Diaz Adds Narration to Her Body of Work
Hollywood heavyweight Cameron Diaz was in the studio for HarperAudio, recording her forthcoming self-help title, The Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength, and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body (Harper Wave). “Cameron Diaz has written an important book about women’s health and we were thrilled that she took the time to record a portion of it during her busy schedule [whiles she’s] filming the upcoming movie Annie,” said Karen Dziekonski, executive producer at HarperAudio.
Diaz, the star of films such as There’s Something About Mary and Charlie’s Angels, narrates only a portion of the audio edition. The remainder of the audiobook—which offers the actress’s take on nutrition, exercise, and mental and physical health—is read by actress Sandy Rustin, who recently won an AudioFile Earphones Award for her work on Wally Lamb’s We Are Water, which was also released by HarperAudio.
Wheaton Conspires with Ellis for Audio Single
Television actor and champion of geek culture Wil Wheaton—best known for his role as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and for portraying a fictionalized version of himself on The Big Bang Theory—was in the studio for Macmillan Audio this month, recording the “Dead Pig Collector” by Warren Ellis.
The short story and Kindle Single published in July by Ellis follows the exploits of Mister Sun, a contract killer, as he arrives in Los Angles to carry out his latest assignment. Wheaton, who is no stranger to the recording booth (having narrated everything from Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to John Scalzi’s Agent to the Stars), called the story “fantastic” on his Web site.
“This audiobook was Wil Wheaton’s idea,” Ellis said. “He loved ‘Dead Pig Collector’ so much that he insisted there be an audiobook and made veiled threats about hammers and bleach if he didn’t get to read it himself. Wil’s been a good friend for years and a terrific actor for much longer, and also lives near places where bodies can be quietly burned, so we really had no choice but to agree.”
Dangerous Narrators in the Studio for Random House Audio
An all-star cast of narrators—including Iain Glenn and Sophie Turner (both from HBO’s Game of Thrones), Stana Katic (Castle), Lee Merriwether (All My Children), Harriet Walker (Downton Abbey), and Jake Weber (Dawn of the Dead)—has recorded Dangerous Women, a collection of 21 stories edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, recently published by Tor.
The collection features stories about dangerous women (both heroines and villains) from Diana Gabaldon, Jim Butcher, Lev Grossman, and Martin himself, as well as from the likes of Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, Sherilynn Kenyon, Lawrence Block, Carrie Vaughn, and Sharon Kay Penman.
“Casting Dangerous Women was an exciting challenge for our team,” said Dan Zitt, vice president of content production at Penguin Random House Audio. “Casting this collection was like casting 21 short audiobooks, given the distinct voice and style that each author embraces. Each story is as important to the volume as the last, so getting just the right voice for each one was crucial for the overall listening experience. Our producer worked closely with George R.R. Martin to find the actors who make this a really momentous listen.”
Headey to Narrate Albany Memoir
The audio edition of A.J. Albany’s Low Down: Junk, Jazz, and Other Fairy Tales from Childhood (published in November by Tin House Books) has been narrated for Simon & Schuster Audio by actress Lena Headey, whom listeners will know from the TV adaptation of Game of Thrones.
Headey is also slated to star in an upcoming film based on Albany’s memoir, which recalls the author’s life with her father—jazz pianist Joe Albany.
“We’re thrilled to have Lena Headey as the narrator for the Low Down audiobook,” said Chris Lynch, president and publisher of Simon & Schuster Audio. “She is a tremendous talent, and her role in the film gives her a deeper understanding of all the characters that shines through her narration.”
