The Cast

Posted by admin on Jul 24 2007

(in order of appearance)

Tee Morris (writer and voice of Rafe Rafton, host)

Tee Morris began his writing career with his 2002 historical epic fantasy, MOREVI: The Chronicles of Rafe & Askana. Tee then appeared in Dragon Moon Press’ 2003 release, The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy. 2004 saw the releases of Billibub Baddings and The Case of The Singing Sword and The Fantasy Writer’s Companion.

Tee entered 2005 with an idea, and that idea — podcasting MOREVI — went on to become the first book podcast in its entirety. That experience led to the founding of Podiobooks.com and collaborating with Evo Terra on Podcasting for Dummies. Along with that title and Legacy of MOREVI: Book One of the Arathellean Wars, Tee’s article “Dear John” appeared in BenBella Books’s Farscape Forever: Sex, Drugs, and Killer Muppets. In 2006, Tee appears in the podcast anthology VOICES: New Media Fiction (edited by Mur Lafferty), and in BenBella Books’ So Say We All: Collected Thoughts and Opinions of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.

Tee continues to explore podcasting with The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy, a podcast about the marketing and self-promotional concepts for published and soon-to-be-published authors. He also hosts the companion podcast for Podcasting for Dummies and Speaking of Beer’s “MicroBrewed” with Phil Rossi.

Philippa Ballantine (Askana Moldarin, Lissellone)

Philippa Ballantine holds Tee Morris responsible for a lot of things: pointing her in the direction of her publisher, dragging her into podcasting, and getting her into bookshops for her first book signings. So it was a natural progression to supply her voice to Tee’s audio dramas.

Pip is an award nominated novelist and podcaster from Wellington, New Zealand. Her first novel Weaver’s Web which she turned into a podiobook, was followed by the Shakespearian fantasy Chasing the Bard. which went on to become a 2006 Sir Julius Vogel nominee. Its sequel, Digital Magic, will be available in 2008, the same year as she plans to podcast Chasing the Bard. Pip can also be heard on the 2007 Parsec Award nominated podcast Whispers at the Edge where she talks about living at the bottom of the world and passes on what she’s found out about writing.

She has also appeared as voice talent in Billibub Baddings and The Case of the Singing Sword, Metamor City and Murder at Avedon Hill. To Pip living at the bottom of the world is no excuse for not taking part.

Not content with this Pip is also writing three novels; a New Zealand fantasy, a gothic trilogy and a steampunk ghost story. In 2008 Pip will also be contributing to The Dragon Clan of Morevi podcast anthology.

More can be found out about Pip at The Pen and Sword online.

George Hrab (Kubi-Sogi)

George came on to the podcasting scene at Dragon*Con 2006 at a live recording of Michael and Evo’s Wingin’ It!, the acoustic concert he gave showcasing the ground he covers in his music. His smooth and sultry “Think for Yourself” sold itself as a terrific theme for the Billibub Baddings podcast, and now he’s making an impression as the wise Blademaster to Queen Askana.

George frequently steps outside his role as a drummer. He has released his fifth independent album titled “Interrobang”, once again writing and performing on guitar, bass, keys, vocals and drums. This award winning album was premiered and performed in its entirety by George’s ten-piece rock-fusion-funk-classical-jazz band, The Geologic Orchestra. His efforts have not only been noticed by the New York Songwriters’ Circle, where he successfully performed at their famed Bitter End showcase, but have also been recognized by various radio and television stations, including performances and interviews on NPR affiliate WDIY, WZZO, RCN-4, WLVR and on XM’s Slice of SciFi.

Christiana Ellis (Elunear, Jailene)

Christiana is an award-nominated writer and podcaster. In 2006, she released her humorous fantasy novel, Nina Kimberly the Merciless as a podcast audiobook, reaching an audience of thousands. Her podiobook was also a finalist for both a Parsec Award (Best Speculative Fiction, Long Form) and a Podcast Peer Award (Best Podiobook). As a direct result of podcasting her work, negotiations are now underway for a print edition of the novel.

Christiana is also the creator and host of numerous other podcasts, including Pickle Tales, a competition for audio storytelling, and Sci Fi Smackdown, where icons of science fiction are subjected to hypothetical battles.

Marni Penning (Yonella, Nadinath)

Marni Penning on Morevi: Remastered is a real treat for Tee…as the two of them studied Theatre together at James Madison University. This is the first time in over fifteen years that they have appeared together in a production, and Tee is taking full credit for introducing her talent to the podosphere.

Marnie is co-founder of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, for whom she has performed over 35 roles in 10 seasons, including Juliet, Kate, Rosalind, Beatrice, and Hamlet. She now resides in New York City, where she has appeared on Saturday Night Live (burning a Martha Stewart cookbook on live national television), in the hit series The Sopranos, and in Julia Roberts’ film Mona Lisa Smile. Marni was seen onstage most recently in the beat poetry rock musical Subway Train.

While appearing on both the large and small screen, Marni has performed steadily in theatres across the midwest and along the East Coast, and now she is making her debut in the podosphere. If you like what you hear in Morevi: Remastered, contact visit her website and query Marni for rates concerning voiceover and audio drama recordings.

Leann Mabry (originally cast as Askana Moldarin)

Before wrapping up her performance in Billibub Baddings and The Case of the Singing Sword, Leann agreed to take on the challenge of voicing The First Queen of Morevi, good news for fans from both Billi and Murder at Avedon Hill. First appearing in the podosphere though her irreverent show, Tag In the Seam, Leann now pursues her life-long dream: voiceover work.

Leann can be heard in episode 20 of Pseudopod, “What You Wish For”; the promos for podiobooks.com and Geeklabel.com; and has also done IVR work for the US office of Presence Technology, a Voice over IP software company based in Barcelona, Spain. Her hero is Billy West of Futurama fame which completely explains why she wishes to be a cartoon when…or if…she grows up.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Due to schedule conflicts, Leann was unable to continue as Askana after the first episode. It was still great hearing her as Askana, and hopefully things will clear up for her to allow us to work together again.