Here at Listen Up, we’re ringing in 2012 with — you guessed it — audiobooks. As such, let’s take a look at the New Year’s first 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.
This week, our Audiobook Q&A Series returns and we chat with Johnny Heller about his recent work narrating The Postmortal, his latest projects, his significant experience ripping bodices, and the importance of always knowing where the restroom is located.
1. You recently narrated Drew Magary’s The Postmortal for Tantor. How was that experience? What was the biggest challenge?
Narrating always has challenges — the major one being that we narrators know that we will not be able to please every fan of a given book! Our job is to be a conduit for the author’s truth — I know that sounds all “actory” but it’s the best way I can explain what we do.
I don’t always get to narrate books I love or would willingly read on my own, but The Postmortal was awesome. I loved the book and I told Magary that I thought he was brilliant. It’s just a tremendous read that I hope is going to be a tremendous listen. My biggest challenge with this title was living up to my own expectations — of making my narration as excellent as the printed word. I think I did, but then again I’m biased!
2. This is the first book by Magary that you’ve narrated. Does that newness make the job of narrating an audiobook more difficult? Do you think that when you narrate multiple books by the same author, you develop a relationship with their work and are able to slip back into the author’s writing?
Absolutely. When you narrate a series of titles by the same author you get in touch with his rhythms and — hopefully — get to create recurring characters. I get to do that with the Richard Castle books (Naked Heat, Heat Wave, and Heat Rises), with Michael Wiley’s Joe Kozmarsky series for Blackstone, Michael Buckley’s NERDS series, Troy Soos’ Mickey Rawlings mysteries, and Dan Gutman’s baseball card time travel stories all for Recorded Books. Hopefully the author likes the way you handle his or her characters and it begins somehow more collaborative.
3. The Postmortal is a thriller about a pre-apocalyptic world in which people cannot die of old age — which must make for an exciting audiobook. Does reading a thriller make the process of recording the audiobook easier because you know readers will be engaged at certain points? Do you ever find yourself getting swept away by the story when you’re narrating a thriller?
I don’t know if I’m any more engaged in a thriller than in a biography or a young adult title. Hopefully, if I’ve done my job, the listener will have no idea that I like one book any more than another.
Truth be told — of course I like thrillers and funny books more than I like other titles I narrate. I think the audiobook moves along better and easier if the story is good and the author is good and I love the book. I’ve done lots of medical, motivational, and business titles, but it’s much easier to read a thriller — cuz they’re thrilling! Continue reading
The Holiday Season is upon us: eggnog, gift giving, snow, feasts, family — and yes, audiobooks! So, for your consideration and holiday shopping needs, let’s take a look at the latest (and greatest) audiobook 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.
Brook Forest Voices Audiobooks
It’s that time again: Our Monthly Audiobook Release Roundup. And November is looking good for audiobooks. Check out the links below for this month’s offerings from some of the major audio publishers. And Happy Listening!
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.
Brook Forest Voices Audiobooks
The weather is getting colder, leaves are falling from the trees, and once again it’s New Release Roundup Time. This month, we’ve got all sorts of new and exciting releases — as always read by an impressive host of top-notch narrators.
Check out the links below for this month’s offerings from some of the major audio publishers. And Happy Listening! And, 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.
Brook Forest Voices Audiobooks
It’s New Release Roundup Time again. And it sure looks like September will be a great month for audiobooks. There’s a host of new titles — everything from thrillers and romance to history and literary fiction — narrated by some of the best in the business!
Check out the links below for this month’s offerings from some of the major audio publishers. And Happy Listening! And, 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.
It’s New Release Roundup Time again. And taking a quick gander at some of the fine audiobooks coming arriving in August, we’ve got new audio releases from authors like Terry Pratchett and James Patterson, and new narration from the likes of Bernadette Dunne and Kate Reading.
Check out the links below for this month’s offerings from some of the major audio publishers. And Happy Listening! And, 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.
Every now and then, we here at Listen Up like to highlight some of the recent audio reviews that have appeared in Publishers Weekly. This time around, we reviewed everything from John Hart’s Iron House and Håkan Nesser’s Borkmann’s Point to Rachel Simon’s The Story of Beautiful Girl and Douglas Rushkoff and Leland Purvis’s Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age.
But today we want you to check out our Starred Review of Alexander McCall Smith’s The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party narrated by Lisette Lecat and available from Recorded Books. Take a look below for the review and be sure to check out all the lasted audio reviews from PW.
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party
Alexander McCall Smith, read by Lisette Lecat. Recorded Books, unabridged, seven CDs, 8.5 hrs., $29.99 ISBN 978-1-4561-2367-3
Let’s Get Right To The Heart Of This Thing:
The 2011 Audie Awards Gala is tomorrow night and Publishers Weekly and Listen Up will be covering all the excitement and reporting on who walks away with The Hardware.
But for now, let’s take a moment to honor the nominees — the actors, publishers, directors, producers, and authors — and take a peek at some of the major categories and contenders, as well as my predictions, prognostications, and very brief commentary.
