We’re thrilled to bring you a special Q&A with the talented narrator Mia Gaskin, whose voice brings the delightful world of The Grilled Cheese Mysteries to life. At Dreamscape, we’re passionate about delivering stories that captivate and entertain, and Mia’s narration of this cozy culinary mystery series does just that. With her background in theater and her knack for creating memorable character voices, Mia has made each book in this series a warm and immersive experience. Join us as we dive into her process, her love for puns, and how she crafts the perfect voice for Carly Hale, the intrepid grilled cheese shop owner and amateur sleuth we all adore.
What initially drew you to a career in audiobook narration, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I was brought up doing theatre and had been a lover of acting and telling stories from a very young age – so when I had an opportunity to audition for my first audiobook in 2013, I immediately jumped at the chance! It gave me a new avenue to pursue my passion of telling stories and to channel all the experience I had accumulated in the theatre into making great literature lift off the page and come to life. I love working from home in my cozy studio as well!
How do you handle the different voices required for various characters in a book, especially in a series like The Grilled Cheese Mystery series?
Creating the different character voices is definitely my favorite part- I will often use people from my own life (or from film/TV) that remind me of the character as sort of a jumping off point- something about their cadence, rhythm or tone may inspire the voice and then it just builds from there. Also I pay close attention to the way the characters are written as well as their patterns of speech. And then of course their age, where they are from, and any other details that are given about them anywhere in the novel will also affect how the voice is created.
What was your initial reaction when you first read the script for The Grilled Cheese Mystery series? What aspects of the story stood out to you?
Well I have always been a huge lover of puns- so all of the cheese puns were a big draw from the very first book in the series- I still laugh out loud when I think of the names of all the sandwiches – so creative and adorable! I always love going into my studio to record these books – they transport me to a cozy small town in Vermont and it truly feels like a warm and fuzzy escape into an alternate reality. I really love that every part of the story, all the details, are there for a reason – nothing is by accident, and it’s the small, seemingly unimportant details that connect the dots of solving the mystery – so one must pay close attention!
How did you approach creating the voice for Carly Hale, the protagonist, and what unique qualities did you want to highlight in her character through your narration?
My favorite thing about Carly is her unwavering ability to trust her intuition – she can smell when a person is lying and when they are genuine. She herself is as genuine as they come – and there is a warmth and confidence to her that I apply to her vocal quality – she would also do anything for the people she cares about, even if it means putting her own life in jeopardy. She is fiercely loyal, and those in her small circle are very lucky to have a person like Carly in their corner. She is caring and kind, but also not a person to be messed around with!
What was the most enjoyable scene or moment to narrate in the first book of The Grilled Cheese Mystery series, and why did it stand out to you?
Well without revealing any spoilers, I’ll just say that I always love creating the climax of the story the most – where the killer is finally revealed and tensions are at an all time high. It’s so much fun to create the turmoil and suspense, and then to see that suspense finally segue into the reveal of all the answers we’ve been waiting the entire book to find out about – there’s no greater satisfaction than that!
Start listening to the Grilled Cheese Mystery Series here, and grab your copy anywhere audiobooks are sold (and at your local library through apps like Libby and hoopla!)
