Emily Ellet

What was the first audiobook you performed?

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

What title or series are you best known for?

The Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate

If a listener wanted to get to know your work, which of your audiobooks would you point them to?

Animorphs #7: The Stranger by K.A. Applegate
Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
Between by L.L. Starling
The Wisdom of Your Body by Hillary L. McBride, PhD

Where else have we heard your voice?

I've appeared on cruise ships and cabaret stages, including with my own (musically eclectic) shows. Cabaret is one of my favorite art forms, a way to synthesize my love of musical theatre, pop/rock, country, and vintage music into a mesmerizing show.

What do you always have in the booth?

Aquaphor healing ointment, water that I will forget to drink, a fake succulent, two-ply (or three!) Kleenex, rose-scented hand lotion, a disco ball with a pink chiffon ribbon, and a photo of the great Mary Wickes.

How did you come to performing audiobooks?

A theatre degree, some chutzpah, and two compassionate friends that got my foot in the door at different times.

Anything else you’d like a listener to know?

I loved the Animorphs series as a kid, so when I somehow landed the voice of Rachel for the audiobooks as an adult, I literally cried. This series had a massive influence on my life then and now, wrestling as it does with kids who have to grow up too early, dealing with stressors far beyond their years like violence and body dysmorphia and the cost of leadership (highly relatable). Some books are silly romps and some are much heavier, but it's been a joy to watch a whole new generation (or two) discover this seminal Millennial series.

I never in the world thought this would be a career possibility, but for a ravenous book nerd and melodramatic kid, it's the best job I've ever had. I feel so lucky to get to tell stories for a living; it's a great honor to be entrusted with bringing an author's words to life. May we all (listeners, narrators, producers, and authors alike!) prevail in keeping the arts and especially storytelling HUMAN.