Take a stroll through historic Old Town Alexandria with me! To begin researching this story, I visited this charming neighborhood along the Potomac on a spring day last year. Once I’d gotten a feel for the story I wanted to tell, I sat down to write it, using a lot of maps, websites of historic locations, and google street view to confirm my facts. This story is read by TK Kellman, who is also the narrator on The Country Antiques Market, Holidays at the Country Antiques Market, and The White Slipper. Relax and enjoy!
As always, you can find this and my other bedtime stories on both YouTube and all the of the podcast platforms.
Before I was writing bedtime stories, I was listening to them. A lot.
In 2020, I found I was constantly waking in the night, unable to go back to sleep for hours. I don’t know if it was the unhappy convergence of middle age and the pandemic, or something else, but it was really disrupting my schedule. When I discovered Get Sleepy, it was like a lifeline. I slowly worked my way through the entire available catalog of episodes. I’m pretty susceptible to most well-written stories on a good night. However, on a tough night, I need to call in what I think of as the my personal “silver bullet” narrators. What I’ve discovered by chatting with other sleepy story listeners is, I’m not alone. Most people seem to have a type of narrator that works best for them.
If you’ve only listened to one or two stories and decided they don’t work for you, it’s possible you haven’t found your silver bullet narrator! I’ve been privileged to have a wide range of top notch narrators read my stories this past year. If you’ve considered trying out a podcast to help you sleep, here’s a little sampler to help you get going. Each video is cued to a place where you will immediately get a voice sample of one of my favorite voice actors!
I hope you find your perfect match.
Tom Jones
Starting here is a no-brainer. Tom is the host of Get Sleepy and he has legions of devoted fans. If you are trying out your first sleep stories, his soothing delivery is an ideal place to begin. This is one of the most popular stories on the YouTube channel, so give it a whirl. If you like it, there is an entire playlist of just his pieces and then even more on the Get Sleepy podcast (any platform).
Bringing a comforting, nostalgic vibe, TK has lots of enthusiastic fans of his own. You’ll find him voicing lots of the stories located in the United States. His friendly, warm delivery will send you off to sleep feeling happy. The video I’ve linked to here is a perfect example. I based this story on a well-known antique store near my home in Virginia.
I’m going to come right out and admit that Abbe has long been one of my few “silver bullet” narrators. Fortunately, there are also many Get Sleepy stories she has voiced. After depending on her to keep me company in the wee hours for so many months, it was a pretty amazing to find out she was going to read my series of lighthouse stories this year. I love all of them, but I’ve linked to one of the most popular below. Be ready to drift off! If you enjoy this one, check out some of the other lighthouse history stories!
Heather describes herself as “The Merlot of VO” and I could not agree more! I first heard her incredibly relaxing voice on a retelling of Red Riding Hood (don’t worry – it ends well!) and I was hooked. It’s tough for me to choose a favorite among my stories she has narrated this year (lucky me!) but you will get a good feel for her vibe from this little Halloween story I set in New England. Bonus if you’re a cat lover!
But I am not done with you! Fans of genteel UK accents will not be able to resist Simon. I’ve been fortunate enough to have him narrate one of my favorite niche stories. Nerd alert – it’s about the Renaissance Fair(e). I love Simon for his effortlessly understated sense of humor and his soporific effect. Folks, it’s my darn story and I can’t even make it to the end when I listen. ZZZZZZZ.
If you’re looking for a rich, deep American voice, Marcellus may be perfect for you! His stories are filled with warmth. I’ve been lucky enough to hear him on two of my scripts, but my favorite is a nostalgic trip back to the summer of 1982. Popsicles and dirt bikes incoming…
If you’re the type of person who needs to feel like they’re gently floating away to dreamland, I really recommend checking out Arif. His American voice somehow feels weightless and his delivery is so smooth that you will soon feel almost like you’re meditating! Get a sample of his magic on this piece I wrote about a holiday evening on a small town American main street.
Lovely Vanessa manages to fill the story with a sense of whimsy, and her North American accent brings stories from the United States and Canada to life for me. I find myself so interested in what she’s saying that I’m surprised she also quickly soothes me to sleep. I’m not sure how she does that, but she is becoming a “silver bullet” narrator for me. I suggest you start with this retelling of Hansel and Gretel (don’t worry – I removed all the bad stuff and put the women in charge).
Your Bedtime Story is Out There
In the end, it’s just you, the clock, and your insomnia if you don’t try to find a solution. Rather than jumping straight to more drastic methods, why not put in an earbud or get a pair of sleep headphones and try some free stories? All of these links take you to YouTube, but you will find an even greater number on the Get Sleepy podcast. If you find certain narrators to be best for you, the Slumber app (buy it in the app stores) will let you sort by narrator! I find that feature very helpful.
I hope this little sampler gets you off on the right foot in your trip to dreamland.
If you’re looking to bring the wintry atmosphere for your bedtime story, I’ve got a new one for you. I very loosely adapted an old Polish tale called The Glass Castle and it’s been beautifully narrated by the host of Get Sleepy, Thomas Jones. My version follows a plucky village lad named Jamie, as he tries to climb a mysterious icy berg nobody else has been able to summit. Supposedly, there is a princess at the top. But can he make it?
If I’ve done my job, you’ll be asleep too soon to find out, but give it a try! As always, you can find Get Sleepy on any podcast platform (this story is free!) and the YouTube link is below.
We’re in thick of the holiday season now, folks. There’s a lot of fun to be had, but crazy schedules, random eating habits, and other disruptive elements can make it even harder to get a full night’s sleep. At least, for some of us! If you’re watching the clock at 2 a.m. or finding it hard to wind down at night, why not try one of the holiday-themed stories I wrote for Slumber and Get Sleepy this month?
As always, you can simply search Get Sleepy on your favorite podcast platform, or you can check out the Get Sleepy Youtube Channel. Sweet Dreams!
Join a festive holiday evening in a small American town. This one is read by the very soothing and talented Arif.
Fairytale fans rejoice! Hansel and Gretel has been updated to have a female-forward plot and a much sweeter ending! This is my first story read by Vanessa, and she is charming!
Make a return visit to the charming Country Antiques Market for some holiday shopping and festivities on a snowy evening. Who better than the wonderful TK Kellman to spin this nostalgic tale?
Wishing you all a fabulous end to the year and a well-rested start to 2023!
For lovers of fall, a story that aired on the Get Sleepy podcast today just in time for Halloween!
Follow along with sassy black cat Tabitha as she roams her neighborhood on Halloween, observing all the trick-or-treating, the parties, and the decorations. This soothing seasonal treat is chock full of fall atmosphere, minus any scares that might keep you awake…this is a sweet walk down memory lane for anyone who grew up celebrating the holiday.
Just in time for Halloween, we have an atmospheric fireside tale for you!
Our lighthouse researcher, Emma, is making another stop in midcoast Maine, where she will learn all about the spirits who faithfully tend Owls Head Light. If you like this story, be sure to check out the previous ones in this series, about the Portland Head Light and the Rockland Breakwater Light. Stay tuned for another one coming up at the end of the year!
For links to all my other stories, including fairytales, nostalgic memories, and travel tales, check out my Bedtime Stories page!
If you’d like to find Get Sleepy as a podcast, just search it on your favorite podcast platform.
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | Comments Off on New Bedtime Story: Legends of the Owls Head Light
Continuing the tale of Emma, who is researching lighthouses along the coast of Maine, this story brings us to the city of Rockland. The lighthouse there is interesting, but it’s the mile-long breakwater walk to its front door that will really capture your imagination. To learn more about Rockland and the midcoast of Maine, visit my other website for our vacation rental, Sadler House.
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | Comments Off on New Bedtime Story: The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
I am really excited about this story, which is the first in a series that will be coming out over the next few months. Part travel, part history, you will be able to join Emma, who is researching the historical lighthouses of the Maine coast. I am really privileged to have the fabulous Abbe Opher narrating, and I feel optimistic you may not be able to stay awake to the end.
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | Comments Off on New Bedtime Story – Dreams of the Portland Head Light
My latest bedtime story is close to my heart! Like the characters in this story, I was 10 years old in 1982. So this story is for all of us who are turning 50, but my hope is that anyone who grew up in the seventies or eighties will find fond memories in this tale of Brian and his friends.
Whether it’s a BMX bike, some tetherball, sitting on the curb at the convenience store, or a pile of baloney sandwiches, my guess is that part of your childhood summer made in here. Sweet dreams, X’ers! Listen to it at this link on YouTube or find it on the Get Sleepy podcast on any podcast platform you may use.
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | Comments Off on New Bedtime Story: A Lazy Summer Day in 1982
My latest reimagined fairy tale is on the free podcast feed and the YouTube channel! This one is also narrated by the soothing TK Kellman and it’s sure to whisk you off to dreamland.
Travel to a beautiful, faraway city on a river, where a king has a problem almost nobody can solve. In the end, we’ll find that a little bit of reading and a lot of courage can make all the difference.
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | Comments Off on New Podcast Bedtime Story: A Retelling of the Fairy Tale “The White Slipper”
