Q&A with Narrator Rose Dioro
So often for me, finding the right audiobook is all about finding the right narrators. And one voice I know I can count on every time is Rose Dioro. Rose does so much more than just read me a story. She infuses a performance quality that brings the characters to life.
And not only do I absolutely love listening to Rose’s narrations, I love how involved she is in the romance novel and audiobook community. Her engagement with listeners online and at events, discussing everything from upcoming projects to equity in the workplace, shows just how invested she is. And her Rosemoor Roundtable podcast, that she hosts with fellow narrator Samantha Brentmoor, has been something I always look forward to. It’s real, relevant,
I think I tend to gravitate to Rose because she also seems to thrive in a place of making and fostering connections. From her appearances at Romancelandia events to her Zoom lives following the events she’s attended, Rose shines when she’s engaged in conversation. You can definitely see the performer side of her emerge in front of a group. When I met her for the first time at Indies Invade Philly (IIP) in 2021, she was warm and engaging with every fan. I was in a major space of overwhelm and had no idea what to even ask, but she instantly put me at ease. And that truly meant a lot to me.
I’ve been fortunate to see Rose in person several times since then, and yes, fangirling happened. As it will again when I see her at Charm City Romanticon this year. Because above all else, I am very much a fangirl.
I loved reading Rose’s Q&A, especially learning about how she got started narrating. I always find it fascinating how people find their way to the industry. And I added some wonderful titles to my TBL thanks to her recommendations. I bet you will too.
How did you get started narrating?
For as far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved reading books out loud. I was a big reader as a kid (and beyond), and I loved to sit in my room and read stories to myself out loud, playing around with all of the voices and acting out all the characters. Eventually, I went on to be a stage actor and voice over artist. The VO work was mostly short form projects. But I never lost that love for reading stories out loud and playing all the characters, so I started to add more long-form projects into my body of voice over work with an eye toward building up my vocal stamina to record whole books. Alongside these longer form narration projects (audio news outlets, museum narration, etc.), I began training with renowned audiobook director Paul Alan Ruben who helped me fine tune the skills I had already been building and also helped me get oriented in the industry. And then it was off to the races!
Where do you recommend a new reader/listener start in your backlist?
I work across many different sub-genres of romance, so I think it’s really a matter of what your taste is. If you are a fan of sports romance and romcoms- then I would recommend starting with Helena Hunting’s Pucked series, or the more recent The Fall Out, by CCR attending author Jenni Bara. If you are into something a bit darker, definitely take a listen to Giana Darling’s Dark Academia Sapphic Medusa retelling Serpentine Valentine. That audiobook won an Audiofile Earphone’s award in 2024 and is one of the performances I’m most proud of. Giana’s writing truly shines, and getting to play with the Greek Mythological themes that run throughout the book was SO fun and interesting. If you are more of a romantic suspense type, I suggest checking out Brynne Asher’s The Agents series.
Do you have a favorite/most memorable scene/ part in a novel you've narrated?
I don’t know about most memorable scene or section, but some of my most overall memorable moments in narration can be found in Serpentine Valentine. In recording that book I got to play a lot with my vocal range and tap into a darker, lower register than is typical for my voice as a female main character. It was a wholly new experience for me and made for a super fun and interesting time in the booth.
Is there a part of your career as a narrator you thought was going to be difficult but has wound up being really wonderful?
Working from home. When I began working as a narrator, I was living in New York City and was most frequently going in-studio to record projects. But then, I unexpectedly moved out of the city to a small rural town in Massachusetts. I was worried that the move would mean the end of much of what I’d built as an actor (both on stage and behind the mic.) I also wasn’t sure how feasible it would be to record every project from home, given that I had a toddler at the time. But it turned out that working remotely gave me exactly the flexibility I needed to care for my kiddo and still be a working actor. And my clients (producers, publishers, and authors) were so kind and gladly welcomed my home records. This was long before the COVID era when everyone started recording from home, so it wasn’t a given that that would be ok. There was definitely a bit of a learning curve transitioning to recording 98% of my work on my own, but I quickly caught up and it has been smooth sailing ever since. I will forever be grateful to be a working actor every day and do it from the convenience of my home.
Are there specific themes, tropes, or subgenres you’re more drawn to as a narrator, reader, or listener?
I love big, complicated feelings. They are the most fun to play. I love portraying someone who has been through struggle, adversity, or even personal trauma, and made it to the other side. Those themes show up in all sorts of subgenres and I eat them up every time. Right now I’m recording a beautiful book about a woman who finds love after the untimely death of her husband, and I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much recording a project. I feel so deeply connected to this character, her story, and all of the intense emotions, fears, and joy that come with it and it has been a dream to play.
What is your favorite part about being a narrator?
Getting to tell stories every day. It’s a dream come true.
What do you like to read/listen to? Any favorite authors or narrators you want to send a shout-out to?
I love anything Kennedy Ryan and her audiobooks are always spectacular. In particular, if you haven’t listened to Reel yet, I highly recommend dropping everything and downloading it. It is one of the most beautiful audio productions I’ve ever listened to. That being said, I actually listen to quite a lot of non-fiction. I think because I spend most days narrating and/or prepping fiction, listening to non-fiction for my “pleasure reading” is a nice change of pace. Of course, that’s not all I listen to or eyeball read. I definitely have plenty of romance in the mix, YA, and general fiction as well.
Is there someone(s) who’s been influential in your life as it relates to your career?
Aside from Paul Alan Ruben, who I mentioned before, I would say perhaps Alessandra Torre and Helena Hunting have been some of the most influential people in my career. Alessandra hired me for my first ever spicy romance book over a decade ago- Hollywood Dirt- (which I recorded as Rachel F. Hirsch). She trusted me in a genre that I had never worked in before and then kept asking me back for more and more of her work. Getting cast by Audible Studios in Helena’s Pucked series really solidified my place in the romance landscape, though. That series launched a years-long relationship with Helena’s writing. I learned so much about the genre and the romance community from working on her books. And since it’s how most people discover me, it’s also created years-long relationships to readers. My romance narration career would not be what it is today if not for those two fabulous authors.
How have your life experiences influenced your career as a narrator?
Absolutely. In terms of acting approach, I certainly tap into my own life experiences and understanding of the world in every book I narrate. If I hadn’t experienced loss, love, fear, etc. in my own life, I think my connection to the text would look quite a bit different. And strictly from a career perspective, a lifetime of being a working actor, and well…a human have taught me how to value myself. I’ve learned exactly what’s important to me and what I can just let go of. Having a clear understanding of my desires and boundaries has heavily influenced the shape of my career.
This or That: 7 random questions that may or may not be book related:
Kindle or Paperback: I love my kindle for convenience, but nothing beats a paperback.
Beach or Mountain Vacation: Beach in the summer, Mountain in the fall and winter
Dogs or Cats: Dogs!
Ice Cream or Cake: Definitely ice cream.
Action Flick or Rom-Com: Rom-Com
Tea or Coffee: Tea
Road Trip or Air Travel: Neither. Train travel whenever possible!
You can find more information about Rose and her audiobook catalog, and how to connect with her on social media here:
