Dear Writing Diary Entry #44
The Fated’s Audiobook is Live 🎧!
May 29, 2026
Dear Writing Diary,
I am so excited to finally announce that the audiobook for The Fated is now live! It is currently available on Spotify, Audible, and Apple Books (and will be published on other retailers soon).
Here are a few samples as well!
To celebrate its release, I invited D Casellian, the audiobook’s narrator herself, to be featured in this newsletter entry to share her experience recording the voyage of The Fated:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what drew you to becoming an audiobook narrator?
D Casellian: I’ve spent most of my life pursuing one art form or another, from theater, music, and dance as a teenager, to stage combat, aerial circus, and yoga in my twenties. I only started voice acting a few years ago, after noticing how cartoons were doing some seriously heavy lifting in support of my mental health during a pretty bleak time. I actually do mostly video games and audio dramas, but I love doing narration as well. It feeds into the same theatricality as character work, and it’s a huge honor to be trusted with bringing an entire world to life.
What was your favorite scene or character in this book to record, and why?
D Casellian: I especially liked the voice I discovered for Miyuni, and my favorite scene (and the one I think I’m most proud of) is during a heated argument between her and her brother, Kye-Shin. It’s emotionally complicated but also very raw, a place that’s hard to get to in a way that feels authentic, but her dialogue flows so naturally in the writing that it was actually really enjoyable to perform.
How did you discover each character’s voice? Did you read the whole book first, or come up with them as you went?
D Casellian: A bit of both. I read the whole book in advance so I didn’t accidentally run afoul of any surprises in the plot, but I don’t hear voices in my head when I read. Instead, I came up with each voice as I went along, informed by their descriptions and what they reminded me of in the moment. Nobody tell her this, but Salenna’s voice was inspired by Ursula from The Little Mermaid.
Like Amarra, the main character of The Fated, you also have a background in playing the piano. Do you think this enriched your narration of her story and if so, how?
D Casellian: It certainly struck a chord! I didn’t know about that detail when I auditioned so it was a fun discovery. It helped a lot with visualizing her endless practicing, from the soreness of her back and fingers during long sessions, to the claw marks that get scratched into the wood above the keys, to the exact heat that comes from stage lighting. That said, Amarra loves playing the piano a lot more than I ever did, so I mostly drew on other sources in my life for her passion.
What is one detail or hidden gem in the novel that you think comes across even better in audio than in print?
D Casellian: I think the poignancy of Amarra’s dreams and memories packs a much harder punch when spoken aloud. When I read them to myself I felt I could appreciate how she was feeling, but then when I narrated the same moments out loud I started to cry—you can hear it in several places. And since I was kind of rude to her earlier, I’ll add that Salenna has a couple similar moments as well.
What do you hope listeners take away from this audio experience?
D Casellian: Something I find extremely interesting is that before having read this book, I think a lot of readers would do the opposite of our heroine at the end of the story, given the choice. But, in following her journey, I think most of us would end up either agreeing with her, or questioning our own reaction to the same circumstances. It’s the kind of story that invites the audience to reflect on what we value, and I hope the audio provides a vivid experience that helps color in the nuances and leaves listeners wondering.
Thank you so much for being featured in this Dear Writing Diary entry, D!
She is an amazing narrator to work with, and I hope listeners will enjoy the various voices and tonal nuances she gives to each character as well as the subtle sound effects she skillfully weaves throughout the performance.
Want to try out Audible?
You can listen to the audiobook for FREE when you try a 30-day trial on Audible using my Custom Audiobook Links (also feel free to share these with anyone you think will enjoy the story):
Audible also gave me links for any listeners in Canada, Australia, France, and Germany, so if you are interested in accessing the free audiobook and audible trial from those locations, email me, and I will be happy to send you the link!
Free Bookish Goodies
Lastly, as always, I have 2 promos for you this month!
· Free Adventures in Sci-fi & Fantasy
Here’s to listening to The Fated set sail!
-K
P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)
Congratulations on this achievement! I hope the audiobook is a great success!