Hello World!
If this is your first time meeting me, hello! If you only know me from audiobooks, don't be afraid, I actually started out as a writer.
I was reminded while watching Terminator Zero the other week of back in the old blogging days when you would start a Wordpress blog and the first post would be “Hello World” so, given this is the closest thing to blogging that I’ve done in 8 years, it seems apropos to have this for the title of my first post on Substack.
So, if you’ve wandered onto this Substack somehow and am wondering who I am, allow myself to introduce...myself. My name is Shiromi Arserio. I am a writer and audiobook narrator. My credentials as an audiobook narrator are most well known and is probably how you found this little Substack. I’ve been a narrator for ten years and a voice actor for 18 years.
What might you know me from? It should be said, this is a question actors loathe receiving. Almost up there with when are you going to get a real job? I specialise in scifi/fantasy and YA. I’ve narrated the Burning Kingdoms series by Tasha Suri (I was nominated for an Audie for it, which is kinda like the Oscars of the audiobook world). I have narrated a bunch of Alien franchise books. If you like anime, you might have heard me as I was the narrator of books 2-6 of the Saga of Tanya the Evil series. I also narrated Anthem by Noah Hawley, Rakesfall by Vajr Chandrasekra and Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue.
As a writer, I mostly wrote in the non-fiction area. I started out as a travel writer. I was published both online and in various local and national magazines. I ran my own scifi blog for a number of years where I got to cover cons and interview some really amazing people, and occasionally contributed to other places like Den of Geek. I published a couple of short stories way back in the early days of Amazon KDP. And I am getting ready to self-publish my debut novel.
I say debut, because it’s not my first novel. Although I admit that for a long time, I didn’t write at all. It was hard to keep up a scifi blog as I got busier. Audiobooks have a tendency to take over your life. So, this is me getting my balance back and putting myself out there in a different way.
I know you’re dying to know what my novel is about, right, random internet person? It’s called The Order of Grimm and it is a fantasy heist. I’ll definitely be telling you more about it as I go along. The plan is to release in January. I can’t tell you how excited/terrified I am to share it. It’s currently with a line editor and I have an actual human artist illustrating the cover. In fact, I just got her initial sketches which really capture the fun, caper feel I want to convey.
So how often will you hear from me? I’m going for twice a month. Like I said, audiobooks can take over a bit, so I think twice a month feels like a nice compromise, unless I have some huge news to share.
What kind of things can you expect me to talk about? Writing, audiobooks and life in general. If you’ve ever wondered about the day-to-day life of an audiobook narrator, come here. I’ll also share stuff about my novel and my process, and some excerpts either from past writing or story scraps that I’m noodling with.
In fact here’s one for you right now. This was written for NYC Midnight micro story challenge. And boy was this one a challenge. The story had to include cupcakes (I loathe cupcakes, give me fairy cakes or a muffin any day) and had to be a workplace rom-com, which is not really a genre I read or narrate very often.
The Wicked Witch of the West End loves cupcakes. So I was up all night baking, with varying degrees of success. Let’s just say I won’t be entering The Great British Bake Off. Now here I am, tired, but ready to suck up to my boss.
Why? Cupcakes are a stepping stone. First cupcakes, then promotion, pay raise, and move out of bedsit. New-found self-confidence will then lead to True Love.
Anastasia made a beeline towards me “I told you to bring quiche!”
“But she likes cupcakes,” I protested.
Drusilla sidled up. “I already bought cupcakes. From Magnolia’s.”
Well, I can’t compete with that. Disenchanted, I watched them swan away. Slumping into the nearest chair I stuffed a cupcake into my mouth. Stress eating! It was half gone when I remembered I don’t like cupcakes. I spat the sugary concoction onto an abandoned office memo. Only to notice a handsome figure watching me with bemused green eyes.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, blushing.
“No worries. I hate cupcakes too.” He leaned against the desk. “I much prefer fairy cakes.”
I smiled. “You don’t work here.”
“No. Courier. I’m supposed to get signatures from Miss Edwards.”
“She’s over there with Anastasia and Drusilla.” I gestured to the group loudly singing Happy Birthday.
“The Ugly Step-sisters!”
He knows Cinderella? Knowledgable and good-looking! “I’m her PA. Maybe I can help.”
“Thanks.” He paused. “It’s a bit rowdy in here. Do you want to go downstairs to the coffee shop?”
I beamed. “I would love that.”
Other News
A couple of other announcements for this week: I’m beginning a progression fantasy narration for podium called Young Flame. You can watch me narrate the first hour on TikTok this Wednesday 10am Pacific. On Thursday, if you’re attending World Fantasy Con, you can find me on two different panels, one on Asian Fantasy and the other on Ai in Audio.
Shiromi! It’s so good to read you here! Now I need to know what a faerie cake is and am off to google!
Also congrats on your upcoming debut novel! I’m publishing my first novelette soon as well, and I love that we are both doing to work parallel.
I’d love to read your book and am hoping to be opening a bookstore next year. So maybe I can put it on my shelves!