As I do battle with the flu here at Audio HQ, I’m bucking myself up by listening to the audio edition of P.G. Wodehouse’s Something Fresh.
And I think it should do the trick, based on the plot description:
“When a scarab belonging to an American millionaire is absentmindedly stolen by Lord Emsworth, young writers Ashe Marson and Joan Valentine are brought together in an attempt to retrieve it from Blandings Castle. Meanwhile, Freddie Threepwood worries some letters may surface and compromise his engagement to the millionaire’s daughter…”
The Audio Publishers Association today announced nominations for the 2012 Audie Awards. Winners will be announced at the Audies Gala on June 5, 2012, at the New York Historical Society in New York City. Comedian, actor, writer, and director Michael Showalter will emcee the event.
According to the APA, 1,250 titles were entered into this year’s Audies, a clear indicator of the strength of the audiobook industry. And for the first time, the Science Fiction and Fantasy categories are separated, allowing for more nominations and a more focused selection process. Additionally, the Paranormal category — which was added as a special judges’ category in 2011 — is now a permanent classification.
“We are absolutely thrilled with both the quality and quantity of the nominations we are seeing,” Michele Cobb, APA President, said in a statement. “The tremendous range of excellent audiobooks produced this year is a testament to the industry’s continued growth, and with so many truly exceptional nominees, this is sure to be one of the most exciting and competitive races yet!”
In case you missed it, check out Maggie Gram’s piece on n+1 on our favorite topic: audiobooks.
See below for a quick preview:
“I used to avoid talking about audio books. In general if you are 28 years old and in graduate school and you listen to audio books then the worst thing about the whole practice is admitting it to your graduate-school peers. Every time a book comes up in conversation, your dude friends will ask “Did you listen to that on audio book?,” and then they will laugh. Less dude-like people, people less invested in making fun of you, will just cock their heads to the side and ask you why you do it. As if liking books were not enough! As if it weren’t the best thing in the world to have someone read to you! As if you had something better to do! I thought about starting this essay by insisting that I listen to audio books for work, so that I could not be mistaken for that other kind of person, that kind of person who listens audio books because it brings her some kind of unsophisticated pleasure. I am not, I wanted you to know, your Aunt Paula. My kitchen is not decorated with rooster towel racks and rooster potholders and rooster trim. I am a very serious person.”
The full piece can be found HERE. And feel free to share your thoughts in our comment section.
This morning, a wise woman informed me that too much bodice ripping and not enough romance often spell disaster. And her words of wisdom didn’t fall on deaf ears.
The audiobook is available from HighBridge Audio and you can — after lighting some scented candles and pouring a glass of champagne — listen to an audio excerpt RIGHT HERE.
This Valentine’s Day, everyone here at Listen Up — okay, just me and the Audio Intern — are celebrating by listening to nothing but Romance Audios in an event we like to call the Annual Bodice Ripper-O-Rama.
As such, we’re heading over to Audible for the massive selection of Romance Audios. You want Fantasy Romance? They’ve got it HERE. Chick Lit? It’s HERE. Erotica? Oh, there’s plenty of that right HERE. Not sure what to listen to? Then just check out their Romance Best Sellers or New Releases.
If you like the looks of Disney’s new adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter, then — as you wait for the film’s March 9 release — you’ll want to check out the audio edition of John Carter, available from Tantor Audio and read by Scott Brick!
And — for a limited time — you can download the audiobook’s first chapter for FREE.
For an audio excerpt CLICK HERE. And remember: Tantor’s audio edition of John Carter comes with companion PDF ebook.
From Pearl Harbor to Calvary: The Story of the Lead Pilot of the Pearl Harbor Attack and His Conversion to Christianity Mitsuo Fuchida, read by Karl Choi. Christianaudio, unabridged, two CDs, 2.5 hrs., $5.98 ISBN 978-1-61045-239-7
Fuchida—a former captain in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service—tells an epic tale of war and religion, and how the two eventually lead him to a career as a Christian preacher in the United States after WWII. His story is indeed an incredible one: Fuchida led the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. But following the war, he “surrendered his heart to Jesus Christ” and transformed himself from “a soldier of pain to a soldier of love.” Karl Choi offers winning narration, rich in depth and nuance, that is so convincing it blurs the line between author and narrator. A compulsive listening experience that is as short as it is sweet. An eChristian paperback. (Sept.)
If you’re a Miles Davis fan or a jazz fan, then you have to check out this great interview with Dion Graham about his recent narration of Miles: The Autobiography.
And after that you’ll probably want to get your hands on a copy of the audiobok from our pals over at AudioGO.
February may be the shortest month, but that doesn’t mean it’s not chock full o’ audio goodness. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the latest batch of new releases from some of the industry’s major audio publishers.
Also: If you are an audio publisher, and I left you off the list, just let me know — we’ll add you to our roster right away.
Listen Up is dedicated to all things audio. We’ll be bringing you the latest audiobook news and reviews, casting coups, innovations in marketing, Q&As with authors and narrators, audio clips, and plenty of recommendations. Contact our blogger, Adam Boretz, at aboretz@publishersweekly.
This morning, a wise woman informed me that too much 
From Pearl Harbor to Calvary: The Story of the Lead Pilot of the Pearl Harbor Attack and His Conversion to Christianity
