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The 13th Annual Audie® Awards
Recognize Innovation and Impact
June 4, 2008
 
The Chopin Manuscript, an audiobook available only through download, is the 2008 Audiobook of the Year, the grand prize winner in the Audie® Awards presented by the Audio Publishers Association (APA). 
 
Read by Alfred Molina, the title is hailed as a winning combination of superb production quality and innovative presentation as a serial release, and also for an impressive marketing strategy.

Audie® winners in 30 categories were announced on May 30 at a grand gala at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.
 
Often considered the “Oscars” of the audiobook industry, the Audies® are the only completely juried awards program covering audiobooks and spoken word entertainment.
 
The APA recognized the year’s best titles across many different genres, while also celebrating industry trailblazers.
 
CELEBRATES THE BEST
 
Hosted by acclaimed audiobook narrator Scott Brick, the gala celebrated audio’s most entertaining and ground-breaking audiobooks of the 2007 publishing year.
 
Lorelie King's reading of Tallgrass won the Solo Narration - Female award, and Jim Dale won Solo Narration - Male for his narration of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
 
In recognition of its record-breaking sales and impact on the entire audio publishing industry, The Secret, written and read by Rhonda Byrne, was inducted into the Audies® Hall of Fame.
 
Also, in a surprise sweep, the original production Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls won in all three of its nominated categories. Writer/producer/director Yuri Rasovsky based the drama on the original Victorian tale, and the APA awarded its quality with Audies in Original Work, Audio Drama, and Achievement in Production.
 
Additionally, the association honored industry trailblazers Grady Hesters and Linda Olsen of The Audio Partners, Inc., for their contributions to the growth of the audio industry through their high standards in marketing, recording and packaging over their 27 years in audio.
 
“This was an exciting year in audio, and the Audies® continue to truly capture that excitement and innovation as the industry grows and changes,” said Michele Lee Cobb, President of APA. “We commend all of the entrants on their high-quality work and contributions.”
 
Check here for a listing of all finalists.
 
HEAR EXCERPTS
 
Additionally, the APA and AudioFile Magazine have joined together to provide an interactive way to listen to this year’s Audie® winners. The web site, www.theaudies.com, allows listeners to read a review about the winning audiobook, as well as listen to a sample.
 
Earshot! Podcasts with excerpts from each title and candid AudioFile reviews are also available at www.audiofilemagazine.com/earshot/index.html.
 
THE WINNERS
 
The 2008 Audie® winners by category:
 
Audiobook of the Year
The Chopin Manuscript
By: Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, David Hewson, James Grady, S. J. Rozan, Erica Spindler, John Ramsey Miller, David Corbett, John Gilstrap, Joseph Finder, Jim Fusilli, Peter Spiegelman, Ralph Pezzullo, Lisa Scottoline, and P. J. Parrish
Read By: Alfred Molina
Publisher: Audible, Inc.
Executive Producer: Steve Feldberg
Producer / Director: Arthur G. Insana
Engineer/Audio Editor: John Kovarek
Music Mix: George James & Amil Dave
Music/Sound Design: Michael Whalen
 
Achievement in Abridgement
The Race
By: Richard North Patterson
Read By: Michael Boatman
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Executive Producer/Abridger: Laura Wilson
Producer / Director: Robert Kessler
 
Achievement in Production
Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls
By: Yuri Rasovsky
Read by: Phil Proctor, Simon Templeman, Moira Quirk, Martin Jarvis, Rosalind Ayres, Robertson Dean, and W. Morgan Sheppard
Publisher: Blackstone Audio Inc.
Executive Producer: Josh Stanton
Producer / Director: Yuri Rasovsky
Production Supervisor: Suzanne Schmidtke
Sound Editing: John Baker
Music Supervisor: Steven Ovitsky
Singers: Tony Barrand and John Roberts
 
Audio Drama
Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls
By: Yuri Rasovsky
Read by: Phil Proctor, Simon Templeman, Moira Quirk, Martin Jarvis, Rosalind Ayres, Robertson Dean, and W. Morgan Sheppard
Publisher: Blackstone Audio Inc.
Executive Producer: Josh Stanton
Producer / Director: Yuri Rasovsky
Production Supervisor: Suzanne Schmidtke
Sound Editing: John Baker
Music Supervisor: Steven Ovitsky
Singers: Tony Barrand and John Roberts
 
Audiobook Adapted from Another Medium
The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas Collection 11
By: Various Authors
Read By: various narrators including Stacy Keach, Fred Willard and Blair Underwood
Publisher: Blackstone Audio Inc.
 
Biography / Memoir
Einstein: His Life and Universe
By: Walter Isaacson
Read By: Edward Herrmann
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Executive Producer: Sandy Moore
Producer / Director: Carol Shapiro
Associate Producer: Travis Tonn
Abridger: Jan Werner
Production Supervisor: Terry Hogan
Sound Editing: Steven Strassman
 
Business Information / Educational
Words That Work
By: Dr. Frank Luntz
Read By: Dr. Frank Luntz with L. J. Ganser
Publisher: Hyperion Audiobooks
Producer / Director: John McElroy
Abridger: Leo Rowland
Production Supervisor: Dennis Kao
 
Children’s Titles for Ages Up To 8
More About Paddington
By: Michael Bond
Read By: Stephen Fry
Publisher: HarperChildren’s Audio
 
Children’s Titles For Ages 8-11
Clementine
By: Sara Pennypacker
Read By: Jessica Almasy
Publisher: Recorded Books
Executive Producer: Claudia Howard
Director: Dru Susman
Production Supervisor: Amber Cleveland
Sound Editing: John Nebel
 
Children’s Titles For Ages 12+
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy
By: L.A. Meyer
Read By: Katherine Kellgren
Publisher: Listen & Live Audio
Executive Producers: Alisa Weberman and Alfred Martino
Director: Alisa Weberman
Sound Editing: CDM Sound Studio
 
Classic
Treasure Island
By: Robert Louis Stevenson
Read By: Alfred Molina
Publisher: Random House Audio Listening Library
Executive Producer / Producer: Dan Zitt
Director: John McElroy
Sound Editing: John Marshall Sound
 
Fiction
Tallgrass
By: Sandra Dallas
Read By: Lorelei King
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Producer / Director: Laura Wilson
 
Humor
I Am America (And So Can You!)
By: Stephen Colbert
Read By: Stephen Colbert with Paul Dinello, Kevin Dorff, Greg Hollimon, Evie McGee, David Pasquesi, Amy Sedaris, Allison Silverman, Brian Stack and Jon Stewart
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Executive Producer: Maja Thomas
Producers: Paul Dinello and John McElroy
Director: Paul Dinello
Production Supervisor: Michele McGonigle
Sound Editing: John McElroy and Charles de Montebello
 
Inspirational / Faith-Based Fiction
River Rising
By: Athol Dickson
Read By: Dion Graham
Publisher: Recorded Books
Executive Producer: Claudia Howard
Director: Timothy Reynolds
Production Supervisor: Amber Cleveland
Sound Editing: Caitlin Parker
 
Inspirational / Spiritual
Inspired By … The Bible Experience™: Old Testament
Read By: Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and many more
Publisher: Zondervan Audio
Executive Producers / Producers: Ron Belk, Kyle Bowser, Lou "Buster" Brown and Robi Reed
Directors: Lou "Buster" Brown, Wren T. Brown, Andi Chapman, Chip Hurd and Mark Swinton
Sound Editing: Lou "Buster" Brown, Sara Clerk, Daniel Galley, Cameron Grey, Kevin Halemane and Kevin Yi
Project Executives: Paul Caminiti and Mark Hunt
 
Literary Fiction
Tree of Smoke
By: Denis Johnson
Read By: Will Patton
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Producer: Laura Wilson
Director: Scott Sherratt
 
Multi-Voiced Performance
Inspired By … The Bible Experience™: Old Testament
Read By: Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and many more
Publisher: Zondervan Audio
Executive Producers / Producers: Ron Belk, Kyle Bowser, Lou "Buster" Brown and Robi Reed Directors: Lou "Buster" Brown, Wren T. Brown, Andi Chapman, Chip Hurd and Mark Swinton
Sound Editing: Lou "Buster" Brown, Sara Clerk, Daniel Galley, Cameron Grey, Kevin Halemane and Kevin Yi
Project Executives: Paul Caminiti and Mark Hunt
 
Mystery
Tin Roof Blowdown
By: James Lee Burke
Read By: Will Patton
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Executive Producer: Sandy Moore Producer /
Director: Elisa Shokoff
Associate Producer: Travis Tonn
Abridger: James Shokoff
Production Supervisor: Terry Hogan
Sound Editing: Common Mode
 
Narration by the Author or Authors
Pontoon
Written and Read By: Garrison Keillor
Publisher: HighBridge
Producer: Jason Keillor
Sound Editing: Craig Thorson and Tom Mudge
 
Non-Fiction
Roots: The Saga of an American Family
By: Alex Haley
Read By: Avery Brooks
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
Executive Producer: Dan Hypes
Producer: Sean McKinley
Director: Robin Miles
Sound Editing: Talking Book Productions
 
Original Work
Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls
By: Yuri Rasovsky
Read by: Phil Proctor, Simon Templeman, Moira Quirk, Martin Jarvis, Rosalind Ayres, Robertson Dean, and W. Morgan Sheppard
Publisher: Blackstone Audio Inc.
Executive Producer: Josh Stanton
Producer / Director: Yuri Rasovsky
Production Supervisor: Suzanne Schmidtke
Sound Editing: John Baker
Music Supervisor: Steven Ovitsky
Singers: Tony Barrand and John Roberts
 
Package Design
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
By: J.K. Rowling
Read By: Jim Dale
Publisher: Random House Audio Listening Library
Producers: Orli Moscowitz and David Rapkin
Production Associate: Louis Milgrom
Director: David Rapkin
Package Design: Susan Daulton
Jacket Design: Mary GrandPré and David Saylor
 
Personal Development / Motivational
Fit to Live
Written and Read By: Pamela Peeke, M.D.
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Producer: Laura Wilson
 
Romance
Natural Born Charmer
By: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Read By: Anna Fields
Publisher: HarperAudio
Executive Producer: Rick Harris
Producer: Kate Fleming, Cedar House Audio
 
Science Fiction
Dune
By: Frank Herbert
Read By: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, Simon Vance and cast
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Executive Producer: Laura Wilson
Producers: Garret Scott and Kevin Thomsen
Director: Garret Scott
 
Short Stories / Collections
20th Century Ghosts
By: Joe Hill
Read By: David Ledoux
Publisher: HarperAudio
Executive Producer / Director: Rick Harris
Sound Editing: Lance Neal
 
Solo Narration – Female
Tallgrass
By: Sandra Dallas
Read By: Lorelei King
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Producer / Director: Laura Wilson
 
Solo Narration – Male
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
By: J.K. Rowling
Read By: Jim Dale
Publisher: Random House Audio Listening Library
Producers: Orli Moscowitz and David Rapkin
Production Associate: Louis Milgrom
Director: David Rapkin
 
Spanish Language
Malinche
By: Laura Esquivel
Read By: Lucia Mendez
Publisher: FonoLibro Inc.
Executive Producer / Producer: Arquimedes Rivero
Director / Production Supervisor: Erwin Dorado
Sound Editing: Lester Carrodeaguas
 
Thriller / Suspense
Heart-Shaped Box
By: Joe Hill
Read By: Stephen Lang
Publisher: HarperAudio
Executive Producer / Director: Rick Harris
Production Supervisor: Angela Piva
Sound Editing: Sharon Mattlin
 
ABOUT THE APA
 
The Audio Publishers Association is a not-for-profit trade organization whose primary goals are to promote awareness of the audiobook industry, gather and disseminate industry statistics, encourage high production standards, and represent the interests of audiobook publishers.
 
Since 1986, the APA has worked to bring audio publishers together to increase interest in audiobooks. For more information, visit www.audiopub.org
 
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