The fall harvest of audiobooks is ripe for the listening, and we’re spotlighting some of the cream of the crop. There are surprisingly few political books in this historic election year, but plenty of solid and timely nonfiction titles to choose from. Several long-awaited fiction works from popular authors are coming to light and a few new publishers offer debut lists. For this bounty of fall releases we’ve focused on audio-centric publisher anecdotes that set these recordings apart. Happy listening—and happy selling!
FICTIONChasing Darkness by Robert Crais, read by James Daniels. Daniels quit audiobook narration when he got his law degree. But because he’s a huge Crais fan, he asked to come back onboard for this series. (Brilliance Audio, July)The Gypsy Morph by Terry Brooks, read by Phil Gigante. Actor Gigante campaigned for the right to narrate this series by one of his favorite authors. (Brilliance Audio, July)Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, read by James Colby. Colby’s stage and TV performances won him the role that required him to be, according to the publisher, “tough but innocent, macho yet mild—someone capable of playing the charming psychopath.” (Recorded Books, July)The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson, read by Milo Ventimiglia. Producer Dennis Kao reports that alien-hunter thriller Daniel X “has lots of music and sounds effects that makes listening to the audiobook seem like watching a movie.” (Hachette Audio, July)The Last Gunfighter by William W. Johnstone, performed by a full cast. Bitter Frank Morgan takes his gunfighting skill to a mining town in the New Mexico Territory. (GraphicAudio, July)Martin Misunderstood by Karin Slaughter, read by Wayne Knight. Knight makes his audio debut with his performance of this comedic thriller, an audio original, by Slaughter. The audio genre is unique, he says, because as the performer, “You are the world, you’re every character, you’re every moment.” Knight is interviewed on the final disk. (BBC Audiobooks America, July)Narrow Road to the Interior & Hojoki by Matsuo Basho and Kamo no Chomei, read by Togo Igawa. Noted Japanese actor Igawa reads in English a modern translation of two Japanese classical works, with koto music as complement. (Naxos AudioBooks, Aug.)The Essential John Milton by John Milton, read by Anton Lester, Derek Jacobi and Samantha Bond. Released to coincide with Milton’s 400th birthday. British author Philip Pullman, whose His Dark Materials trilogy was inspired by Milton’s work, says, “It’s hard to imagine a better reading of Paradise Lost.” (Naxos AudioBooks, Aug.)The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski, read by Richard Poe. Wroblewski and Poe conferred many times during the lengthy recording process, discussing pronunciations, character portrayal and the complexities of making an audiobook about a boy who doesn’t speak but signs all his “dialogue.” Wroblewski chose Poe for this his debut novel, a powerful American family saga, after hearing his narration of Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian. More than 40 hours in the studio were needed to complete the epic. “I love Wroblewski’s careful description of nature—he takes the time to get things just right: the falling rain, the rising sun, the dark forest,” says Poe. “Then, for me as a performer, I must envision it just as carefully, and fully realize each image, taking the time I know the listener will need to see them in their mind’s eye as I do.” (Recorded Books, Aug.)Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons, read by Jane Alexander. “When Jane and I met on the first day of recording we both agreed that this was a very special novel, and that the main character’s journey was both moving and haunting,” says director May Wuthrich. “On our breaks we often found ourselves talking about how the scenes resonated for us and even exchanged some stories from our own lives. It was clear from Jane’s performance that she felt a kinship to the novel’s narrator, and so her reading was animated by a very personal and emotional connection that is sure to send chills through listeners.” (Hachette Audio, Aug.)Blindness by Jose Saramago, read by Jonathan Davis. Saramago’s novel—winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature—about a man’s will to survive is his first work to appear in audio. Miramax’s feature film adaptation is scheduled for a September release. (BBC Audiobooks America, Aug.)Being Elizabeth by Barbara Taylor Bradford. A modern retelling of the drama and intrigue surrounding Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century. Audio aficionado Bradford grew up listening to dramas on the radio in the U.K. She has said of audiobooks, “Since I’m writing all the time and using glasses and staring at words on paper, it’s nice to close my eyes and just get carried away.” (Macmillan Audio, Aug.)Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis, performed by Ed Asner and a full cast including Helen Hunt, John Lithgow and Ted Danson. In 1987, L.A. Theatre Works’ fledgling radio company, then known as L.A. Classic Theatre Works, recorded its first radio program, a 14.5-hour rendition of Sinclair Lewis’ comic novel Babbitt. Thirty-four actors played all 90 parts. It took a year and a half to record and edit in the studio. The end result was broadcast over the NPR network to great acclaim and is now making its belated debut on CD. (L.A. Theatre Works, Aug.)The Creator’s Map by Emilio Calderón, trans. by Katherine Silve, read by Tony Chiroldes. Chiroldes had to master Italian, German and Spanish accents and language for this program, in addition to developing the male and female characters. The author is the founder of a publishing house in Spain; rights to his first novel, about intrigue and romance in 1952 Rome, have sold in more than 20 countries. (HighBridge, Aug.)Train to Trieste by Domnica Radulescu, read by Yelena Shmulenson. This author’s debut novel has already sold in the U.K., Holland, France, Germany, Italy, Serbia and Israel. Radulescu was, like her book’s character, a refugee from Ceausescu’s Romania. Shmulenson’s native Ukraine borders Romania. (HighBridge, Aug.)Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain, read by Carolyn McCormick. In the sequel to crime thriller Heartsick, McCormick once again intensifies Cain’s writing with her effectively creepy performance. (Macmillan Audio, Sept.)Liberty by Garrison Keillor, read by the author. Keillor won a 2008 Audie for narration of his previous Wobegon novel Pontoon. Liberty is about election politics Lake Wobegon style—a blend of comic relief and reflection in this presidential election year. (HighBridge, Sept.)Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Stephenson’s first audio with Macmillan Audio, was acquired by editorial director Kristin Lang, who sold the audio rights to Stephenson’s previous books when she worked for his literary agent. (Macmillan Audio, Sept.)Spy Killer by L. Ron Hubbard, read by a full cast. Hubbard’s classic pulp fiction from the 1930s and 1940s is brought to life in a new series of two-CD, economically priced ($9.95) full-cast recordings with music, sound effects and the feel of old radio shows. The recordings represent multiple genres, including mystery (Spy Killer), adventure (Under the Black Ensign), western (Branded Outlaw), fantasy (The Great Secret) and melodrama (If I Were You, featuring Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson). (Galaxy Press, Sept.)Comforts of a Muddy Saturday by Alexander McCall Smith, read by Davina Porter. McCall Smith has lavished praise on Porter’s work in this series, which is set in his hometown of Edinburgh. Mastering accents and using a light, humorous delivery, Porter becomes the 40-ish editor of a philosophy journal who entangles herself in problems that are none of her concern, including some that are better left to the police. (Recorded Books, Sept.)Red Helmet by Homer Hickam, read by Kirsten Potter. A romance set in the contemporary coal country of West Virginia. (Oasis Audio, Sept.)The Given Day by Dennis Lehane. Lehane’s first historical novel is an epic family saga set in Boston after the Great War. (HarperAudio, Sept.)Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman, read by the author, Wiley Wiggins and others. Klosterman’s debut novel is a darkly comedic story set in rural North Dakota. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Sept.)Testimony by Anita Shreve, multicast narration. Production manager Michele McGonigle enthusiastically cast this story of a sex scandal at a private school with more than a dozen actors who take on multiple roles to present the many points of view in the novel. (Hachette Audio, Oct.)The Widows of Eastwick by John Updike. Random House Audio will release a newly packaged edition of 1984’s The Witches of Eastwick to tie in with this new recording about three divorcees who have remarried and then become widows. (Random House Audio, Oct.)Dark Summer by Iris Johansen, read by Jennifer Van Dyck. Born in St. Andrews, Scotland, Van Dyke has narrated all of Iris Johansen’s audiobooks, and Johansen is her biggest fan. (Brilliance, Oct.)A Good Woman by Danielle Steel, read by Jay O. Saunders. Steel personally selected Saunders to narrate this program, feeling that his voice perfectly conveyed the style and tone of the book. (Brilliance Audio, Oct.)The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. Lamb’s first new novel in a decade will be published unabridged on 20 CDs and will run 24 hours. (HarperAudio, Oct.)Divine Justice by David Baldacci. More than a million copies of Baldacci’s audiobooks have been sold by Hachette Audio to date, with over 250,000 copies sold in 2007 alone. This new title will be published simultaneously with a value-priced audio edition of Baldacci’s Simple Genius. (Hachette Audio, Nov.)Other notable fiction:Dirty Girls on Top by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, read by Cynthia Holloway (Tantor, July); The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman, read by George Guidall (HarperAudio, July); Batman: The Stone King by Alan Grant, performed by a full cast (GraphicAudio, July); Man in the Dark by Paul Auster, read by the author (Macmillan Audio, Aug.); A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire (HarperAudio, Sept.); Fine Just the Way It Is by Annie Proulx, read by Will Patton (Simon & Schuster Audio, Sept.); A Mercy by Toni Morrison, read by the author (Random House Audio, Oct.); Songs for the Missing by Stewart O’Nan (Penguin Audio, Oct.); Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell (Penguin Audio, Oct.); The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Barry (Random House Audio, Dec.).NONFICTION
Black Wave: A Family’s Adventure at Sea and the Disaster that Saved Them by John and Jean Silverwood, read by Carrington MacDuffie and Joe Barrett. Narrator Barrett said that when he reviewed his script on the commuter train, he was moved to tears at this harrowing true story of a family’s ill-fated cruise in a 55-foot catamaran. (Blackstone, July)
You Can Observe a Lot by Watching by Yogi Berra and Dave Kaplan, read by Dale Berra. Son of Yankee baseball legend Yogi Berra, Dale Berra reads his 83-year-old father’s latest. Dale has previously read the audio versions of his father’s Ten Rings: My Championship Seasons and When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It! (Oasis Audio/Springwater, July)
The Necklace: Thirteen Women and the Experiment that Transformed Their Lives by Cheryl Jarvis, read by Carrington MacDuffie and Joe Barrett. At a BEA signing, fans experienced for a few minutes the thrill of wearing “Jewelia,” the $37,000 diamond necklace that the 13 women bought together and each wears for a month. (Blackstone, July)
Waiter Rant by the Waiter, read by Dan John Miller. Based on the popular Weblog waiterrant.net, this is a Kitchen Confidential—style look at the front of the house. Simultaneous release with the Harper/Ecco hardcover. (Brilliance Audio, July)
The Greatest Secret of All: Moving Beyond Abundance to a Life of True Fulfillment by Marc Allen, read by the author. Allen, the founder of New American Library, shares how he has mastered the law of attraction in his own life. (New World Library, Aug.)
The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawkings to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics by Leonard Susskind, read by Ray Porter. “Physics makes a philosopher out of anyone,” says science aficionado Porter. Between recording sessions, he entertained engineer Andrew Barnes with far-reaching speculations on black holes and string theory. (Blackstone, Aug.)
Lost Spy by Andrew Meier, read by David Chandler. This title had a word list of 728 Russian and German names, places and expressions. A research team used two Russian pronunciation dictionaries, and did about half the research online, using the Russian version of Wikipedia. A Macintosh computer greatly simplified the work, allowing them to convert keyboards from the Roman to the Cyrillic alphabet—necessary for inputting questions into Russian search engines. Chandler and director Jenny Selig then took the 31-page document into the studio to guide them as they recorded this tale of Stalin-era espionage. (Recorded Books, Aug.)
The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule by Thomas Frank, read by Oliver Wyman. This exposé of the Washington that conservatism has built includes an introduction read by the author. (Macmillan Audio, Aug.)
Anticancer by David Servan-Schreiber. The author, a neuroscientist, coincidentally discovered his own brain tumor during a research project and came to realize the power of the body’s natural defenses against chronic disease beyond conventional treatment. (BBC Audiobooks America, Sept.)
Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution—and How It Can Renew America by Thomas L. Friedman, read by Oliver Wyman. Friedman’s bestselling audiobook The World is Flat had three editions: the original, an updated edition one year later, and a third edition one year after that. Each revised audio program included new material written by Friedman and recorded by Wyman. Macmillan Audio will be offering a free audio download of The World is Flat and a preview of Hot, Flat, and Crowded from July 25—August 4 on www.macmillan.com. (Macmillan Audio, Sept.)
Relaxation Basics: A Doctor’s Prescription for Stress Relief by Dr. Mary Pullig Schatz, read by the author. Schatz’s first audio program of progressive relaxation techniques to manage daily stress and stress-related conditions and illnesses. (Rodmell Press, dist. by PGW; Sept.)
America and the World: Conversations on the Future of American Foreign Policy by Zbigniew Brzezinski and Brent Scowcroft, original interviews moderated by David Ignatius. These are the actual tapes of the live, unscripted interviews with Brzezinski and Scowcroft, lending both a personal and a historic sense to the finished audiobook. The interviews were edited and ordered to correspond as closely as possible to the print edition. (HighBridge, Sept.)
The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington by Jennet Conant, read by Simon Prebble. The tale of the real-life spy experience of James Bond creator Ian Fleming and the man that Fleming modeled Bond after, children’s author Roald Dahl. Conant had access to never-before-available letters and documents and exclusive interviews. (HighBridge, Sept.)
Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy and the New Science of Desire by Martin Lindstrom. Based on various brain scan results from the largest neuro-marketing study ever conducted. (Random House Audio, Oct.)
Champlain’s Dream by David Hackett Fischer, read by Edward Herrmann. Herrmann follows up his narration of previous historical titles John Adams and Einstein (for which he won a 2007 Audie) with this chronicle of the European founding of North America. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Oct.)
Other notable nonfiction:The Political Mind: Why You Can’t Understand 21st Century American Politics with an 18th Century Brain by George Lakoff, read by Kent Casella (Tantor Audio, July); My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor, read by the author (Penguin Audio, July); Fleeced by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann (Tantor Audio, Aug.); Thank God for Evolution by Michael Dowd, read by the author (Penguin Audio, Aug.); The Case Against Barack Obama by David Freddoso, read by Gary Collins (Phoenix Audio, Sept.); Bob Schieffer’s America by Bob Schieffer, read by the author (Penguin Audio, Sept.); Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven: A Gutsy Guide to Becoming One Hot (and Healthy) Mother! by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, read by Gwendoline Yeo (Phoenix Audio, Sept.); The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell, read by the author and others (Simon & Schuster Audio, Oct.); Traitor to His Class: The Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by H.W. Brands (Random House Audio, Nov.); Let’s Play Doctor by Mark Leyner Leyner (HarperAudio, Nov.); Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis (Listen & Live Audio, Dec.).
SPIRITUALITY
Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the “Saint of Calcutta” by Mother Teresa; ed. by Brian Kolodiejchuk; read by Sherri Kennedy-Brownrigg, Paul Smith and others. A collection of personal writings and reflections, most of which have never been made public before. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Mother Theresa’s death. (St. Anthony Messenger Press, July)
Meditations for a New Earth by Kim Eng, read by the author, with introduction by Eckhart Tolle. Created to meet the demand from Tolle fans, this is the first-ever practice-oriented program based on Tolle’s teachings and sanctioned by him. (Sounds True, Sept.)
Being Christian: Exploring Where You, God, and Life Connect by Stephen Arterburn & John Shore, read by Arterburn. A guide to what it means to be a Christian, for new believers and those who want a clearer understanding of the faith. (Bethany House, Sept.)
Life Is a Test by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, read by Mare Winningham. “In 2007 I was shopping in a Judaica store in the Los Angeles area and the store owner handed me a copy of the Rebbitzen’s book A Committed Life, and said, 'You should read this.’ So began my love of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis’s writings,” says narrator Winningham. “I now own all of her books, have attended her classes in New York, receive her e-mail Torah teachings and, most blessedly, have had the honor of reading aloud her inspirational Life Is a Test. Now I say, 'You should listen to this.’ ” (Hachette Audio, Sept.)
Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment by Deepak Chopra. Chopra reimagines a young man’s transformational journey from carpenter’s son to revolutionary leader to the man many believe to be the Messiah. (BBC Audiobooks America, Nov.)
Chi Running: A Training Program for Effortless, Injury-Free Running by Danny Dreyer, read by the author. A guide on how to bring the internal power of T’ai Chi into runners’ routines. The program is so effective that New Balance has designed a shoe just for “ChiRunning.” (Sounds True, Dec.)
BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
Books: A Memoir by Larry McMurtry, read by William Dufris. The very prolific narrator Dufris was named “One of the Best Voices at the End of the Century” by AudioFile magazine. (Tantor, July)
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken, read by the author. “Elizabeth is a lovely and poised author who shares her moving story of a child lost and how she and her husband found the courage to continue on,” says director and producer Michele McGonigle. “Elizabeth gave voice to her memoir with much grace and love. It was an honor to work with her. She has a wonderful sense of humor and radiates a warmth that only pulls you in further.” (Hachette Audio, Sept.)
John Lennon: The Life by Philip Norman. This is, according to the publisher, the most deeply researched and comprehensive biography of the musical legend to date, by the author of Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation. (HarperAudio, Sept.)
Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession by Anne Rice, read by the author. Bestselling author Rice describes her Catholic upbringing in New Orleans and her eventual, joyful return to the faith following 38 years as an atheist. (Random House Audio, Oct.)
Call Me Ted by Ted Turner, read by the author. Busy media mogul and billionaire Turner started recording during a spring visit to Hachette Audio’s New York offices and finished in Atlanta. At BookExpo America’s Sunday author breakfast, he talked about having dedicated his time to the audiobook because he believes in it and wants to support it in every way that he can. (Hachette Audio, Nov.)
Things I’ve Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi, read by the author. A memoir, spliced with fictional stories, about growing up in the repressive and often harrowing social and political climate in Iran. (Random House Audio, Dec.)
Rich Brother, Rich Sister by Robert and Emi Kiyosaki. A financial and spiritual memoir from the bestselling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and his younger sister. Simultaneous release with the Rich Publishing/Perseus Book Group hardcover. (Brilliance Audio, Dec.)
CHILDREN’S
Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys by Lang Lang, adapted by Michael French, read by Andrew Pang. A rags-to-riches story about a Chinese piano prodigy who became a renowned concert musician, a musical ambassador to China and UNICEF’s youngest international Goodwill Ambassador. (Listening Library, July)
Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren. The follow-up to Meyer’s incredibly popular seafaring adventure Bloody Jack, which earned a slew of audio accolades, including the Odyssey Honor Award, an Audie Award and ForeWord magazine’s Audiobook of the Year. (Listen & Live Audio, July)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, read by Grover Gardner. Gardner’s affinity for the dry wit of Mark Twain was noted with his acclaimed recording of Huckleberry Finn. What he finds remarkable about Tom Sawyer is Twain’s insight into the vibrant emotional world of a child. “It’s a nostalgic look at a time when a child could be a child, before adults divided their playtime into competitive soccer games, music lessons, summer school and computer sessions,” he says. (Blackstone, July)
Dark Whispers (The Unicorn Chronicles: Book Three) by Bruce Coville, read by the author and a full cast. The most difficult piece of casting for this recording was the role of Rajiv, a street boy from Delhi. After an extensive search, the company found Aakarsh Shekhar, a 10-year-old from India whose father was in the U.S. for graduate work at Syracuse University. Aakarsh had done some acting in his native country, and his natural accent brings wonderful authenticity to the role. (Full Cast Audio, Aug.)
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, read by Ilyana Kadushin. The highly anticipated fourth volume in Meyer’s Twilight Saga picks up with Bella and Edward’s engagement. The first three titles have sold 74,000 copies on audio since Twilight’s release in October 2005. The film version of Twilight is set to release December 12, and Meyer was recently named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2008. Breaking Dawn will have a 3.2-million-copy hardcover first printing, a record for Little, Brown, and the initial audio print run is 35,000 copies. (Listening Library, Aug.)
The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau, read by Katherine Kellgren. Fourth in the fantasy Book of Ember series. The film adaptation of the first book, The City of Ember, is due in theaters in October and stars Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Saoirse Ronan (Atonement). (Listening Library, Aug.)
The Cabinet of Wonders: The Kronos Chronicles: Book I by Marie Rutkoski, read by Lorelei King. Two-time Audie Award—winner King brings her talent for great voices and her family’s Eastern European background to her reading of the first novel in a new fantasy series set in Prague. (Macmillan Young Listeners, Aug.)
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Animal Tales by James Herriot, read by Jim Dale. Macmillan Audio has published nine adult audiobooks by Herriot, and now Dale, known for his award-winning work on the Harry Potter audios, brings Herriot’s stories to young readers. Director Bob Van Kolken says, “By combining his mastery of British dialects with his unbelievably diverse roster of voices, Jim Dale was able to breathe new life into the rich narrative and quirky characters that make James Herriot’s stories so wonderful.” (Macmillan Young Listeners, Aug.)
Haunted Kids by Alan Zullo, read by John Ratzenberger. This two-CD collection of ghost stories inspired by real-life cases will be produced by bestselling author Joel Engel, and the recording will be filled with original music and sound effects. (Brilliance Audio, Aug.)
Crank, Glass and Identical by Ellen Hopkins, read by Laura Flanagan. Hopkins’s three semi-autobiographical titles about a teen girl’s struggle with drugs debuts on audio. A Web and print campaign, “Get CRANKed on audio,” will promote the three simultaneous releases. Crank is Hopkins’s first book; it broke onto national bestseller lists via word-of-mouth (Hopkins has more than 10,000 MySpace friends). (HighBridge, Sept.)
Meet the Austins: The Austin Family Chronicles by Madeleine L’Engle, read by Maggi-Meg Reed. Reed reads all five books in L’Engle’s classic Austin Family Chronicles series, none of which have been produced on audio before. Reed also narrated L’Engle’s novel The Joys of Love, published posthumously in May of this year. (Macmillan Young Listeners, Sept.)
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, read by Gerard Doyle. Brisingr will have a midnight release on September 20, with an initial print run of 2.5 million copies in hardcover and 60,000 on audio. The first two books in the series, Eragon and Eldest, since 2003 have sold more than 12.5 million copies worldwide in book format, and 314,000 on audio. A teaser chapter will be released on iTunes before the book’s official on-sale, and the audio will feature an interview with Paolini, speaking about the Dwarfish language. (Listening Library, Sept.)
Tamar by Mal Peet, read by Anton Lesser and Anna Maxwell Martin. British actors Lesser and Martin tackle Candlewick’s first full-length fiction audiobook, in which Tamar discovers clues to her grandfather’s mysterious and dangerous past. (Candlewick, Sept.)
The 39 Clues: Book One—Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan, read by David Pittu. Debut title in a multimedia series that sends listeners around the world on the hunt for the 39 clues with Amy and Dan Cahill. The audiobook will include exclusive bonus material and six trading cards. (Scholastic Audio, Sept.)
Football Genius by Tim Green, read by the author and a full cast. Former NFL player, TV analyst and NPR commentator Green based two of the main characters in the story on his own kids, and they play their own parts in the recording, with their dad narrating. Between his broadcast work and narrating one of his own adult books for audio, Green was right at home in the studio, and his kids are clearly following in his footsteps. (Full Cast Audio, Oct.)
The Red Planet by Robert A Heinlein, read by William Dufris and a full cast. This is Full Cast’s first “offshore” production. In a move to expand its production capacity, the company turned to the multi-talented William Dufris, who produced and directed in his own studio. FCA founder Bruce Coville and narrator Dufris have a long connection, as Dufris has done solo narrations for four of Coville’s books, so he was an obvious first partner for the company. (Full Cast Audio, Oct.)
Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke, read by Allan Corduner. The final book of the Inkheart fantasy trilogy. The film adaptation of the first book in the series, Inkheart, is due in theaters in January 2009; it stars Brendan Fraser (who also narrated the second book, Inkspell, for Listening Library), Paul Bettany and Helen Mirren. (Listening Library, Oct.)
Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman. This audio will be produced as an enhanced CD with visual content, to be in stores for the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth (on February 12). (Listening Library, Oct.)
Other notable children’s titles:The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas (Brilliance Audio, Aug.); Brooklyn Bridge by Karen Hesse (Macmillan Young Listeners, Sept.); My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath, read by Tai Alexandra Ricci (Listening Library, Sept.); The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, read by Carolyn McCormick (Scholastic Audio, Oct.); Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Brilliance Audio, Oct.); Emperor Mage (The Immortals: Book Three) by Tamora Pierce, read by the author and a full cast (Full Cast Audio, Oct.); The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume 2: The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson, read by Peter Francis James (Listening Library, Oct.); The Runaway Dolls by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin (Listening Library, Oct.); Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, read by the author (Brilliance Audio, Nov.); Sea Tales: Snow White and the Seven Hermit Crabs, adapted by Branden, Keith and Eric Chambers, read by Betty White (Phoenix Audio, Nov.); Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron (Listening Library, Nov.); The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd (Brilliance Audio, Dec.).
