Welcome to the first #AudioElevatorSeries
where we go behind the storyteller with our favorite narrators and audiobooks.
Exceptional Narrators.
Standout Audiobooks.
Elevator Talk.
We are honored to have joining us today, a personal and fan favorite, award-winning narrator, Gail Shalan (and so much more) to kick off this new series!
~Voice Artist
~Actor
~Puppeteer
2X AUDIE AWARD WINNER
NEW YORK TIMES
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
AUDIOFILE EARPHONES AWARDS
VULTURE MAGAZINE
IPPY GOLD MEDALIST
About Gail Shalan
Gail Shalan was raised in culturally-rich Berkshire County, Massachusetts where she was lucky enough to work with Shakespeare and Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Berkshire Theatre Festival, and others before her passion for storytelling propelled her to Boston, New York, Rome, London, and Bristol, earning her MFA in Acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and performing at renowned venues such as The Bristol Old Vic, Edinburgh Fringe, Cherry Lane, and St. Ann's Warehouse. She brings her diverse background of experience in performance and training to all her work.
Most days she is telling stories behind the mic, as a narrator and voice actor across many genres. Amongst other narration accolades, her solo narration has garnered praise from The School Library Journal, Vulture Magazine, BookRiot, as both Apple Books & New York Times Must-Listens. She was listed as a 2023 & 2024 Voice to Know by Audiofile Magazine, am is a multiple-Earphones Award winning narrator, and was honored with the 2024 Audie Award for Best Middle Grade for the multi-cast recording of What Happened to Rachel Riley and the 2024 Audie Award for Best Young Adult for her solo narration of This Terrible True Thing.
When not performing, she's out and about exploring with her partner and her very sweet and sassy puppy, Edith, listening to or making music, basking in the worlds of visual art, art history, poetry, myths, folklore, or, alongside her writing partner Kaiya Jones, creating new stories for your ears, eyes, and hearts.
A keen believer in exploring universality through specificity, she is always happy to engage in conversations about her own life experience, heritage, and identity. She's passionate about stories that center generational healing and mental health, that navigate the sticky spaces between childhood and adulthood, and stories that ask who am “I”? And who are “we”? And what dwells in the space between us, what dwells in the space within us? For that’s where the greatest discoveries and curiosities lie.
Connect with Gail
Exceptional Narrators.
Standout Audiobooks. Elevator Talk.
Behind the Storyteller & the Audiobook
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING LISTENERS WANT TO KNOW.
Stay tuned for a fun Elevator Q&A ride with the fabulously talented Gail Shalan, award-winning voice artist, actor, and puppeteer. We will go behind this fascinating storyteller and the THREE top 5-Star January Audiobook performances. Get these on your list, now!
Three of my favorite January Audiobooks, all narrated by Gail. Click on links below for my reviews and more about each book.
Author: Jenni L. Walsh
Narrator: Gail Shalan
Duration: 9 Hrs, 24 Min, 55 Sec
Publisher: HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
Buy the Audio | Listen to Clip
What Gail had to say about ACE, MARVEL, SPY
Trailblazer, superstar, activist, and spy: Alice Marble is a true American icon.
"Jenni L. Walsh captures the thrill of being on the court in a vivid and detailed portrayal of Alice Marble's rise to sporting greatness, as well as her struggles to fulfill her dreams both on and off the court. Ace, Marvel, Spy is a smashing success!"
—Billie Jean King, sports icon and equality champion
Author: Megan Collins
Narrators: Gail Shalan and Chris Andrew Ciulla
Publisher: Atria Books | Simon & Schuster Audio
Duration: 10 hours and 5 minutes
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
Buy the Audio | Listen to Clip
What Gail had to say about CROSS MY HEART
She has his wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature “taut, emotionally charged, and propulsive” (Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author) prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.
“Collins, who specializes in fiendishly clever psychological thrillers (including The Family Plot, 2021) outdoes herself here with a jaw-dropping premise that tightens into a deadly cat-and-mouse game… Collins keeps the suspense at cauldron-bubbling intensity throughout. A bravura performance.”
—Booklist (starred review)
Author: Jessie Garcia
Narrators: Andrew Eiden, Dylan Fitzpatrick, Fred Berman, Gail Shalan, Hillary Huber, Jennifer Pickens, John Pirhalla, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Kirby Heyborne, Tim Campbell
Publisher: Macmillan Audio | St. Martin's Press
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
Buy the Audio | Listen to Clip
What Gail had to say about THE BUSINESS TRIP.
"A stunning and accomplished debut, with hugely relatable characters and an addictive storyline that kept me turning the pages well into the night. Bravo!"
—BA Paris, New York Times bestselling author
Praise for Gail Shalan
"Her talent immediately evident as she opens with an older-voiced poetic epitaph, then instantly transforms into youthful, anxious Maudie... Shalan’s chimerical virtuosity captures warmly protective Dad, crisply masked Mom, simmering Ron, wisely encouraging Etta, and excited friend Paddi...Skillful Shalan deftly elevates Pla’s latest novel from good to great."
— The School Library Journal (Starred Review), The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn, Sally J. Pla
“Shalan, the narrator, elevates the whole production by giving her an off-center Julia-Garner-as-Anna-Delvey voice.”
— Vulture Magazine, The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
"With an urgency that takes listeners into her confidence, Shalan deftly shifts between characters, building drama in this story centered on the meaning of loyalty among friends...Shalan's authentic narration takes listeners on an intimate journey with Willa as she grows to the edge of adulthood."
— Audiofile Magazine, When We Were Them by Laura Taylor Namey
“A stellar full cast gives this hard-hitting middle school mystery incisive podcast vibes…This is a devastating and timely listen.”
— Audiofile Earphones Award Winner, What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski
"Gail Shalan and Katharine Jordan keep us on the edge of our seats in the very cinematic 'Nurse Call.'"
— The White Rhino Report, Nurse Call by James Wilkinson
“A stellar full cast gives this hard-hitting middle school mystery incisive podcast vibes…This is a devastating and timely listen.”
— Audiofile Earphones Award Winner, What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski
