Latest / Voice Notes After Dark / Moniker Live
Transcript
- MONIKERFINAL: No no. Okay, all we're gonna get started before we before we wear it our welcome here, guys. Everybody, thank you for being here. Rena, congratulations on your release today. Moniker is out in the world, your baby. We have been waiting for this book for months. We yeah, so excited. B is because we can't have anyone else up here. B is in we gotta be in the basement, you know, elf on the shelf, we got B in the basement. So if you guys have any questions or anything. Yeah, she's in the chat. Okay. I was wondering. She's in the chat. So if anybody has any questions, everybody be nice to B, say hi to B, and send her your questions. but we have a lot to get to. So how is everyone doing? How was everyone's release day? Was everyone excited? A good release day. Yeah, hell yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This was a big one, y'all. This one we people have been waiting for. And Renna, you know that everyone loves this book. I mean, Moniker is such an amazing story, so fun, so fun to read. And everyone has been waiting for this audio. I mean, think you've been waiting for it too. Like I think you're just as excited as we are sometimes. Yeah. For sure. Yeah, for sure. One of the things that I wanted to talk to you about a little bit was, I told Lauren this after I finished reading, I sent her a voicemail and voice note and I was just like, you know, your attention to detail in this book is just like mind-boggling to me. it really was like a love letter to voice actors and narrators, the way that you portrayed, you know, everything so well and so like down to like the letter of how things are. And it was just it was really awesome the way that you did that. And it just made the story that much more authentic and real. And it was I I think it's one of the reasons why people are enjoying it so much is because it is kind of like that little like behind the scenes kind of thing. So was that really, really important to you to make it that way? I know you're an audiobook lover, so Yeah, yeah. So this book came to me. So fun, fun story. I've I've told a lot of people. how I started out doing fantasy. That was my first endeavor when I started writing. and then this this story came to me one day and my gut was like, you need to stop and and write this. And yeah, I did. And it's audiobooks have been so important to me over like the last six, seven years. they they're an escape. And and sometimes especially when you have you know certain it's hard to put it this way but you know when you have when you your mind can't sit still you it's sometimes hard to sit down and read and especially when there's a lot of anxiety you know it is much easier to escape into an audiobook and so yeah audio is just so important to me and through through that I develop I just it amazes me 'cause it's art. It's another art form. And yeah, it's it was very important to me to get this book into audio for sure. Yeah. Yeah, no, I mean and is that is clear. What about with, you know, Atlas with you and Lauren, did you notice those little that little attention to details, those little things that run it through in there that really just showed how much she loved what you guys do? Yeah, definitely. Definitely. I I think I've said before in some places that I playing Ryan and Xander was an interesting experience. I think I texted Rena this when I started reading the book too. I got through the second chapter and I like, no, Ryan's me. It's he's he's just me. I'm not the only You are not the only one who has said that. Trust me. Everyone's like, my god, this is like literally Alice. Yeah, exactly. So yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah, very familiar. Very familiar. Yeah. But I mean it's it's not even that. It's not even just so much the character. It's just like the way that she wrote it and the way that all the little details of just like how you do your job, your day to day, your schedule, you know, the things that you have to think about as a narrator or a voice actor. Like she just nailed every single one of those details. And it just I can't with you people. I can't do this. I can't no. Well, you better get used to it because I don't like the What about you, Lauren? Did it make you feel seen? Yeah, I think it was really cool to to kind of like understand and like live the experience that she wrote about. Like you can tell that she she did the research. You can tell that, you know, like those Yeah, those little details, they matter. And and it's it's funny to read like to be reading a character who is with a a character who's sitting on the couch prepping a book and like looking over character notes to prep for their you know, whatever they're gonna be doing in you know, it's very it's very inception, right? Like, you know. It was cool. It was really cool. Very I was thinking that too. I was like, 'Cause I was thinking that while I was reading it, I was like, for you guys, it I thought how not weird it would have been to be reading about something that you literally do all the time. And and was wondering, Atlas, yeah, you answered that question for me if it freaked you out a little bit because it was so close to home. So yeah, I can see that. okay, so Lauren, you really have I talked to you a lot about how much I love this book and you kind of told me a little bit about the backstory, but I want Renna and I want you guys to tell me a little bit about how this audio came about because Renna, I'm gonna love on you again. Like you absolutely nailed this casting and I think it's really special how it came about. So I want you to tell us a little bit about it. Yeah, so I I started writing. I had the majority of Moniker written before I stepped onto social media. and then I found Lauren a few months in. it's it's quite funny. I used to post poetry on threads sometimes and she and of course it's always feral, that's what you're gonna get with me. And and she started yeah she started commenting on my post and she was like my gosh and so she actually narrated one of my poems and we posted it last year and it was it was amazing and as soon as I heard it like she sent it to me and as soon as I heard it I'm like that's Raven. What do you mean? What do you mean? That is my Raven So that's that's how I found Lauren. So Lauren has been on this journey with me for over a year. I have I I and I always told her if I am ever able to get this into audio, you are going to be Raven. Because you are Raven. No one else can be Raven. I would rather it not be in audio. so as far as Lauren goes, that is that is how her and I connected and she's she's perfect. I it's it's hard to describe. I I think I described this a little bit in the Kickstarter, but It was when when I hear Lauren speak, it's just it's just raving for me. And it's it's really special to be have such a close friend and you know that we we've gotten very close. I'm you know very grateful for her being here for this long with me. but yeah, that is how Lauren and I began. And then you just I think I from what Lauren told me, you discovered Atlas and his voice. damn, that's Ryan. Yeah, I did. I when I tell you I have listened to every male narrator on the internet. I believe you. I have I have. I believe and it it was not even the the audiobook wasn't even a thing at the point at that point. I I had an agent back when the book released, and it was sent to some audio publishers, and so you know, that was a thing for five minutes. but before the audiobook was even really thought of, I was still because that's what this book was made to be. It's just it's just what it had to be a book first, and then it had to be an audiobook. So I just Happened across Atlas one day and I was like, wait a second, wait a minute. And I went back through some of his videos that he had posted. And this was in like December. I remember it was really close to December because I think I found him on my birthday. I'm not even kidding. so your birthday, right? Yeah, right. I I went back through and some of his videos, and he had done a little bit of a different voice, and I'm like, wait. This voice is Ryan and this voice is Xander. What do you mean? And so I immediately sent him to Lauren. I'm like, my God, I think this is I think this is Ryan. And she's like, Holy shit. Yeah. Fair. Yeah. Yeah. and then I reached out to him and we talked a little bit. And at that point in the process, like I said, there was a lot going on with the agent stuff. So I was not really sure how what was gonna happen. At that point. And so I focused on getting the book released. And then Yeah, later on when I was ready to make it happen, I was like, Hey, do you wanna audition? Yeah. I mean and and getting to that. I mean, this this book was brought to life because of a Kickstarter. This audio was brought to life because of that. Your Kickstarter was incredibly successful. people really Loved the story of Moniker before you even talked about doing an audio. The story in and of itself really captivated people and they wanted to hear it in audio. So how fast did you get funded on your Kickstarter? so I I had decided that I was gonna do the audio no matter what. but I was gonna like, you know, let's try, let's see what a Kickstarter would do. Why not? And so So I think I got funded maybe I I want to say like halfway through. I'm not sure. Two weeks. I don't even think. Yeah. Yeah. I think it I I remember I think I got over like seven almost seventy five percent the first day. Or like sixty percent or something like that. I don't I don't remember. I think some of my team, my street team is on here, they could probably tell you because when I tell you That Kickstarter was successful because of my street team. That is the honest truth. They posted every single day. They were doing so much more than I asked. I literally asked them, hey, will you post about it a couple times during the month? You know, we're during you know, it being live. And they organized posts, say like, you're gonna post this day, you're gonna collaborate with these people, you're gonna post this day. And so when I tell you this Kickstarter would not have happened without my street team, I am one hundred I fully believe that. That's yeah, that's really sweet, Renan. That's great. And it and absolutely. I mean, I was seeing this Kickstarter everywhere. Like it was everywhere. Yeah. and I don't think even had you you hadn't announced had you announced narrators at that point? I did, yeah. I had I had not yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I did. So Okay. Well, yeah, the the Kickstarter was a huge success. And then it was like, Okay, we're really gonna do this. We're really gonna make this happen. You guys recorded this, Lauren and Atlas, you guys had worked together on a couple of other like smaller projects, but you had really kind of kind of gotten in your groove narrating with each other. and it just gelled. This book just you guys sounded so good together and just it It being a longer book and it being a full length novel, I think really just gave you even that much more time to just kind of come together and and make it sound so much such a complete story. So how did it feel, Atlas, doing your first like full length book? Yeah, so fun. I I I think you kind of nailed it with the like having more time with the full length because you you get more time to sink your teeth into the character and feel them out and yeah just settle in. And yeah, of course, like working with Warren has been awesome from day one and this is god, what number is this? Three. It's it's happened fast. No, number four four? Four? Three. This is Well, four the fourth one's not yeah. Yeah, this is three that's released. Three released, one more in November. Yes, yes, yes. Yes, yes, yes. Yeah. So you guys are just like this dynamic narrating duo at this point. I hope you keep doing lots more books together. I'm just gonna say that. Lauren, what about you? I know you we talked a little bit about how much you enjoyed doing this book and how much you love Raven, but what was it like to finally get to do like a full length novel with Atlas and really kind of let this story get through its the whole way? I really I'm really thankful that we had those two novellas to really solidify our energies. And because it's a full length novel, you know, it I had a great time. I and also because we had those two novellas, I kind of had a sense of how he was going to narrate, even though we were never in the same room or anything like that. And so I think being able to anticipate what your co-narrator is going to do really helps the performance in the story. It was it was great. It w and it's really fun to hear our voices mesh together like that, you know? So good. Yeah. Yeah. So good. You guys sound so good together. And Atlas, you went through I mean, just about every imaginable emotion in this book. Like, you know, angry, sad, you know Horny. Devastated. Horny. Dalm. Sub. I mean, literally everything you went through in this book. You cried and made us all cry. It did. So, like, did you feel like you really got to like stretch your acting muscles in this one? Yeah. Like, that's the other part of it that I think being a a full length was fun is having more time with the characters, inevitably you explore more sides of them. So yeah, it was Getting to stretch my legs a little more as an actor than I i is typical with what I usually do. Kind of you know for sure. For sure. Yeah. What is your favorite part about that? I mean, like what what did you what is something that just you just really enjoyed about doing that more long form? God, yeah. all of that really. All of it. I'll take it all. Just wrap it up. Yeah, I'll send it. That works. I get it. It is fun. so we have a couple of questions. Renna, what was going through your mind hearing your book and your characters come to life? well, I think I posted reaction already also. I was yelling at both of them. it was surreal. It was it was very surreal because a lot of there's a lot of authors that don't wanna listen to their audio the to their books being o narrated. And it's like no, give it to me right now. Give me all of it. I had such a fun time. Listening. It was it was very surreal in the beginning and then just it was everything. Like I've said in multiple posts, this is my biggest author dream and especially with this book and yeah, it's it's one of those things where it's like, Okay, I can I've done exactly what I wanted to do and everything else is just extra at this point. Like Any I've I've already had so much with this book. So many people love this book and I didn't anticipate any of it. and so at this point, you know, I this is all just so much more than I could have imagined and listening to it, it was perfect. Yeah. Was there anything when you got the book back and you listened to it that you know, obviously you know your story backwards and forwards, but was there anything that they really just nailed that you didn't think was gonna be as impactful as it was until you heard it back yeah a couple things the with their voices together was just so perfect that it it was it was perfect and then at the end with with Ali I knew I knew it was gonna be bad I knew it was gonna be bad I knew it was my god I What seriously, that was me, that was not I'm not an actor. I don't that was genuine. Everything that I have posted, that was genuine. I hit I before I started that chapter, I sat my phone down and I press play and I just listened. And yeah, it got me really good. No girl, I cried too. Don't feel bad. I cried. I I will admit it. I cried, I know B cried. We all cry. What a compliment. Yeah, she messaged me. She said, no, you're making me cry. And then like a couple hours later, it was like, no, now Lauren's making me cry. I mean, but that really is a testament to you guys. I mean, you really did just bring the emotions with both of these characters. I mean, this story is so entertaining. There's so many twists and turns, but it is at its core very, very emotional. And so it was really cool that you guys really brought that to life and made us really feel it. 'Cause that was that was my intent when I wrote that scene. I was like, I want to make cry. And ended up making myself cry. Yeah. When I heard the audio. So, you know, I I accomplished the goal. I made myself cry. So good. You made yourself cry. I mean, yeah. it's it's it's it's so it was so good and that Just there was so much emotion in this book. And yeah, I'm but I'm so happy that that's what you wanted to do, Renna, and that's what came through. So that that just that's always the best feeling. Lauren and Atlas. I think we kind of touched on this a little bit, but how do you feel about your characters? Are there any aspects of them you relate to? And B said, don't say his job Atlas, that's a cop out. Laura, you wanna take first? Yeah. Yeah. Alice has gotta think he we just took his answer. I feel like I need a break. I'm gonna roast it so hard. I I my god, I love Rav Raven's ambition. I I feel like she was a go-getter, man. Like she she set her heart on something and there was nothing that was gonna stop her from getting it, and I feel like that's me. I when you set your sights on something like if that's what I want, I'm gonna I'm gonna work to get it. That's the truth. That is the truth. And yes voice kink aside, I think that she's just she's great. I don't know, she's just she's a good friend and she she's she's like emotional and she's sensitive, but God, she's so strong and you know, like she does things but sh like even if it's scary, she does it scared. And I feel like that's literally been my like my mindset recently is like I might be scared to do this, but I'm gonna do it scared. And so you know the the the just her I don't she's just she's great. She's great. I loved I loved her and and Ryan's dynamic. I I loved Everything about this book. I really from front from front to back loved this book. I really did. And I feel like even recording it, I zipped through it. I couldn't like I just couldn't stop recording it. Yep. Do it scared. Yep. I mean, I told you, Renna, this is gonna be one of my top books of this year. Absolutely hands down, no questions asked. It will be. but yeah, so Atlas, it's your turn. Yeah, God. I I relate to so much about Ryan. I mean, thankfully not everything, good God. But But yeah, like so much stuff in that in that second chapter, like I said, just the idea that he's like he's this voice actor that a lot of people know, but he's it aside from, you know, the acting part of him in life, he's kind of a little more reclusive and he just likes to stay home and play video games and mind his own business. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The I also really related to, I guess on a s more somber note, like the idea of kind of where he starts in the story of being in this place of his life is objectively going very well. He's in a great spot financially. He's like really successful in his career, but still somehow feeling like adrift or wrong. Like it's just not something's not quite. in place yet. yeah. And then like coming alive when he finds it, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Very cool. Such a cool story. Such a, such a cool story. and there are a lot of twists and turns in this story. Don't even think that what we're telling you right now that you have any idea what you're in for in this story because we are not giving you anything. There's so much more. so yeah, it and if anybody in the chat has not started this book yet, I go do it right now. we'll stay here for a little bit and then go do it. Yeah. So Lauren and Atlas, you had a few extra character voices to do in this book. Which was your favorite side character and which was your favorite voice to do? Ooh. Wow. There are a lot of voices. Alicia a lot of voices. What's her name? Joanne. Joanne. Joanne. yeah, the the manager lady. Love loving some Joanne, man. I'm the right guy hi from that one. Joanne. Yeah. She's the best. We all need a Joanne. Yeah. Team Rick. Rick. Rick. Rick gave no shits about anything. Rick did not. He had no time. He had no time. No time for your shenanigans. Yeah, Rick was a fun voice, though. Yeah, definitely. I can't remember his name now. The a spoiler to see what he does. What you're talking about? The I can't say it either. Yeah. Like I don't know how to say. I guys we'll I don't know, I'll tell you later. you know the guy. The guy the guy the guy has a the guy has a voice. That guy. He does that guy I'm glad everyone's here to wish. And Atlas does the voice to say you're Atlas did that one. Yeah. And it's as far as we know. He liked it. It was so lost. I don't know who we're talking about. Okay. yeah, there you go. Do the voice. That's how we'll that's how we'll know. my god. Alright, Ryan's old friend. We'll s I'll say that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's a good way to put it. That's a good way to put it. There you go. That's good. Yeah. I think one of my favorite. That's great. One of my favorite voices that wasn't Ryan or Xander was one of the other voices that Ryan did. I won't spoil it, but it's really it's really good. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know what, Lauren, did you did you even I mean you probably have you listened to the whole book? See, that's the thing. I never used to listen to it. I used to listen to snippets when they're posted, but I don't ever have the chance to sit down and listen. I don't know that I can. No, I get it. I get it. Once it's out there, that's for y'all to enjoy, not for me. Yeah. But it's hard to find the time if you're not. That's why you're confused because these are all his parts, and you probably have not heard any of this. Yeah. So yep, I get it. Yep, yep, yep, yep. okay, so this is your let's see. how were you all in close communication during the production of the book? How long did it take you to record? God. Five weeks for me, I think. It took me two? Two weeks, maybe? Mm-hmm. Yeah. We're an informative podcast. Yabby, tell Let know. Let them know what we do. Okay, so we're we're all just out here doing our best. That's all right, we're all just out here doing our best. We're all just out here. are there any funny little anecdotes from the audio production? in parentheses, I need to fuel my blooper and behind the scenes brain. B does not apologize. We gotta have the spirit of B here with us, y'all. So here we go. she wanted to know if you have any funny stories about recording this book. Sure. Yeah, I'm I I think I messaged Renna a handful of times throughout. There's one character in particular who's a real piece of work and narrating his lines, I legitimately like stopped halfway through a sentence at one point and like nervous laughed and said, What the fuck? Like, damn, this is awful. Is this toward the end of the book? Yeah. Okay. Then it's the same scene that I probably messaged you also saying what the fuck? Yeah. I that's that specific scene, if we're talking about the one I think we're talking about, like the rage that you hear from Raven was a hundred and ten percent me. I was furious. I was furious. And like I I feel I messaged you, didn't I, Renna? I'm pretty sure Yeah, I think so. Yeah, just I just mad. Yeah. Mad I was mad understandable. I think I had to calm down before I could keep going. But so like that whole but that whole scene where she's just pissed. Mm-hmm. Now that's real. And then I had to calm down after. Yeah, it I mean it came through. Good job. Thank you so much. That's all right. A book with all the feels. Yeah, we get every single feeling in this book. So bonus blooper audiobook. I don't know. Yeah, I did message you something very not social media friendly about that scene. You're exactly right, B, I did. And it's definitely still not social media friend friendly. so how much or how let's see, let's see, what is this? How much of well these are a lot of the questions that I already asked you. what were your do you have a favorite scene to record and write, Renna? So I'll say, Renna, what was your favorite scene to write if you can be as non spoilery as possible? let's okay. It it's quite a long scene. I think it's like five thousand words. And it's it's quite long. It's it's kind of two scenes put together. Mhm. But that was real fun for me. And I think I think I think I I think Lauren liked narrating that that scene too. But that's the same thing. I was also thinking of that. It's like really a a bunch of scenes in a row, but it's like Yeah. It's just it's there's no break. There's no break though. Right, exactly. It's it's yeah. All gas. No brakes. Exactly. Very much. Wow, I know exactly what you're talking about. Lauren is Lauren be like I got nothing. God. how do we tell without spoil I don't know, Lauren. I'm sorry. I don't know, I don't know everyone's like everybody knows what scene you're talking about. Has everyone read how many people has anybody in the chat not read the book? obviously some people haven't but yeah Lauren it's the scene that you messaged me about like I told you about it and then you messaged me you're like I actually get to do that? What do you mean? I'm so excited. She got she got it guys she got it nice. I want you to know that I've been waiting a very long time for one of them scenes, y'all. This is Right where I wanted to be. And you owned it, baby. You owned it. You owned it. She did. It was amazing. It was perfect. The scene. The sc exactly the scene, Lauren. The scene. Speaking of the scene, there were a lot of the scenes in this book. it was quite spicy, but also very much Very much necessary for the plot. This is not one of those, this is not a book that is all spice, no plot. It's very, very much all appropriate to the story. did you guys enjoy doing did you see, did you like how much how much everything blended in and how appropriate everything was and made the story kind of all come together? Just queen things. I I l the amount of tropes, the types of tropes that were in this book are some of the most fun to record. And so yeah, throughout including like the like the plot twist and stuff, like you I mean, there was not a single time where I was like not having a great time recording. Like it's just it was just fun. It was fun. Yeah. Yeah, aside from all all of the individual pieces like being fun and entertaining on their own, like you were saying, Kim, everything tied together so well, it all made sense. It wasn't just like there was plenty of spice, but it wasn't spice for spice's sake. It all everything went to building the characters and building the story between two of them and yeah, God. And can I also I maybe for a favorite scene too, besides the scene I wanna say like the very, very end. Which like I'm sure is I don't know, maybe doesn't sound as exciting to some people, but like I went right from recording the stuff before that into that. Yeah. So like the emotional state that I was in, like going from one to that. Yeah. It w it was like just this I I felt like I was along for the ride and I was able to to hit. Yeah, you felt that relief also. god. Yeah. No, I get that. Yeah, yeah. I love that. I love that you guys were able to experience the story. And I think that keep saying it, that comes through when you guys it's so when you guys are feeling what these characters are going through. while you're performing, it absolutely comes through. And it's one of the reasons why this book is so special and the audio is so good. so yeah, I'm not surprised with that at all. so Atlas, we've talked a little bit before in other lives with about other books, like how different it is for you doing, you know, long form narration versus what your AE and things like that. You had to do but But I think what's different about Moniker and about some of the other books that you done is like you also have these narrative portions in the middle of these spicy scenes. So how was it switching back and forth between those two like personas basically for you? 'Cause you do I mean you you narrate those two things very differently. Yes. For sure, yeah. You g you have to, right? Yeah. The narration portion of it like necessitates a level of precision that the dialogue does not. so things like breathing heavily. Like if you're doing that while you're narrating, that doesn't sound so good. not the best experience for a listener. so it is an interesting experience, like flopping. back and forth, turning that on and off. But stop. Stop. It's a real helicopter, you might say. I'm so sorry. No you're not. No, but I think like no, I'm really not. I I think it I've done A E long enough that I'm I'm used to that a little bit now though. Like you know, if I'm recording an audio for Quinn and I flub, I have to like s you know, stop and go back and fix it. I mean, unless it sounds natural, but yeah a lot of times I just said something stupid. Like, well that can't be in there. And there was reminds me I was recording a collab with Alice and Adrian. one time and the writer of the collab that was like in the call with us, listening in. Uh-huh. And she messaged us after the fact saying that she was like cackling because we would go from all of us breathing heavily and you know, simulating the act to memeing on like on a dime. Yeah, I mean it's it's kind of insane. I mean And you don't normally have to do that narrative. So w I guess what? How did you actually like read it like chronologically? Or did you do like your narrative portions and then like 'cause I can imagine that would be difficult, like I said, just kind of switching back and forth in those moments. Yeah. You know it might make more sense to do all the narration and then do the dialogue later, but no. I just chronological. Yeah, I don't know. I feel like you know what? I take it back because the editing alone, if I did it separately, is like something I don't want to do with that's true. Yeah, yeah, that's true. That's true. I didn't think about that. But yeah, yeah. Yeah, I can imagine that that you know, you it took you a long time, but that's that's that's that's a lot of work there, buddy. Good job. All right. I just say though. He did so well, both of them. I think Lauren had like what three you had like three pickups, maybe, and two of them were my fault. And then Atlas literally had like less than five. No way. Pretty impressive. I'm not gonna lie. First 12 hour work. That's impressive. Well, I know you guys both of you guys are very, very attentive to details. So I'm not super surprised by that. you guys are both so conscientious about what you're conscientious about what you put out and what you do. So I am not super surprised by that. But yes, absolutely, you're both excellent. Lauren, this past year has been so successful for you, such a wild ride. And I just wanna recognize how much you have done in this year and how where we're at right now is because of so much hard work that you've put in and I just think I'm just so happy for you. And this book is such a good way to like kind of talk about what all you've done this year. So I'm just super proud of you. How does it feel to like kind of be here after everything that you've done this year. I'll say this. I was actually just talking to somebody earlier today who had one of my friends who had purchased Moniker. you like to listen to on aud on audible. And I was like, man, the response has been so overwhelming. I have never had so many people tagging me and mentioning me and commenting and like literally I'm like, is this what this have I made it? It's been such it's been such an incredible feeling to feel like your work is being recognized. in the way that it has been, the response has been like I don't even know how to put into words how wonderful everyone has been about this book. And so yeah, I think the last time we talked, I had said I felt like with every book I get better and better. And I think this book, with the amount of emotion and the amount of work that was put in, you know, I think that's a testament to that. And I'm thrilled that Renna had trusted me to be her raven. I know she heard my voice and just knew, but it it I wanted so badly to do right by her and to ha to make a product that she was proud of and s to see the response behind it has been man, has been everything to me. It's pretty freaking cool. It is cool. Renna, I know we talked a little bit about how much how excited you are for this and you have had you you've had other book releases you you're you've written other books but this I think has been a big moment for you with Moniker is what about this book is just like what makes you really, really proud well it's my debut so that in and of itself is very special and Like I said, there's been so much more response to this than I anticipated. I mean I so I moniker published in March and then I've had a nov I did a surprise release for a novella in September and then I have book two coming in April. And so, you know, this is this is the first one. This is my debut. I wanted to have no regrets when I did this book. And I am I don't I don't I have no regrets and I put everything that I had into this book to make it something that everyone else would like but something that I also like. Like I wanted to to love this story and love this book and I and I do. It's it's so important to me. These characters, I think about them every single day still. And yeah, this one is just it's So special because of the meaning behind it. and it was the first one. Yeah. Super, super so happy for you. And again, I mean, for this to have been your first book is freaking mind boggling in the first place. But again, just the fact that that everyone I mean, literally, everyone is just love it. We love it. We love it. We love the story. We love it. We're so grateful for you. Blah blah blah. I mean, like, Renna, you have I mean You've done something really special with this book. And you guys have talked a little bit about, how how great the response has been. And yes, people love you. People want to praise you for what you do. People want you to succeed because we love you. But at the same time, you've also done really, really good work with this. So let's let's let's call it like it is and say that yes, everyone loves you and everyone wants you to do well. But this is a damn good book, okay? This is a Damn good book. And I'm not just saying that. I read a lot of freaking books, and this book is good. And everyone in the chat who hasn't read it needs to go read it right now. I already said that once, but I'm gonna say it again. So there. All right, guys. Anything else about Moniker that you want to bring up or anything that you want to tell Renna about it or anything like that? Because we have some silly questions here in just a minute. Are there any questions in the chat? I've not been paying attention. There's nothing about you. It's yeah, it's basically okay. So don't look at it. Okay, I will I will you're all amazing. The writing narration from both of you. It's special. We are all so grateful you put the story out into the world. I've said this Monica led me to A.E. I will never not be grateful to Renna. Are we all crying? Yes. Monica is so special and a special story. You did such an amazing job. Bring this book to life. You people and I d I wanna say like that my readers are why I am still doing this. That's there why book two is a thing and you know, I'm doing a bunch of conventions next year. My readers are why. my god, which one? Which one? your is it kinkin ink? Are you going to keep Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. my gosh. There's there's that one's gonna be so much fun. my goodness. So many people there. There is gonna be so many people there. I'm so excited. That's awesome. I'm excited. okay, somebody did ask question. Hold on. Did you have moments post-recording where you caught yourself thinking of the characters? That's such a great question. I didn't so much think of characters as I did scenes. There's Which ones? So sorry. There I yeah, it's it's not so much the characters as it is the scenes in that book that I was like Yeah. That I that I w popped back on. The scene. The scene. To be honest, it's like the scene, but also the scene that I got really mad in where Atlas cried. Bro, I still think and I still think about that scene. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I just I mean a little guilty. Did I feel bad to you guys? No, that's how well crafted the story is. Like this yeah. No, it's not yeah, it's not like a my god, I can't believe that happened. I mean it is, but it's like, my god. You know, like that yeah, no, I think about those two scenes so Specifically. Yeah. Same way, yeah. I I think about I I do think about a lot of the scenes like Lauren's saying because Renna like some some of the shit you did in this book is fucking iconic. Iconic. Iconically. Right. But also I mean the characters too. I I think the care the dynamic between Yes Raven and Ryan is so interesting. That part. the the journey that they go on throughout the book too, f from where they start to where they end is enthralling. So much. That is that is a that is dead on Alice. It's so right. Yeah, I was that's what I was just thinking about when you guys were talking about is like it's not so much about us the scenes, it's just the story in and of itself and the way that it's crafted and the way that it flows, it makes sense. As fantastic all as this story is. It still fucking makes sense. it still works. And that's due to the way that you wrote it, Renna. Like a hundred percent. and even when, you know, there's a lot of books that will have, you know, cliffhangers or gotcha moments or ooh, like twists. This never felt like, here's the twist or here's the thing that's, you know, gonna get everybody to go. It wasn't like that. It was all of those things were organic. in the story, and they happen because you were involved with the characters, not because of some crazy platists that you threw in there. so yeah, I just it's a great book, Renna. Great book. Can you tell we like it? Yeah. And I'm sitting here reading comments while I'm listening and it's like, you people, I cannot like I cannot like take our love absolutely treasured nerd. Take our love. Be treasured. Get get treasured, bro. come on. Get treasured, bro. Accept our love. I'm gonna bring you a shirt to kink and ink that says get treasure. Okay. This is the first time I've heard that phrase, so I don't even know what that means, but okay. You don't know what that means. We treasure Like no, I get it, like I get it, but I've never I didn't know like that was like is that a thing people say? That's a thing we say. Alice and now we're gonna make merch. Yep. Okay. Yep. She's like great. okay, we're gonna by the way, guys, hang out for a little bit longer because we do have something kind of special at the end of this. I wonder what the prime I don't know. I don't know, you'll have to wait and see, but we gotta do some sillies first. So I will just let you guys know that B wrote these. So if you don't know what it is, I didn't either. These are do you prefer cremated toast, which I've been told is burnt toast or soggy bread? my god. Like s like soggy bread just by itself? Or is like soup involved? Yeah. Right, thank you. Is it soggy for a good reason? Right. I mean, what's a good reason? Like soup. Yeah. Or or a G C sandwich. I don't know. Bremated I pre made toast just because I've never heard that before, but we'll be using that. That's why we're using that from here on out. Exactly. Black toast or wet bread. That's worse, V. That is awful. I made it. Don't you ever say the words wet bread to me again. my gosh. Yeah, I'm gonna go with black toast too. Yeah. Yeah. All right guys. Would you rather never wear socks again or never have doors in your house? I live in the country. Never I'll never wear socks again. I'll never yeah, no. No, no socks. We like barefoot. That's right. Yeah. yeah. I'm in Kentucky, y'all. w when I thought we're so what are socks? Last time we're talking about crawfish pots and now we're talking about socks. That's right. Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna go with no socks too. I feel like if for no other reason than that might job really. Yeah, you need doors, buddy. Yeah, you really need doors. Okay. What is your favorite childhood cartoon and why? Ugh. Batman the animated series. That track. Own that. The whole thing. That track. Yeah, it does. It's so good. That's where Batless I know what I'm about. Batless. That's the that's the origin story right there. Mm-hmm. Batless origin. Powerpuff Girls? Yes. Solid choice. Yeah. I'll take it. I'll take it. I don't I can't give you a reason. I just love them. You're definitely a was it Bubbles Buttercup? What's the what's the green one? You're the green one. You think? Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. So you're welcome. I don't remember her name, but yeah. I don't either, but that's you, girl. okay, Renna, what about you? I think honestly, SpongeBob And the reason I remember watching the very first episode of SpongeBob when I was a kid. Yeah. But the green one. Yes. SpongeBob. Blossom's the Redhead. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Spongebob is great. There's nothing wrong with Spongebob. I like Spongebob. Damn, the chat came in clutch just now. Then they did. Thank you guys. Okay, yeah. Blossom, buttercup, and bubbles. Yeah. Yeah. I knew bubbles and Buttercup. But yeah, your buttercup for sure. Thank you so much. The UR bubbles, no doubt. No doubt. No doubt. No doubt. Umchalant is bubbles, right? Yep. Us B. Okay. Would you rather have Jesus Christ? Intermittent blinking lights or forever have intermittent blinking speakers. What do we mean by that? Huh. in your house. I guess if your speakers crackle or if your lights are constantly blinking? Like a strobe light? God, those are both awful. Awful. Sounds awful, right? Like just death? I would I too would choose death. Yeah. Lord take me now. Lord A Lord take me. I guess I guess lights if I have to be covered with audio. I would just be in a forever rave, I guess. Just just live in the dark. Just turn the lights off. It's fine. Yeah. It does sound all awful though. Guys, do you have a go to sensory or fidget item? I have mine with me. What do you got? I got a I can't I knew it I knew it was gonna come up. I knew it was gonna come up. I knew it was gonna come up. But this is my little this is my guy. Yeah, so yeah, so this is the animal version of a K pop idol. So yeah, I knew it would come up. The K pop would come up. It's gonna come up. A Ts. This is so this is this is the bunny for Songwath. It's pronounced ATs. Yeah, it's ATs. Can I tell you the entire time you've told me about this group? No, Alex. I assumed it was at ease. No, at ease. They're actually very militant. At ease. Well, this is a really funny story though, because their name does not mean what I thought it did when I got into them. Like, if you had asked me like two years ago, you're Yeah, in two years you're gonna like K pop and what the hell are you talking about? Their name d does not mean what I thought it meant. I thought their name meant A Ts. Like it was a play on words like they they are A Ts because when they're on stage they are very feral and and yeah, so that's what I thought it meant. That's not what it means. Enlightenments, Renna. What does it mean? It's just I think it's 'cause they they debuted eight years ago and they were I think I think it means like eight really. Yeah, it means to be at rest. That's what means, right. I can't. I can't. You went you're like, I'm gonna be wrong and extra wrong. Yeah. They're never at at ease. We'll say that. We'll never Yeah. You know what? Yeah. Okay. I need you all to answer the question though. I answered. What's the fidget? Yeah. Everybody else. Lauren has a cube. Lauren has a squishy cube. Atlas. No, not really. I'm sorry. So sorry, I don't. I'm so sorry. Like I you know what's crazy? I should because I have like wicked anxiety. I should have a thing. Yeah, I'm gonna have to I'm gonna buy you some squishy balls and just like send them. Throwing your wings. You just have hands? You don't ever have You don't ever like do you have hands? He has hands. I think I have hands, yeah. I I saw a video once of hands. I know they're they're there. Yeah, I remember that video. I think everybody lost their absolute shit over that. Yeah. Yeah. That was a it was a very popular hand. That's for sure. All right. Wow. Wow. Wow. Why are you don't even act like you're surprised, please. Such popular hands. Those are listen, I mean it's even in the book. It's even in the book, the hands. I mean that's true. Hands are a thing. It's a thing. Yeah, it's a thing. We're just girls, Alice. We're just girls. Yeah, that's it. Yeah. We're just gonna world. That's all we are. These are facts. We can't okay. All of you, you can boop the snoot of one animal with zero repercussions. Which animal snoot would you boop? Ho tiny porny hands. Why are we? Why did the why did the porny hands come into the I'm stealing that. god. Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. I think the original was Warm Porny Hands, but that's fine. It's honestly kind of a great band name. Tiny Porny Hands. Yeah, exactly. Okay. Boop to Snoop, guys. Boop to Snoop. God shit. I'll say Tara. Panther. Panther. Yeah. I don't know. They yeah. Okay, that's cool. That's okay. Okay. Well, I felt judged. I mean Alice is a tire. No one's judging you, Alice. You have tiny hands, it's fine. Just just tell us you have tiny hands and let it let's let it go, okay? All right. I mean you knew what you were signing up for, but okay. I should be used to this. You should be. You really should be. I mean it's especially for me. okay, Renna. You said tiger, Atlas, you said what'd you say? Pant you forgot, you judged me and forgot. Panther. Panther. I was thinking leopard. I don't know why for some reason I had leopard in my head. Okay. I'm so unmemorable. Shut up. You no. Okay. What about you, Lori? I think I would boop the snoot of a Cappy Barra. Nice choice. cute. I don't think I'd want to include us Yeah. I don't think there'd be repercussions anyway because I think they're pretty boopable. But if I could put my hands on one, I would probably you know like What's it called when you wanna squeeze it? Cute aggression? That's yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's the repercussion for it, I think. If I can't I something about the idea that there are no repercussions for booping a cupybara. I just thought of you getting like way too aggressive about it. Like you can't cash me. Right. What are you gonna do, Cappy Barra? Right. He like smiled. What's up, Kat? I think I'm here now. We are off the rails, guys. Okay. One last question. Which fictional creature would you make real if you were given the option? Is this a sentient question? I mean, if you want it to be. It could be. I d I have one. I want to make my wraith real. Yeah, I want my I want my wraith to be real. I'll take it. I'll take it. Wow. Wait, repeat the question. I got too excited. Okay, now you're gonna get two questions because first I want to know sentient and then I want to know which real creature. Which I got so excited I forgot what you make real. I don't know what you're saying. Okay, I'm sorry. my god. Which fictional creature, you know, like a unicorn? would you make real if you were given the option? it's creature. What did you think I said? I thought you said character. I'm over here like Gandalf, maybe. my god. I knew it. The world needs Gandalf, okay? The world needs Gandalf. Creature. The creature? Wait, okay, wait. I I I'm waiting. I don't know the name of it. I did until just now. But it's the sign for a Sagittarius and it's a half man and half horse. Centaur. Thank you. Smash. Okay, now your spintian, please. Yes. Now we need your scent. Whisker mask. duh. Okay. I'll give you that. They said Pokemon are also allowed. Jesus. Centaurs Unite. Krampus. okay. I mean just the season. Smash? Smash? Yeah. I'm a own. I'm too I'm too I'm in too deep. It's fine. I am. Yeah. Love me. I am a Sagittarius. How'd you know? Yeah. Yeah. We knew that. I knew that. I knew that we were both Sagittarius, right? I think I knew that. Yeah. You're December. Don't tell me. You're the third. No. Wait, are we close? Are you the nineteenth? No. I knew I was Are you Sagittarius too? I never met a Sagittarius I didn't like. I am not a Sagittarius I don't know if you're talking to me, but I'm not. How are you? My birthday was last week, remember? You're a Libra? Yeah. I love a Libra too. I a lot of Libra. Girl, I love you. All right, Atlas. Creature, you're not getting out of it. You know, it's tough. I know you're like sitting there hoping I'm gonna forget. So look at the creatures. So many of the the made up creatures and the in the things that I enjoy are like extremely dangerous and would have crazy repercussions for the world. Yeah, I'm I'm trying to think of like the least ecologically destructive thing I can bring into to reality. You know what I'm feeling about Gemini. Go ahead, sorry. In Dungeons and Dragons there there's my god, Manda literally just said he's gonna say something DD really. God damn it. Yeah, you know what? I'm a big fucking nerd. It's fine. It's fine. We love it. There's a thing in DD called a flump. Mm-hmm. Which is basically just a it's like a little floating. They like levitate and they have little they sort of look like little tendrils, but they're sort of just these like poofy balls of cute. Yeah, they're like soft and goofy and they don't really do a lot. But you can have one. Can you cuddle that? I think they can communicate with you telepathically. It's been a while. That could be your fidget in the booth. me and my flump recording ear corn. Yeah. I mean can you braid care? Your flump doesn't judge you. You're right. Flumps don't judge. Probably. I don't know. They might. Can you braid its tendrils? I mean I Maybe if the Flump wants it, consent warrants. We don't braid without consent around here. Jesus Christ. You're so off the rails. Okay. Renna, are we ready for our surprise? Well, yeah, I have a c I have a I I heard a thing though. I'm gonna bring it up because apparently it was a thing in amongst Atlas's Discord. So there was a video that was posted a on with Ryan audio and it may have featured a certain horror character you named Ghostface and there was a lot of speculation. There was a lot of speculation about who was Ghostface. There was. Am I right? Is d do we rem was that was that a thing? 'Cause that's what it hurt. That's what I heard that it was. There was there was spec there's a lot speculation. There was a lot who it was. Yeah. Speculation about whether or not Atlas was under that mask. Yeah. Yeah. So you gotta tell us who it was, Renan? Yeah. It was mommy ghost face. That's who I was. And she did the whole head tilt thing and everything. She was she made it sexy, y'all. She did. Everyone that video for research page. Yeah, it's it's on it's on I'll send it to you. I'll send it to me. Let me let me let It's like a little rock it's like a little sassy Ryan line and Lorena just looking at y'all ghosty. Yeah. Yeah, mommy ghost faces the thing. It's hot. It's hot. I'm not gonna lie. It's hot. I'm not gonna lie. All right. All right, guys. Anything else? Anybody got any other questions? Anything else you want to say, Renna or Lauren or Atlas? Happy release day. Yeah, dude. Such a great book. Thank you. Such a fun thing to work on. I know Alice. Are I mean are you you do you have the book bug officially? Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. Such a tease. Don't let him lie. He's already a he we've already talked about other things that I'm writing and that I'm doing. So don't let him mm I don't know what she's talking about. I've never spoken to Renna in my life. Who is she? Who's this? Who is that girl? Never heard of her. Yeah. Well, I know you got at least one more. So we got one more we're chatting about in November, which is like in two weeks. So apparently me and you're just gonna like every two weeks, me and you and Lauren are just gonna have a little reunion. For a little while. So yeah, I'm I I am not complaining because I love you guys. Yeah. but here we got a little teaser for you guys. it's just gonna be sound, okay? But you'll get the rest tomorrow. Thursday. This week is there's a lot going on this week, so Thursday. So on Thursday, not only will you get the recording of this incredible podcasting uploaded to the internet, you will also get this teaser that we're about to All right, how about this? Let's play a game, since you're being such a menace tonight. How about I hook my fingers in these tight leggings and pull them down your thighs? And then you while I narrate. And you, well, you can't make a fucking sound. If I have to re-record anything, you don't get what you want. Understand. Sleep token? Yeah, of course it is. Of course it is. Of course it is. It's me. It's in Atlas. Of course it is. So guys, Renna, do you wanna tell them tell them what we're what we got coming? I think Atlas should tell them. Atlas you can tell. Well, guys, we're doing a little adaptation this week on Quinn. So for those of you who have heard the audiobook or I think is it is it in text form as well right now? no. It is it is in the audio, but it is not in it is not in print. It will be in the special editions, but it's also an adaptation. So I kind of mashed two scenes together. Cool, cool, cool. There is a recognize that scene. Yeah. It's the screen scene. Yes, there is a cheeky little bonus scene. And we have adapted that for Quinn. For this Friday. I'm gonna smack each of you. I didn't even know about it. You guys. That I don't so everybody's freaking out. That scene is Noise. Noise. We love it. And I can't wait to hear this. so this is a Rennie, you told this is like a kind of a mashup two scenes. It's that scene, and then there's another scene in the book that's kind of like a booth tour. Yeah, yeah. So the the scene where Ryan shows her everything in the booth and then the then the Bonusing, I threw that in there and I had to do it a little bit differently to adapt it for Quinn, but yeah. So good luck to us all, I think. What I need everyone to do that's in this chat. There's 38 of you. Everyone, when you when that audio drops, you go out and you tell everyone, hey, if you like this, there's a whole ass book. Go listen to it because this is people are gonna die. over this audio it's gonna cause a lot of issues. Honestly, I think I'm more nervous about the audio than I was like the Quinn drop than the audiobook because I write novels. I don't I don't do I don't do the AE so I have nothing to worry about my body. You did great and you're in good hands. We got you. Yeah Atlas gotcha. You have nothing to worry about. Yeah for sure. Or your face is Killing me. I'm so excited. So dope. Like it really is. It's Well, and this just goes back to Rena's marketing, dude. I've been like gussing in her DMs for fucking days, week, months about this and how I think that this is so just everything that she's done for this book is so it's like so intentional and it's so smart. And this is just another layer of that. Like take my praise. Damn. Hey, I will say Atlas had hand in this. He he it was it was his idea. It's brilliant. It's brilliant. it it really is. It's such a great idea. honestly, there there's nothing better than to to advertise this book. it's literally about that and all it does is, mesh those two things together even more. It's perfect. Yeah. It's perfect. It makes sense. Little meta. Yeah, it just makes sense. So speaking of Atlas doing Ryan as and doing at a quin audio. Doing me as Ryan being me. Doing Ryan doing you doing A. Yeah, it was interesting. It was interesting. Probably not as strange as you'd think, I guess, because I like a lot of how I played Ryan is just kind of me doing And Ryan Ryan as a character does my job, essentially. the narrating and he also does A.E., although I I think it's like referred to that way specifically in the book, but it is I think he's like basically basically like Patreon, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But Atlas doing Ryan is another bonus scene. I'm down. I threw in a couple spicy extras. Surprises for Renna even. I haven't told her. Yeah, I'm scared. I'm scared. We got the we got the king of the ad lib over here. We know what we know what's coming. Something's gonna be real good. All right, guys. Anything else that you guys want to talk about about this amazing book? You got a little captive audience here. Anyone in the I just wanna say like I just want to say that d like I said before, the support has been insane with the book and the audio and I am so grateful for everyone that is on this journey with me. And you're not getting rid of me anytime soon. So I wanna thank you, Renna, for reaching out to me when you did like before when you reached out to me, like I think was right before the Kickstarter went live. I I don't even think I knew I barely knew Atlas at that point. I knew Lauren. and it was just kind of at the very beginning of all of this for me as well. And so I really appreciate you reaching out to me. this is just kind of one those moments that things just kind of come together for a lot of different people and it's so cool to watch. So I love seeing you succeed. And Atlas, I want you to do more books. And Lauren, you're amazing. There's more coming. I know, I know, I know, I know. if I can, I'm sorry, just to address there's a question in the chat that asked if the bonus will only be on Quinn. So sorry, there is a bonus scene in the audiobook that has both me and Lauren narrated as part of that. There is an adaptation of that scene that I'm dropping on Quinn this Friday. Correct. So you will still be able to hear that as part of the audiobook. This is something extra. Yeah. It's just a little little fun extra just to get people excited about this amazing book. All right, guys. You guys are amazing. Thank you for doing this with me. We had so much fun. It has been a pleasure. Thank you all of you guys for being here. There's so many of you guys here. I don't think I've ever had this many people on Instagram before. So appreciate you all for hanging out and talking with us and sending us all your questions. And yeah, go read Moniker. It's amazing. So all right, guys. Lauren and Alice, I'll see you in a couple weeks. Renna, keep in touch. Let us know how the book is doing. And we will listen for that drop on Friday. All right. Bye, everybody. Love you guys.