Gang Girl Audiobook
Gang Girl Audiobook Trailer
15/05/22 16:38
Check out this cool trailer for the Gang Girl audiobook, available now on all major audiobook platforms worldwide.
Sound Salad Podcast
15/03/22 16:38
To celebrate the launch of the Gang Girl audiobook, I talked to Romy Hooper—the voice of Alicia in the audiobook—about the inspiration behind the book and chatted about my other projects.
Read Romy's show notes below and listen to the podcast:
First episode of the year - woohoo!
I was chuffed to finally speak with David Whittet - the author of recently released Gang Girl, who also happens to be a filmmaker and a family doctor to boot. When David came to Audiobooks NZ to have Gang Girl produced, I was lucky enough to be the narrator for his protagonist Alicia’s side of the story. It’s as good a listen as it is a read! Check it out on davidwhittet.com or AudiobooksNZ.co.nz
Storytelling has been prevalent in David’s family since childhood, with fond memories of TV serials, and a particularly impactful trip to the local cinema to see Lawrence of Arabia. Recognising that stories like Oliver Twist had the power to change the poor law in the UK, or The Citadel inspiring the National Health Service, he was convinced he wanted to be part of creating equally moving and powerful stories.
Having worked in rural communities here and in India, David has a rich tapestry of experience to draw from when creating his characters, and choosing which of their stories to tell.
Meeting patients and their families in these environments has generated somewhat of an artistic activist, with one of his earlier films ‘Hikoi’ being made in response to a Hone Harawera interview about the importance of awareness around child poverty. David wanted to comment on this and the lack of support for social workers within the context of the hikoi to parliament in 2015.
Set in NZ’s West Coast, Gang Girl has been a number of years in the making and centres around an immigrant family who have commandeered the charming wee town of Roaring Creek Falls. The main big guy brothers don’t get along, there’s a trillion layers and family secrets riddled throughout, and the kids (as we meet them at the beginning of the book) just want to get the hell away from it all. Named after the Crane twins from London, the rivalry wreaks violent havoc on most of their lives - and those of the neighbouring civilians. Inspired by a story told to David by a notorious local gang leader, and the attempts of his daughter to get away, Alicia’s world was born, and is extended in 2 sequels ‘Blood Cousins’ and ‘Gang Blood’...watch this space.
Other titles in the pipeline are ‘The Road to Madhapur’ about a Kiwi doctor disillusioned with life and his travels to Madhapur, inspired by David’s time spent doing rescue work in India, and ‘Threepence on the Carpet’ about an unsuccessful musician in the 60s returning from London to a bizarre inheritance. Needless to say, with these all on the go and his work as a general practitioner, David is one busy Oamaruvian. He actively supports local projects and content, so if you’re in the South get in touch with him via the contact form on his website.
The Gang Girl Audiobook is here!
06/03/22 15:15
I'm beyond excited to see Gang Girl come to life in this fantastic new audiobook. Romy Hooper owns the voice of Alicia, and I have already asked her to reprise her role in Blood Cousins, the next book in the series. Romy described the book as a 'gut-punch story about a kick-arse woman'. Both Romy and co-narrator Paul Harrop add a definite 'punch' to their performances—so much so that I rediscovered my story with this recording.
Sincere thanks to both Romy and Paul for their brilliant performances. I am also eternally grateful to Theo Gibson and the team at Audiobooks NZ for their expertise and sharing this journey with me.
Listen to the first chapter here.
The Gang Girl audiobook is available on all major audio platforms.
More Gut Punch in the Gang Girl Audiobook Pre-Masters
10/01/22 12:32
I have discovered my book anew while listening to the pre-masters for the Gang Girl audiobook. Romy Hooper brings even more gut punch to Alicia’s story as she captures the heart and soul of this ‘kick-arse woman’. While Romy possesses Alicia, Paul Harrop gets under the skin of her childhood friend turned nemesis, Mickey.
Romy and Paul are consummate artists, and their engagement with my story is legendary. I can’t wait to bring you this gripping audiobook.
Words from the Bubble Interview
21/12/21 12:21
This interview with Rachel Doré for the Words from the Bubble radio show was a marathon and a full mental workout!
KickArts Radio Interview on Planet FM 104.6
19/12/21 20:00
My interview on the KickArts show went out tonight on Planet FM 104.6. Listen to the journey that inspired me to write Gang Girl.
A gut punch tale about a kick arse woman!
05/12/21 13:37
‘A gut punch tale about a kick arse woman.’ That’s how Romy Hooper, the narrator of my audiobook, described Gang Girl. Every writer dreams of finding a voice talent as deeply engaged in their story as Romy.
Romy totally owns the voice of Alicia, the kick-arse hero of my book! Equally, Paul Harrop inhabits the voice of Mickey, the damaged and conflicted boy groomed to be the next gang leader.
With two further novels in the Gang Girl series in development, I hope Romy and Paul will reprise their roles for future audiobooks. I promise even more gut-punching tales as Alicia and Mickey’s story continues.
My sincere thanks to Theo Gibson at AudiobooksNZ for his expertise in producing the audiobook. Theo and the team are now hard at work mixing and proofing the recordings. Keep watching for the release date.
If you can’t wait for the audiobook, you can grab the print version here!
Read Romy Hooper’s post here: https://www.facebook.com/574296966/posts/10160188239861967/?d=n