(Isstories Editorial):- Sydney, New South Wales Aug 11, 2025 (Issuewire.com) – In a twist worthy of a romantasy novel itself, debut indie author Jessica Cathers and rising Australian vocal powerhouse Leslie De Marco are shaking up the audiobook world with a collaboration no one saw coming, but everyone will be talking about.
Cathers, the breakout author of Child of Shivay, captivated romantasy readers with her lush world-building, slow-burn romance, and heart-stopping stakes. Early ARC readers and BookTok reviewers are already calling it “one of the best romantasy debuts of the year”, but this story doesn’t end with the written word.
In what started as a casual Instagram giveaway, Leslie De Marco offered a rare chance: two indie authors would win full audiobook narration for their novels. Jessica Cathers entered on a whim, and with the perseverance of her followers as well as herself, a random pick on a colour wheel won her the prize. Neither knew this would ignite a partnership set to flip the indie audiobook scene on it’s head.
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“I thought it would just be a cool project,” De Marco says. “But as soon as I read Child of Shivay, I knew this wasn’t just a narration. This was a calling.”
De Marco, known for her haunting vocal range and cinematic delivery, is facing the pressure head-on, determined to channel the emotion, power, and romance of Cathers’ world. Her interpretation of the complex characters — especially the morally grey love interest readers are obsessed with — has already left early listeners spellbound.
“She’s not just voicing the characters,” Cathers shares. “She’s becoming them. Hearing her bring my world to life has been magic.”
Together, these two women — one wielding the pen, the other the voice — are rewriting what it means to be indie creators in romantasy. No massive production budgets. No gatekeepers. Just raw talent, passion, and a shared belief that storytelling can still be electric.
The Child of Shivay audiobook is set to launch later this year, and if early buzz is any indication, it’s about to become the next indie audiobook phenomenon.
Fable Verse Studio
