With a revamped format, Friday night’s Audies celebrated another year of excellence in the audio industry at a ceremony at the New York Historical Society.
With a record number of 1,000 entries and the biggest names in the industry in attendance, top honors went to Neil Gaiman, who walked away with Audiobook of the Year for The Graveyard Book (HarperChildren’s Audio).
Solo narration awards, in the male and female categories, went to John Lee for The White Tiger (Tantor Audio) and Katherine Kellgren for Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady (Listen & Live Audio).
David Sedaris won in the category Narration by the Author for When You Are Engulfed in Flames (Hachette Audio), and Curse of the Blue Tattoo was honored for Distinguished Achievement in Production.
The Special Achievement Award went to industry pioneer Brilliance Audio president and publisher R. Michael Snodgrass and vice president and associate publisher Eileen Hutton.
Host Tony Roberts presided over a rambunctious and star-studded crowd, as award winners and presenters praised the industry’s high standards and culture of mutual respect.
“It never gets boring, winning one of these,” said Alfred Martino, executive producer of the Curse of the Blue Tattoo, accepting the award for Distinguished Achievement in Production.
Award winners also expressed their personal appreciation for and enjoyment of audiobooks.
“I must be Audible’s biggest customer,” said David Sedaris.
Neil Gaiman echoed this sentiment as he accepted the award for Best Audiobook: “Audiobooks are my favorite things in the world.”
Click here for more BookExpo America 2009 coverage from PW.
