Thank you to everyone who got in touch - about 150 people! Applications are now closed - I hope to get back to everyone within the next week or two. 

​I’m looking for actors / voice artists! My first collection of short stories, Pet, is being released this August – and I’m thrilled to have received Creative New Zealand funding to turn the stories into a podcast series.
 
About the book
Pet is a dark and humorous short story collection that explores our relationships with children, lovers, and other animals.
 
“Hectic, chatty, very modern New Zealand, very, very readable.”
—Steve Braunias
 
About the podcast 
The podcast will be made with Otago Access Radio in Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature. It will be available free via OAR FM and the usual podcast platforms.
 
Seeking actors / voice artists
I am looking for actors to read the stories for the podcast series. Payment is $25 per page, and the stories range from one to several pages long.
 
The podcast will be recorded at OAR FM, where social distancing and hygiene measures will be in place. The recordings will be undertaken in business hours during June and July.
 
In some cases it may be possible for actors to record themselves in home studios – however we would prefer to do the recordings in the OAR studio to ensure consistent quality.
 
There are 17 stories, I would love to have a wide range of different voices featured across the series – so if this opportunity tickles your fancy, please get in touch.
 
Expressions of interest
Expressions of interest can be sent to me at info@kathrynvanbeek.co.nz. Please send me your name, contact details, and if possible, links to your past work. Please let me know if you are able to record in the OAR FM studio or if you would like to be considered for an off-site recording, and if so, what recording gear you have access to.
 
Not all of the stories are dark, but some of them do cover animal abuse and sexual violence. Please let me know if you are comfortable with reading darker stories or if you would prefer a lighter one. I will try to match each actor with the story that works best for them. 

Photo by Sunyu Kim on Unsplash

I think I might be the luckiest writer in the world - I have not one but TWO books coming out this August! 

Pet
Pet is a dark and humorous short story collection that explores our relationships with children, lovers, and other animals. In these 18 stories we meet a girl in a standoff with the neighbourhood goose killer, a druggy who turns possums into pop culture icons, and an emotional support animal gone wild.
Visit Goodreads to learn more. 

Bruce Goes Outside
Kate’s tiny kitten wants to go outside. He struggles with the cat flap, annoys a bird . . . and ends up on the wrong side of the fence. What will Kate do? Bruce Goes Outside follows on from Bruce Finds A Home, which is based on the true story of Bruce the Cat. 
Visit Goodreads to learn more. 

I wrote and illustrated both of these books, which have both been labours of love. Bruce Goes Outside took me about two years to finish ... and Pet took a few more years than that! I hope you enjoy them. 

Pre-orders will be available soon ... watch this space!