A good story doesn't feel like an illusion
Lisa Cron says in her book WIRED FOR STORY
"What it feels like is life. Literally. A recent brain imaging study reported in Psychological Science reveals that the regions of the brain that process the sights, sounds, tastes, and movement of real life are activated when we’re engrossed in a compelling narrative."
A narrator's job is to deliver the author's intent
A narrator spends quality time with a book before settling down in front of the microphone. She enjoys researching concepts, pronunciation and dialect. She arranges character voices to be distinguishable and has to keep them consistent throughout a recording as well as a book series. She must connect with the story as the author intended. Once in the booth, she pays close attention to detail, stays present in the moment and calls on her stamina to regulate a consistent level of energy.