Best-Selling Authors Praise May’s Work
"I had the great fortune of working with May on two audiobooks, both memoirs, and she was a brilliant director—smart, gracious, and meticulous. She guided me through long days in the studio then seamlessly directed remotely, with me in a closet-turned-sound booth during the early months of COVID. That’s a testament to her warmth, acuity, and skill. I missed her the moment we were done." — Gail Caldwell, Pulitzer Prize-winner, Former Chief Book Critic at the Boston Globe
"May is one of the finest audiobook directors working today, with an extraordinary ability to shape the best possible performance. She directed me in my Big Stone Gap series, weaving threads across books to create a rich listening experience. She leaves nothing to chance—researching deeply, refining tone and emotional subtext, and casting superb talent. I trust her completely and have worked with her on multiple books, with more to come." — Adriana Trigiani, Award-Winning Filmmaker, Author of 21 Books, Host of ‘You are What Your Read Podcast’
"May made recording my multiple audiobooks easy and fun. Her professionalism, humor, and attention to pacing, pronunciation, and energy ensured the best possible result. With her, I always know I’m in good hands."
— Gretchen Rubin, Author of 10 Books, Host of the ‘Happier Podcast’
"When I heard May would be directing me in our second book together, I was thrilled. Our previous experience showed me she understood the delicate balance between acting and reading aloud. She guided me with patience, precision, and warmth—pushing for clarity here, drawing out emotion there—always knowing exactly what was needed." — Sue Miller, Pen-Faulkner Finalist, International Best-selling Author
"I was nervous about recording my first audiobook, a memoir written in verse. It was deeply personal, and I had never done anything like it before. But May made me feel comfortable from the start. She was endlessly supportive, bringing professionalism, humor, and kindness to every session. It turned out to be one of the most rewarding creative experiences of my life." — Laurie Halse Anderson, National Book Award Finalist, Printz Honor Recipient, Advocate for Survivors of Sexual Assault
"Recording my book with May was a surprisingly meaningful part of my publishing journey. Her passion, experience, and steady encouragement helped me push through when my energy flagged. Years later, readers still tell me listening to my audiobook feels like I’m riding in the car with them, sharing stories. That’s all thanks to May." — Linda Rottenberg, Co-Founder and CEO of Endeavor Global, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader
Recording my memoir became far more emotional than I expected. May’s patience, sensitivity, and guidance turned what could have been a difficult process into a truly rewarding one. She helped me shape my performance with inflection and emphasis, bringing my story to life in ways I never imagined."
— Tony Wagner, Globally Recognized Education Expert, Senior Research Fellow at the Learning Policy Institute, Former Expert in Residence at the Harvard Innovation Lab, Founder and Former Co-Director of the Change Leadership Group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
"May immediately connected with my work when we recorded my book and I received such great feedback that I requested her for my next one. Her thoughtful presence, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to draw out my best performance made all the difference." — Katrina Kenison, Former Editorial Director at Houghton Mifflin, Co-Editor of ‘The Best American Short Stories of the Century'
"May is a phenomenal director—focused, insightful, and deeply invested in the final product. Her ability to refine performance, enhance clarity, and bring warmth to the experience made my audiobook far exceed my expectations." — Emily Balcetis, Social Psychologist, New York University Professor
"May guided me through my first audiobook recording with a perfect balance of creative freedom and expert coaching. She provided clear direction while letting me find my own voice, making the entire process seamless and rewarding." — Brandon Black, Former CEO of Encore Capital, Co-Author Ego-Free Leadership
“May was highly effective in her role as director and producer. Assertive in coaching us while still being encouraging. I had great appreciation for her follow through and proactivity in managing all the moving parts of the process — guiding us to choose recording studios, coaching us in our reading of our individual parts, evaluating our final performance, and helping us think through distribution. And all this was done off site in a seamless and efficient manner." — Shayne Hughes, President of Learning as Leadership, co-Author, Ego-Free Leadership
"May brought strategic vision and unwavering professionalism to my first novel. From casting to recording to distribution, she handled every step with expertise and care.“
— Deborah Goodrich Royce, Film Preservationist, Philanthropist, Co-Owner of the Avon Theatre, Stamford, Connecticut
"May’s keen ear for pacing, character, and comedic timing gave me the confidence to take creative risks in my narration. She caught every nuance, helping me refine voices and keep the energy fresh. Both of my audiobooks, that she directed landed on the YALSA Amazing Audiobooks list, and May is a big reason why." — Lance Rubin Author and Actor
"Working with May was an unforgettable experience. Her expert guidance and deep understanding of storytelling helped create an audiobook I’m truly proud of." — Alan Iny, Global Head of Creativity & Scenarios at Boston Consulting Group
Note: The above author endorsements have been edited for quicker reading. To read full quotes refer to the Accolades page.
These multi-award-winning actors reflect upon how the help of a director enhances the quality of their performance.
"I’ve been lucky to work virtually exclusively with directors in-studio. For me, the dialogue between actor and director opens up the process, resulting in a more nuanced, collaborative and shared perspective.” — January LaVoy
"The audiobook business is a business, and it’s a good business practice to cut costs. But it’s also good business to create a high-quality product that consumers will want to continue buying. The future for publishers and narrators alike seems to be in building your brand so that listeners choose a book because of the quality they come to expect from that brand. At the end of the day, that’s money well spent.” — Robert Petkoff
“Working with directors can allow for greater discovery of a book’s emotional subtext.” — Thérèse Plummer
“I have strong feelings about this. It’s always preferable to work with a director. The reason is simple: You get a better product.” — Edoardo Ballerini
"When I first started recording audiobooks in my home studio, I hired a director to work with me. I viewed that expense as an investment in my craft and the creation of a superior product that would bring more work to me in the future. That investment paid off." — Tavia Gilbert
"I've been an audiobook narrator for a long time, so I've honed all the skills I need to make my home studio work. However, first and foremost I'm dedicated to the job of linking the listener to the author, to be a conduit for the author's truth, which is all about the art and craft of storytellling. Another ear is always helpful in this process and I welcome any opportunity to work with a director in-studio." — Johnny Heller