Andrea’s Welcome to Erin Bennett: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreaParsneauVO/videos
Hey readers of The Wandering Inn, it’s still cold outside sometimes, but I trust spring or summer’s on the way. I can’t tell when it’s supposed to appear, but I’ll know it when I see it.
I have an announcement to make, again. Andrea’s goodbye announcement went well last week. Not just in that it was well-spoken or written, though it was on her part, I think.
Well in terms of audience reactions. I was braced (and I think Andrea too) for some negativity or hostility from some users. Not all, but this is the internet, and people can be terribly uncharitable. Disappointment, a sense of loss, that’s all understandable. I went through those feelings, and I think they’re healthy and even appropriate: if it matters, it should hurt a bit.
But no one was a huge hater slinging insults or wild theorization online, and that speaks to the health of an audience, I think. I appreciate that people gave Andrea all the love and support she was due, and I also believe that’s because everyone recognizes the effort she put into the story.
Yet the story is continuing. And today I’d like to announce that we have a new narrator for The Wandering Inn.
Erin Bennett is a Golden Voice narrator who’s worked on over five hundred audiobooks, and is the winner of multiple Earphone awards, which I assume are cool as Stabby awards. She was the final candidate in a blind audition of voices I listened to dozens of times to figure out who could step into the role Andrea’s leaving.
Andrea also helped select her, so it’s not just my personal taste or Podium’s; Erin has a great voice for continuing The Wandering Inn, and her name feels…fateful. Not sure if someone’s meddling in the sense of destiny or whatever, but it’s a cool name, anyways!
My hope is that you’ll give her support, trust, and a warm welcome as she takes on the role of narrating the audiobooks. Andrea has left her a host of notes and information to keep the countless voices all consistent, and I do hope Erin likes the story and community we have here.
I’ve asked the store to send her a miniature Erin from our mysterious inventory as a gift, and I hope you all will check out the next audiobook and be as supportive as you were to Andrea. Things change, new faces come and go, and I hope we like new guests as much as the old.
Welcome to The Wandering Inn, Erin! Hope you enjoy it.
–pirateaba
