Narrator Andy Taylor takes listeners on a journey through the audiobook Jack, An Ancient Celtic Tradition – authored and illustrated by Bryan Thomas Molloy. The work weaves the story of young Jack and his journey from Middle Ages miscreant – to fabled headless watchman. Could this be the origins of Halloween’s Jack-O-Lantern?
The physical book is a masterful work of art, featuring over a dozen prints of breathtaking oil paintings by the artist – including Jack’s portrait depicted here.
JACK, An Ancient Celtic Tradition / Bryan Thomas Molloy
“JACK is an ancient story. It is one of the first stories told by the Celts around the world.
Jack is always getting into trouble. Instead of prescribing him ADD medication or diagnosing him with Autism, the townspeople arrest him and sentence him to death on the chopping block. He arrives in Hell subsequently, and proceeds to torment the Devil so ferociously and relentlessly that the Devil makes a deal with God that if he’ll take Jack away, the Devil will agree to remain in Hell for all eternity.
God takes Jack to Heaven and Jack torments the Saints and even the Angels so badly that they too supplicate God to relieve Heaven of him. God, never having an issue with Jack, sets him on earth to roam for all eternity and patrol the night keeping daemons, banshee and lost souls from causing harm to the living.
To prevent Jack from being further harmed by the humans, God keeps Jack’s head with Him in the clouds and gives Jack the ability to see through the light of a lantern which he must carry with him at all times.”
– Author/Artist Bryan Thomas Molloy
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Jack production began in Hampton, Virginia USA in about 2003, as a labor of love and exploration into personal history and ethnicity which has taken over a decade to reach full maturity. It began as a page in a sketchbook and developed into seven verses, twelve oil paintings and a professional audio recording.
The Tale of Jack: A Parenting Tool
“In these harsher times of long ago, where resources were hoarded and few, JACK was styled as a cautionary tale for parents to tell to children to keep them out of trouble. It is literally tyranny- an attempt to use fear to manipulate behavior. To keep the kids from going out at night, they were told that the night watchman’s lantern they saw was a heinous apparition – a headless fright!
I’ve presented my version as an historical origins story, the origin of Halloween. As modern methods of childrearing, education, and even our entire American governmental system are based on the ending of this abusive system of fear manipulation, or tyranny, as it was formerly known, I’ve done my best to present the illustrations as fine art portraiture and highest quality works. This is to contrast the modern convention of not scaring children by buying books specifically tailored to be non-frightening. Too often this convention leads to scattered, insane, cartoonish, derrivative creations of poor quality (obviously not all, Dr. Zeuss is one of my favorites!).
I have attempted to produce a high quality offering that might educate, provide the opportunity and need for discussion in combination with a strong, comforting fatherly presence and presentation. For this reason I’ve asked Sports Announcer Andy Taylor to be the voice of JACK. It is an exciting and scary story for Dad to read to the kids.”
– Author/Artist Bryan Thomas Molloy
Audiobooks: Fiction, nonfiction, periodicals, poetry, musicals and more
“Not for me. I prefer the feel of an actual book. Nothing will replace turning pages.”
We hear this all the time, but numbers don’t lie. According to Forbes, book sellers saw record low sales in 2017. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that according to Publishers Weekly, the following year saw audiobook sales jump over 20%.
You see, it’s not that humans have grown averse to consuming the written word. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Today, people simply have more options when it comes to how they read. Not to mention, ebooks and audiobooks make the idea of reading more palpable to a hustling generation constantly on the go.
With new technology comes access
Readers no longer need to lug around paperbacks. Better still, they could have an entire library on a single device. If that weren’t enough, readers can actually choose to hear an author narrate a book in his own voice.
Meanwhile authors no longer need to depend on the page-turning public. Technology provides new audiences. And just as significantly, tech brings new revenue streams to overcome declining print sales.
With audiobooks, those authors can give a voice to their characters through self-narration or voice actors. Plus, authors can authentically convey intended subtlety or attitude often lost in print on a page.
Audiobooks. Ideal for today’s demanding pace of life
Consuming media only stops when one’s head hits the pillow. It’s relentless. From television and radio – to billboards, computers and personal devices. Today’s human brain is bombarded with more messaging and branding than ever before.
In response, many choose to control that continual intake by wearing earbuds or headphones virtually…everywhere. While the trend looks ridiculous to anyone over 40; when couched in this context, it makes sense: Control the noise with your own chosen noise.
Audiobook listening is an academic way to drown out the cacophony, with content catered to one. Listening to a narrator is intimate, easy and triggers the brain to constructively follow a story or message. Rather than face the ceaseless assault of distraction offered up with every passing billboard, pop-up, or timeline scroll.
Andy Taylor | Audiobook Narrator and Storyteller
When authors hire voice actors to tell their stories, the process of selecting a narrator is similar to film casting, minus the visual. For example:
- First, does the talent’s tone fit the author’s imagined sound of the narration?
- Second, is the narrator versatile enough to create unique sounding characters when the story calls for interaction?
- Third, does the talent possess the equipment and skills to create a great sounding read?
- And finally, is the narrator reliable and capable of delivering on important deadlines?
Voice Actor Andy Taylor possesses all of these attributes. As a result, he often exceeds the expectations of authors who believe his sound and style fit the needs of their narration.
I’m incredibly grateful to you for your time and incredible talent and professionalism…the read is perfect! You’ve captured all the subtleties and emotion perfectly. I totally could see hearing this on the History Channel or one of those. Very Ken Burns man, very.
Author Bryan Molloy. The John Harris Project
