sessions. I also regularly work with a vocal coach to keep my technique up to date.  I also have to take care of my eyes with so much long close-up work in the dark. 

Had you got a favourite from your roles/character, and what was your most challenging role?

That's like asking a parent to pick a favourite child!  It was really challenging to narrate VS Alexander’s The Novelist from Berlin.  I find wartime stories very moving, and this one was both real and touching.  It had lots of German and Dutch words too which is very much in my wheelhouse.

I have very much loved being the voice of Bev in S. Usher Evans’ cosy fantasy series The Weary Dragon In.  I enjoy the diverse, fun characters and the gentle but engaging storylines.  Series are great because each new book feels like revisiting old friends.  I also love Jeffe Kennedy’s Fantasy Romance Series. I love the magic system and how she has built that society with the politics, conflicts, and external pressures for each of the family houses. NC Lewis’ DI Fenella Sallow books are a favourite too because I get to narrate in my northern accent.

What do you love about what you do? What don't you like?

I love the immersive experience of bringing stories to life and connecting with listeners on an emotional level. It's incredibly rewarding to see how my narration helps lift the story off the page. The flexibility and creative freedom of working from my home studio are also aspects I enjoy. The most challenging thing can be the long hours and the need for intense concentration. Also, sometimes the isolation of the work can be tough.  I try to connect with other narrators each day to help with that.  The variety of a fantasy book one-week, historical fiction the next, crime thriller the next is very appealing to me.

Do you have any advice for anyone who would like to try voice acting?

I only work on audiobooks, I don’t do commercial voice acting, so my advice is specific to that. It’s a long game: my advice is to be patient, persistent, and passionate. Invest in quality training, 1:1 with coaches, build a strong portfolio of books with great covers, and network with other narrators, authors, and publishers. Make sure you are ready for the next stage before you reach out to publishers.  It’s hard to remake a first impression.

Be prepared for rejection, but don't give up, success will happen.  Behind every ‘overnight success’ is thousands of hours of unseen prep work, training and coaching. Narrate every day, experiment with different genres, and always strive to improve your craft.

Do you have any advice for authors looking for a voice artist?

Yes, I have a recent Instagram reel on this.  Look on the sales charts and see who is narrating already in your genre.  See who is popular and start there.  If you are prepared to pay industry standard rates, then you should be able to find a great narrator who aligns with your vision and who will work with you to create a real asset to complement your work.  Make sure you have great artwork on the book cover as this also entices good narrators. Everyone wants an attractive looking portfolio.

Look on Instagram or TikTok.  Find creators who are active and promoting books, engaging with Authors, and even doing live narrations if you like that, especially if you yourself are active on social media. Make a shortlist and check out their samples on their website.  Narrow down to a shortlist of two or three narrators whose voices and styles fit with your book's tone and characters. Don't be afraid to ask for short custom samples and discuss your vision in detail: I’m always happy to make a sample for someone interested in working with me.

Communication is key, so find someone who is responsive and collaborative. Ask for their process, and make sure that you are happy with the level of professionalism.

If your budget can’t stretch to standard PFHs initially my advice is to channel that cash into funding ads to promote the eBook.  If you don’t generate the sales yet, keep going until you do.  Alternatively, you can try a kickstarter campaign.  This has been pivotal for many authors I have worked with.

If you want to try Royalty Share on ACX, that is also a possibility, though be aware that this may attract newer narrators, with less experience, and lots and lots of auditions.  Be sure to keep your initial audition script sample short: no more than 600 words.  You can always run to a second round for your favourites to narrow down for character voices, but trust me, you don’t want a narrator who has all day to spend on auditions.  You want a busy working professional narrator and by having a long script, you might actually put-off great talent from auditioning with a long audition script.  Also, for some of those samples you might only listen to the first few seconds before moving on to the next.

Are you a reader and what are your favourite books?

I have always loved fantasy with magic systems, potions, dragons, and adventure.  I also enjoy romance, cosy mysteries, and my secret indulgence is a cowboy romance.  I am a member of my lovely village book club which encourages me to read books that I would not otherwise have picked up.  I’m all about the audiobook though, I don’t usually read them as print.  Sometimes though my schedule is too packed to finish, but I make every effort to fit it all in!!

Which is your preferred medium? Theatre, TV, radio, audiobooks, others?

Audiobooks come first, of course!  The focus on voice and the long form nature of audiobooks is very appealing to me.  Also, it’s good to rest my eyes after a day in the dark booth.

I watch TV, boxsets especially, and I really appreciate great acting.    I’ve recently been raving about Slow Horses with Gary Oldman.  I’m pretty sure a Jackson Lamb inspired character will make an appearance in my books at some point!

My local Theatre – Cambridge Arts – is closed for a year for refurbishment and I cannot wait until their program starts up again. I’m really missing it!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I think the audiobook industry is experiencing a golden age, with more listeners discovering the loveliness of immersive storytelling.

I have a cautionary tale though. Audible seems fixed on enticing authors to create audiobooks quickly and easily using Virtual Voices.  The trouble is, they don’t tell you that AI can really hurt your brand.  I work with an author who paid for one of their other multi-book series to be made available as audio with AI voices.  Within 3 months of going on sale, they had pulled them all, because the negative reviews were really spoiling their brand. 

Using a Virtual Voice doesn’t engage as well with fans, and it also raises the question: if you have used AI here, where else might you have used it?

But even with the threat of AI looming, it's an exciting time to be a voice artist, and I'm super grateful to be a part of this amazing community.

If you got this far, thanks for reading.  If you are out and about at book fairs do come and say hi, I love to chat.  Otherwise, you can find me on Instagram, TikTok and Threads.

https://www.deborahbalm.com