Jennifer Jill Araya
Voice Actor & Audiobook Narrator
Voice Actor & Audiobook Narrator
Audie-Award-winning narrator Jennifer Jill Araya has been listening to audiobooks since she was a young child, and the fact that she now gets to narrate audiobooks for a living is a dream come true. Jennifer’s training as an opera singer and orchestral cellist lend a musicality and depth of understanding to her narration that help bring authors’ stories to life. An Audie Award Winner, Earphones Award Recipient, American Library Association YALSA Amazing Audiobooks Award Winner, SOVAS Award Finalist, and three-time Independent Audiobook Award Finalist, Jennifer has narrated nearly 300 audiobooks for a variety of publishers and producers, including Penguin Random House Audio, Simon & Schuster Audio, HarperAudio, Blackstone Publishing, and Audible Studios. Jennifer also narrates Romance and Erotica titles under the name Isabelle Ruther. When she’s not narrating, Jennifer can be found hiking, biking, running, or generally exploring her home city of Cincinnati with her husband Arturo (aka “Partner in Crime”).
"This hauntingly beautiful retelling of "The Little Mermaid" is smoothly narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya and Mark Turetsky.
Transitioning between two characters--Brooke, a human who suffers from depression, and Coral, a mermaid--Araya seamlessly
delivers an outstanding performance with strong character differentiation. The narrators' sensitive deliveries allow listeners
to sympathize with the principals and their unique dissatisfactions in life. Araya, in particular, does a fantastic job of
depicting the story's mental health issues. Although these depictions may trigger memories of trauma for some listeners,
the gentle narrations ease the pain and help to build the story. Both narrators make this audiobook a gem. J.O.
© AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2020]"
"Narrator Jennifer Araya’s heartfelt and determined performance will have listeners rooting for aspiring teenaged chef Isa as she
joins an intense cooking competition in France. Araya has an ear for the various Spanish, French, and English accents of Isa’s
international competitors and supportive family members. The competition is ruthless, but Araya keeps her performance grounded
as Isa is drawn into a budding romance while also coming to terms with the loss of her Cuban grandmother, whose love and cooking
inspired her. Araya smoothly pronounces the names of complex French dishes, and she uses a soulful tone of voice when Isa reflects
on mouthwatering comfort food. Araya delivers a compelling and passionate performance that gives listeners a seat at the table of
an aspiring chef. J.E.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2020]"
"Listeners will easily imagine themselves on a dangerous journey with 11-year-old Anna, as she, her mother, and her older sister
flee Czechoslovakia after the 1948 Communist takeover. Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya skillfully delivers a range of accents and
Czech names and phrases. Based on the author's own family history, this audiobook describes in riveting detail the family's secret
escape to Germany, where they hope to reunite with Anna's father, who fled earlier. Araya captures diverse characters ranging from
the snarling Czech informant to the kind American soldiers from Alabama. She fully inhabits Anna's emotions, making listeners feel
her pride and admiration for her father's heroism, her fear of capture, and her wistful homesickness when she realizes she may
never see her beloved country again. S.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2020]"
"This first in the Bone Angel series, narrated by Jennifer Araya, focuses on the life of Victoire Charpentier, a French peasant,
in the years before the French Revolution. Araya takes listeners from Victoire's early life through a series of horrific events,
until, accused of a crime, she is imprisoned. Araya is facile with the French words and phrases, and her sweet voice is especially
suited to portraying the young and the very young. Book One offers a compelling look at courage and betrayals, along with political
and social changes, in a sprawling story based on history. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2019]"
"As a publisher, finding quality narrators for my audio books is extremely important to me. Jennifer Jill Araya has been
outstanding to work with. A consummate professional, she always does her best to get things right, the first time, and is
exceedingly easy to work with. The most important question you might ask is, 'Would I work with her again?'
I already am. She's that good." – Chris Kennedy, Chris Kennedy Publishing
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