Celebrity Audiobook Narrators

Ann M.
Richardson

Celebrity audiobook narrators are not a new thing. If you ask any narrator, overwhelmingly you will find that they are glad for the exposure and draw that a celebrity narrator brings to the industry…but…do they have an unfair advantage over “regular” narrators when it comes time for awards and accolades?
Every audiobook narrator dreams of winning an Audie award; this is the pinnacle of achievement. Every year in May, the Audio Publishers Association announces the Audie winners at a grand gala, an event with pricey tickets and a crowd replete with elegant evening gowns, jewels, and tuxedos. Categories are numerous and range in variety from best package design, to best read-by-author, and of course, the biggie: BEST AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR.  The following list of past Audiobook of the Year winners may help explain the topic of this month’s column:
2012: “Bossy Pants” by Tina Fey, narrated by Tina Fey (Hachette)
2013: “The End of the Affair” by Graham Green, narrated by Colin Firth (Audible)
2014: “Still Foolin’ Em” by Billy Crystal, narrated by Billy Crystal (Macmillan Audio)
2015: “Mandela: An Audio History” by Radio Diaries, narrated by Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Joe Richman (Highbridge)
2016: “Girl on a Train” by Paula Hawkins, narrated by Clare Corbett, Louise Brealy, India Fisher (Penguin Audio/Books on Tape)
2017: “Hamilton: The Revolution” by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, narrated by Mariska Hargitay and the authors (Hachette)
Did you spot the trend? I’ll elucidate, in case you missed it: nearly all of the narrators are arguably household names, and NOT because of their audiobook narration.

Read the entire article in the November 2017 issue of InD'Tale magazine.

Subscriptions are free!

You can just click on the magazine image on the left hand side of our home page to open and enjoy!

OR

If you would like to receive the magazine every month (for FREE!) , just sign up on our home page. Once you do, an e-mail validation notice will be sent directly to you. Just open and click the link and you're in - forever!  Each month the magazine will be delivered directly to your inbox to downlad and read!