I'll Read What She's Reading – The Voice of SJM’s Worlds: Elizabeth Evans!

Podcast Date: September 10, 2025
Host(s): Reggie, Mikayla, Kennedy
Guest: Elizabeth Evans, audiobook narrator for Sarah J. Maas (SJM) series

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the craft, challenges, and joys of audiobook narration with Elizabeth Evans, celebrated for giving voice to the iconic worlds of Sarah J. Maas. The hosts and Elizabeth cover her serendipitous entry into narration, behind-the-scenes on recording massive fantasy novels, character work, fan interactions, and even her experience with viral BookTok moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Elizabeth’s Unexpected Path to Audiobook Narration

• Elizabeth stumbled into narration while at NYU, attending an Audible career workshop on a whim ([02:55]).
  • “I totally fell into it by accident. I was at NYU and Audible came and did this kind of career day... At the workshop, they let everybody read two minutes from a book. And after, like a week after that, they called and brought me into audition. And then a week after that, they started me on my first book. And then the third book I ever got was Throne of Glass.” — Elizabeth Evans ([02:55])
• Her unplanned journey started with brief middle-grade titles before landing the Throne of Glass series ([05:25]).

2. The Process: Recording Major Fantasy Works

• Books are scheduled and recorded based on word count, usually aiming for about three finished hours per day; SJM’s books can take 11–13 days, while shorter ones (like Throne of Glass) take 3–4 days ([06:13]).
• It’s an intense, “locked in the booth” process, reading straight through with breaks only for lunch and the restroom ([07:19]).
• Maintaining vocal health and stamina is critical—hydration is key, as is strategic pacing around difficult scenes and character volume ([07:35]).
  • “It’s not so much about doing a great job on day one. It's like getting to day 10... without losing a lot of strain.” — Elizabeth Evans ([07:35])

3. Performance Craft: Characterization, Pacing, and Emotional Resonance

• Preparation involves reading the entire book beforehand and making detailed notes—tracking emotional arcs, character details, and logistics like accents or voices ([16:23], [43:02]).
• No director: For SJM works, it’s just her and an engineer; all character and pronunciation choices are closely coordinated with Sarah J. Maas herself, often including voice clips ([17:13]).
• She visualizes scenes like a film to channel authentic reactions and maintains continuity across series, even years apart ([28:16], [46:30]).
• Emotional engagement is real—crying, especially during Silver Flames, mirrors her personal experiences ([34:26]).
  • “All of Nesta's stuff on the hike... I didn't say any of that out loud at all until the day in the booth because I knew it was going to break me apart.” — Elizabeth Evans ([33:20])

4. The Technical Side: Consistency, Note-Taking, and Industry Myths

• Managing multiple characters in group scenes is the greatest challenge, especially maintaining consistency across sessions ([19:05]).
• Notes focus on logistics and emotional beats per session, not actual marks on the script, replayed for each chapter ([43:02]).
• Common misconception: she does not make up pronunciations—pronunciations are always checked with the author ([30:38]).
  • “The number one thing is the idea that I'm making up the pronunciations... I've run everything. I've, like, crossed my T's and dotted my I's...” — Elizabeth Evans ([30:38])
• Audiobook recording is NOT about doing multiple takes per line; it’s mostly live, and errors are only re-recorded if needed ([30:38]).

5. The Fan Experience & Social Media Impact

• The fandom's explosive growth brings both joy and pressure—especially with community expectations for voices and characterizations ([23:40], [24:56]).
• She blocks negative forums and doesn’t engage with TikTok to protect her creative space, but friends keep her updated on trends and viral moments ([27:19], [26:05]).
  • “The people that are like, I listen to you at 3.5 [speed]. I'm like, how... That’s the only one where I’m like, I don’t...” — Elizabeth Evans ([12:13])
• She finds it meaningful that edits and fan art circulate with her narration as the soundtrack ([27:44]).

6. On Audiobook Industry & Project Variety

• Fantasy and “romantasy” are her most frequent, joyful, but also most labor-intensive genres given the world-building, names, and character juggling ([51:39]).
• She enjoys occasional detours into nonfiction or contemporary fiction for a creative "vacation" ([51:39]).
• She’s not involved in the forthcoming dramatized Throne of Glass adaptation due to union status and logistics ([29:14]).

7. Advice for Aspiring Narrators

• Learn the “rules” by listening to established narrators, but ultimately find your own unique style and trust your instincts ([47:39]).
  • “The biggest piece... is finding your signature style and your own voice. I know that I do things in a very specific way because I feel like I’ve locked into something that feels very true to me.” — Elizabeth Evans ([47:39])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I can do it for about five minutes, and then I just can't take it anymore. I get sick of myself.” — Elizabeth Evans, on listening to her own audiobooks ([10:36])
• “If you’ve listened to all the books, it’s like a year—not, probably not a year, but it’s so long...” — Elizabeth Evans, on how much time fans spend with her voice ([02:03])
• “With Sarah’s books, there’s so much to map out... Someone will come back from book two. So I need to know so many weeks ahead to be like, yeah, I’ve got to pull that audio... so I can match the voice.” ([17:13])
• “I visualise it like a movie... That's also why I'm so obsessed with the rhythm and the pacing of things. Because if you're watching an action sequence... there is that build and drama.” ([28:16])
• “I'm also now... aware of the global [audience]: if there's an accent, I know I can't do. I'm not going to try to put it into one of those books because I know there will be people in that part of the world being like, what is... you know.” ([22:49])
• “It’s why I can’t... Any time someone’s like, do you have a favorite character? Do you have a favorite book? It’s genuinely like... how could you choose a favorite child?” — Elizabeth Evans ([41:42])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:55] — How Elizabeth began narrating audiobooks
• [05:25] — First books and early career steps
• [06:13] — The mechanics of recording day-to-day
• [07:35] — Prepping physically and vocally for marathon sessions
• [09:17] — Pacing for listeners/speed options
• [14:09] — Discovering the performance side of narration (“It’s acting, not just reading”)
• [16:23] — Prep: always reads the whole book before recording
• [17:13] — Working with SJM, tracking old character voices
• [19:05] — Difficulty of balancing multiple voices in ensemble scenes
• [23:40] — Fan pressure and balancing expectations
• [28:16] — Visualization while narrating
• [29:14] — Not participating in the upcoming dramatized Throne of Glass
• [30:38] — Myths about pronunciation & process
• [33:20] — Letting herself "break" emotionally on powerful scenes
• [43:02] — How she takes and uses notes to stay organized
• [47:39] — Industry advice for aspiring narrators
• [51:39] — Enjoyment of variety in genres and types of narration

Listener Takeaways

• Narration is a craft involving both technical precision and emotional investment.
• Audiobook voices you love are crafted with deep attention to consistency, character, and author intent—especially for beloved fantasy series.
• The growth of fandoms and social media can introduce both joy and pressure for narrators, but can also create magical synergy through fan art and viral audio clips.
• Preparation varies: detailed note-taking, prepping with authors, maintaining vocal health, and emotional readiness are all part of the job.
• Be yourself: Whether in performance or pursuing a narration career, staying true to your own voice makes for the most lasting impact.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a casual audiobook listener or obsessive SJM fan, this episode gives a deep, authentic look behind the curtain of epic fantasy narration. Elizabeth Evans’ voice has been the soundscape for a generation of readers—and after this episode, it’s clear how much heart, artistry, and craft she brings to every recording.

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