Professional Audiobook Narrators Association

By Narrators, For Narrators

Narrator Spotlight Gallery

Deep dive into our full archive of Narrator Spotlight and find a new voice to enjoy!

Narrator Spotlight is a PANApplause program presented by PANA’s Recognitions Team. Learn more about PANApplause and how you can be featured in the Narrator Spotlight on our PANApplause FAQs page.

NOVEMBER 2024

David Allen Vargo

https://www.vargo-narrates.com/

PANA Narrator spotlight: David Allen Vargo he/him A Symphony of Voices
ABOUT DAVID ALLEN VARGO Wowing listeners with crisply developed accents, vividly alive characters and award-winning tonal shifts is an everyday task for Vargo. Throw him into a historical fiction or romance title to see his years of stage performance instincts take the wheel. Whether you're talking about his classical piano training, graphic design, or narration, Vargo is a nurturer at heart. DAVID FUN FACT Performing in his first production at age 6, Vargo was applauded for his performance after the show by playwright Noël Coward.

Nancy Peterson

https://nancypeterson.com/

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Nancy Peterson. she/her. The Robin Hood of Stolen Hearts...
ABOUT NANCY PETERSON Nancy Peterson brings reverent grace to her work. Her pacing highlights the melody of heartbreak, giving power to the characters she narrates. Audiofile Magazine calls her narration "a rare gift." Peterson jokes that her audiobook career began with petty theft: What started as taping over her father's cassettes went on to become years of stage, screen, and audio performances. NANCY FUN FACT Nancy may have a past life as a dental hygienist, but she's still an avid baker land a top fan of The Great British Bake Off).

Rebecca Stern

https://www.verysternword.com/

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Rebecca Stern. she/her. The Power to Move with Grace...
ABOUT REBECCA STERN Crisp and emotive, Rebecca Stern knows the heart of her stories. She balances tone and edge-of-your-seat energy in her narration. A mountain biker, violinist, science and connectedness enthusiast, and oncology massage therapy veteran, Rebecca uncovers the key ways in which the stories she narrates reach her at the root and finds the spirit to share those moments with listeners. REBECCA FUN FACT In the 2000s, Stern spent two summers at Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley climbing rocks like Midnight Lightning.

Amanda Stribling

https://www.amandastribling.com

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Amanda Stribling. she/her. An All-American Storyteller
ABOUT AMANDA STRIBLING Listeners have been falling in love with Amanda Stribling's expressive performances. Well-known for her romance, she also sparks engagement in intricate thrillers and dramatic historical fiction novels. Her acting instincts are on full display as she dives into the banter that brings audiobooks to life. Stribling stays ready to surprise, even having lived a past life as a professional gossip blogger. AMANDA FUN FACT Amanda holds a degree in Political Science and Broadcasting and was a director at the American Heart Association.

Jennifer Aquino

https://www.jenniferaquino.com

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Jennifer Aquino. she/her. The Storyteller's Blueprint
ABOUT JENNIFER AQUINO The unmatched variety in Jennifer's career is the foundation of her expressive performances. She weaves a trail from film and TV through audiobooks and brings with her poignant performances and legendary personability. From thrillers to middle grade, Jennifer has set the stage for a storytelling legacy, a journey already marked with award-winning performances. JENNIFER FUN FACT Jennifer's family is an avid Comicon bunch! She's shared a variety of cosplays from Wonder Woman to Wanda Maximoff.

Andrea Emmes

https://www.andreaemmes.com

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Andrea Emmes. she/her. The Right Wind for When Stories Set Sail...
ABOUT ANDREA EMMES With "expert narration," Andrea Emmes stirs together distinct characters with lived-in leads to deliver exceptional audiobook performances. Emmes gives listeners an honest passion developed from over 25 years of performing. She's been a recording artist, a video game designer, and a producer of the 77-time award-winning animated short film Mila. ANDREA FUN FACT Emmes has worked as a magician's assistant on a cruise ship and hopes to return to sea and travel the world for a year.

Gary Bennett

https://www.garybennettreads.com

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Gary Bennett he/him. The Calm Before the Storm
About Gary Bennett: Evocative and engaging performances aren’t all you’ll get out of Gary Bennett. Through thrillers and mysteries, he delivers complicated characters and hones in on the chilling and adventurous tones of his titles. Both a pilot and nature lover, he brings authority and authenticity to his reads as spies, magicians, and intergalactic heroes. His reads will keep you laser-focused on the action. GARY FUN FACT: Gary plays pool professionally and was a finalist in the 2023 World 9-Ball Championship in Las Vegas."

Dominique Franceschi

http://www.dominiquefranceschi.com/

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Dominique Franceschi. she/her/ella. A Human in Progress and a Narrator in Motion...
ABOUT DOMINIQUE FRANCESCHI PAI With shine and energy, Dominique Franceschi brings her full self to narration. Her lifetime of artistry has imbued her with range, care, and charisma, and she doubles as an astronomy enthusiast, reader, and avid player of RPGs and JRPGs. Her motto is "human in progress," and you hear that truth in her vulnerable narration of teens, and in her focused work in literary fiction. DOMINIQUE FUN FACT Dominique took part in 4 Guinness World Records, including "Most Nationalities in a Conga Line."

Roberta Jackson

https://www.robertajackson.com

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Roberta Jackson. she/her. Storytelling That Resonates in the Heart
About Roberta Jackson: With gravitas and care, Roberta Jackson brings her character work from audio dramas and video games to the ever-expanding web of storytelling in audiobooks. Filled with levity and love from her guitar playing and singing, Jackson enjoys setting the scene as a narrator for mystery titles. Authors have called her work exemplary, and Jackson’s dexterity with the craft continues to draw praise. ROBERTA FUN FACT: Originally a New Yorker, Roberta wound her way through three other states before settling down in Maryland.

Emily Ellet

https://www.emilyellet.com

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Emily Ellet she/her. Bringing Books Back to Fresh Air
ABOUT EMILY ELLET Emily is an actor who crosses the expanse between grounded artistry and limelight ready talent. Her narration reaches young listeners with her sincerity and captivates adult audiences with her intricately lived-in, award-worthy performances. Listen as she gives equal life to shape-shifting super teens and hockey romances alike, seamlessly raising the bar for audiobooks everywhere. EMILY'S FUN FACT When she lived in New York City, you might have been able to spot Emily rollerblading to the studio.

Dawn Harvey

http://dawnofvoice.ca/

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Dawn Harvey she/her. Unfolding Your Story
ABOUT DAWN HARVEY Between Bachelor & Master of Law degrees and classical performance training, Dawn follows her insatiable curiosity wherever it takes her. Her thoughtful narrations resonate with listeners seeking authentic, empathetic and nostalgic storytelling. Whether reflecting varied life experiences or traversing magical worlds, Dawn has owned countless stages since she was five. DAWN'S FUN FACT After telling warm, witty and wise stories about women, she defies expectations with white water rafting and rollercoasters.

Keith Sellon-Wright

In Memoriam

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Keith Sellon-Wright he/him. In Memoriam... Sing in me, oh Muse, and through me tell the story — Homer
About Keith Sellon-Wright: Cowboys, bees, politics, and fire. For a decade, Sellon-Wright's adventurously measured character voices and attentive narration have taken listeners on a journey across 150+ audiobooks. Equipped with his degree in musical theater and a vivid love for the craft of narration, Keith highlighted the thrill of the spectacular and the intricacies of the everyday in titles across sci-fi, political non-fiction, thrillers, and so much more. Called warm yet authoritative, precise, thoughtful, and welcoming, through him, the story was truly told. Thank you for your performances, Keith. KEITH FUN FACT: Keith loved audiobooks so much that he would record people he met to use as character references. He did just that when he befriended this kilt shop owner in Scotland.

Andre Santana

www.andreonthemic.com

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Andre Santana he/him. On a Journey to Tell Great stories.
About Andre Santana: Through ancient prophecies and occult horrors, technological mayhem and contemporary love, André Santana is on a journey to tell great stories. With equal parts exuberance and serenity, Santana makes his characters feel alive. In his toolkit is a love for spoken word poetry, a degree in identity studies and acting training that pushes him to search for truth in every story. Andre's Fun Fact: Two of Andres greatest loves are cartoons and plants. He is gradually building tattoo sleeves dedicated to each on his arms.

Jennifer Pickens

https://www.jenniferpickensaudio.com

PANA Narrator Spotlight. Jennifer Pickens she/they. A voice that sprouts in any season, and blooms in every story.
About Jennifer Pickens: Seamlessly hovering between beautiful and haunting, Pickens' narration navigates canyons of regret and loss and traverses valleys of joy and self-discovery. A metalsmith and hand quilter, Pickens strikes true with her work in thrillers and literary fiction, breathing life (as Audiofile says) into a full spectrum of characters they portray from their Oregon studio. JENNIFER FUN FACT: An avid mountain dulcimer player, Jennifer also makes a mean plum jam and loves to doodle when she wants to stay focused.