About me
I’m a 30something Brit lass, living and working in England. I accidentally emigrated to Australia some years ago, and gave away the majority of a vast book collection at that time. Once I’d repatriated myself, I found it quite hard to start buying books again, knowing even that great bastion of a civilised existance — a home library — was still relatively ephemeral.
Instead, I developed a love-hate relationship with my local library (I lean mostly towards the hate side of that now) and started reading texts online.
This led to a two year stint as a Distributed Proofreader, where I proofread (in one aspect or another) 14,132 pages, most of which are now available at Project Gutenberg. (The remainder are still being processed on site.) I also did the final assembly of some of those individual pages into etexts (both in plaintext and HTML formats) for 38 books, and developed a special passion for mentoring other folks in this process, clocking up 74 books in those final checks. I also launched the ‘Pirate’ special day, and sourced most (or mebbe all) of the pirate smilies that are routinely used there now. What can I say … pirates are cool. For various dull reasons, I left that site permanently, and although I am now affiliated to the eBookForge, I’m not very active there, with just 3,096 pages to my name.
This is mainly because of a serious addiction to a microphone — and the majority of this website relates to my LibriVox activity. The acoustical liberation of books into the public domain is so very cool, and such huge fun, that it’s quite taken over my time. Because I do all my own recording, editing, sound processing, etc. (except in some rare, but very fun cases) I have tended in the past to contribute mainly single-chapters and short readings to collaborative works … but since last October, I have been working on my own solo LV projects (my voice, beginning to end). The long haul is VERY hard, but rewarding too.
See the listing on my ‘Hear Me’ page for the books I’ve read; it also links to my LibriVox catalogue page which lists completed works and the current projects I’ve signed up to.
I welcome feedback, requests and any voice-related queries … you can leave a message here, contact me via the LibriVox forums, or email me: about*at*piratelibrary.com
Last edited: 21st Feb 2008
Comment by Jason Shallcross
I’ve just finished listening to “The Troubadour”. I can’t say I thought that much of the story, but I absolutely love your voice, I could just listen to it all day. In fact maybe my opinion of the story was caused by the fact that my attention was on your voice rather than the content. I hope that one day your voice earns you great riches. Keep up the good work!
Posted on 4 January, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Comment by Cori
Thankyou! I certainly hope to …
Posted on 4 January, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Comment by Bernd
you have such a nice voice. It sounds so perfect. A no nonsense person. So you got me really smiling when i started listening to your ’sucking’ podcast.
Thats why I came here to see who’s hiding behind this voice.
Posted on 31 January, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Comment by Jay
I have always had a taste for the work of Edgar Allan Poe but I never thought I would actually feel his words in such a remarkable way in which you read it (with reference to a Dream Within a dream). Thanks so much for you contribution and I need to say- I now am a wholehearted fan of yours!
Posted on 8 February, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Comment by Cori
Thankyou both, Bernd and Jay! I’ve added some text to this page finally, though I’m still hiding behind my voice to some extent.
I’m glad you liked that poem, Jay — I had a cold I thought would never end when I recorded it, and I certainly felt awfully Poe-like at the time.
Posted on 22 February, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Comment by Jay
Nevertheless you did an excellent job!
I just wish more people could see the value in literature, modern as well as classic and that, despite excellent TV shows and other entertainment, they could experience the works and opinions which these excellent writers have to offer.. and of course, could experience what you and the rest of the LibriVox people have to offer.
Also, thank you for your reply.
Posted on 26 February, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Comment by John
Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your work, you really have a perfect voice. I think I first heard your chapter in Lost World, and then tracked down your other recordings. If you don’t do professional VO work I think you should.
Either way your work in the public domain is both impressive and laudable. Thank you.
Posted on 27 February, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Comment by floydwilde
I think your reading of Tender Buttons must be perfect. Your voice and skill gave voice to Stein’s work very well.
Posted on 2 April, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Comment by Cori
I never have done professional VO, John, but I’d be interested to. *smiles* Thankyou for stopping by and commenting!
Thankyou ever so much, FW. Tender Buttons is the least loved-on of all my solos, and in fact, yours is the first comment I’ve had on it, apart from the original proof-listeners. I know a strange few are listening to it at archive.org, just from the downloads, and it’s been sold on eBay a number of times … but … I’m glad to hear that it’s actually enjoyable too!
Posted on 4 April, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Comment by John
Please, if you do nothing else with your time, I beg you to complete Inferno. Cantos I-V were simply beautiful.
The rest are unlistenable.
Posted on 18 April, 2008 at 6:09 am
Comment by Cori
I loved reading the first part of Inferno, John, and I’m glad you enjoyed them too! I don’t have immediate plans to do a solo recording of it, but it would be wonderful for a future project, I will bear it in mind!
Posted on 19 April, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Comment by Richard
Pirates aren’t all that cool, generally speaking. A few specifics, and most of the fictional glorifications.
Oppression makes lawlessness a bit too romantic. I doubt it would be as fun as it sounds from the security of the couch or armchair, all the despicable activities.
I would like to thank you for reading.
(PS I’m a pirate)
Posted on 1 May, 2008 at 1:01 am
Comment by Cori
It’s a fair point, Richard, well made. In proof-reading a book by the sometime-pirate Alexander Esquemeling, I definitely came to sympathise with the non-pirate side. The pirates were SO VILELY ANNOYING, pillaging and destroying communities already fighting an unequal battle against a harsh living environment. On the other hand, much like the ninja (without being too frivolous) — the notion of piracy and the associations of freedom and “fortune favours the bold” are pretty appealing. This is more a library for the concept-lovers than those armed to the nines with Kalashnikovs and with serious designs on innocent shipping.
Posted on 1 May, 2008 at 8:14 am
Comment by Stephen
I never reach out, and perhaps I should thank readers more often, but, your Tender Buttons is as important to me as anything else and it has been that way for some time. Thank you.
Posted on 1 May, 2008 at 9:44 am
Comment by Simmon
Hi Cori,
Your voice is beautiful and you read beautifully. My first librivox book was your reading of “The Water Babies” and I have been hooked ever since. Please do more solos! Weirdly, I had also accidentally emigrated to Australia and have since given away most of my vast home library. The digital (portable) realm provides some solace, hence my desire to encourage you to continue your good work.
Cheers,
Simmon
(I tried to download Tender Buttons, but there was some problem with the file.)
Posted on 5 May, 2008 at 1:02 am
Comment by Cori
Thankyou Stephen, I really appreciate your comment. Tender Buttons is an odd little piece, but I loved reading it. It was also released on my birthday, a tiny gift back to the world.
I’ve been having problems getting to TB and the ‘babies at archive.org, Simmon, their servers do get busy for days at a time. More solos on the way, I’m finishing one at the moment, and another, long-term one’s starting up. Or hop across to the future page and make suggestions. *grins* Best wishes for your own emmigration and the eventual reincarnation of your bookshelves.
Posted on 11 May, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Comment by Patricia
Cori,
Thank you so much for your message of encouragement to me on my post about the difficulties I am having recording for LibriVox. You have given me the motivation to continue!
Posted on 9 July, 2008 at 4:36 pm