January LaVoy
"When I got the call from producer Kelly Gildea about playing Charlotte in the new Charlotte’s Web audiobook, I actually teared up a bit. It is such a huge honor to voice that role—that story and those characters were favorites of mine throughout my childhood, and I knew how important this recording would be to generations of children and families. The cherry on top was finding out (later) that the story’s narrator would be none other than Meryl Streep. In terms of memorable audiobook jobs, this one will be very tough to top!"
Vanessa Johansson
"I had to do a lot of preparation for Let's Hope For the Best, an autobiographical novel about a woman whose husband dies before her son reaches the age of one. It is told strictly from her point of view in the format of diary entries and could not have felt more personal. This project was challenging and memorable on many levels: a) the novel was translated from Swedish, so there were many Swedish words that had to be spoken convincingly—while I am half Danish and have heard Swedish before, the sounds are very different and I had to practice a lot to maintain a flow in the narration b) the novel is autobiographical and centers on the horrific life event of losing a partner while in the midst of one of life's great challenges, that of becoming a mother. I have a family of my own and could feel all of the pain she endured, and strength the author had to gather to emerge from this harrowing life experience: there were many teary narration sessions."
JD Jackson
"My most memorable performance of 2019 has to be narrating Albert Woodfox’s Solitary. He spent 40 years of his life in solitary confinement, for a crime he didn’t commit, and came out unbroken. His resilience and mental fortitude were contagious. As I sat in my small, claustrophobic recording booth, there were moments where I intentionally pushed myself to continue reading, through fatigue, feeling as if I owed it to this author to persevere. I literally wanted to suffer in some small way to pay homage to a man, whose story should change anybody who reads it in some way."
Jorjeana Marie
"Honestly, recording the audiobook for my own book after narrating over 300 audiobooks was about the most surreal experience of my career. First of all, because it's such an oddball little book of play and games, I wasn't sure there would be an audiobook. Aaaand I got to work with the amazing team producer, director, engineer, editor and geniuses that I have worked with on many other projects—who are also friends. It was like a family event. And I reveled in the world circling back to me in such a wild way."
Suzy Jackson
"My favorite books to narrate are ones that pull me into their world, books where I get lost while recording and nearly jump out of my seat when the director stops me mid-read to point out a word I misread because I'm so deep into the story. And given that I'm a mom of two, I especially LOVE stories that I'm excited to have my kids read or listen to. And The Mystwick School of Musicraft checked all those boxes for me! I loved going on Amelia's journey, and I loved all the characters she (and I!) met along the way."
Kevin Pierce
"In The Ungovernable (The Borrowed World series, book 7), I’m amazed at the growth of not only the characters in the story, but also in the writing of author Franklin Horton: muscular and taut one moment, tender and sentimental the next. The best post-apocalyptic novels are less about the event that causes the catastrophe and more about the people whose lives are shaped by it. Franklin demonstrates this in his stories of good and evil, love and hate, hope and fear. After four years in his Borrowed World, I only hope the coming years yield as much fabulous storytelling."
Brittany Pressley
"Working on this project was an incredible merging of two passions. I majored in Psychology and wanted to become a therapist before my path lead in a different direction and I became an audiobook narrator. I had an instant connection to Lori's words and sense of humor. I loved being able to step into the role of therapist for a brief time. However, because there are so many lessons to be learned from this book I also felt like I got the benefits of being one of Lori's patients too! Each recording session was like a six-hour therapy session for both me and my engineer. There were moments of laughter, tears, and revelation throughout the recording process."
Erin Moon
"What a great question! There were some heart wrenching stories this year—Under the Bridge, some fabulous YA Fantasy—Mad Magic—and one of my (Felicity Munroe’s) favorite romances—As Dust Dances (that took place in Glasgow!). But I have to say the Babysitters Club was just an immense project! There were over 100 books and I narrated 21 of them alongside six other narrators! I started these HUGE Google Docs we called "BSC OMG" with lists of pronunciations and characters (over 200!) to try to keep a sense of continuity as we were recording at different times all over North America! It was a really fun challenge!"
Josh Hurley
"For me, one of the most memorable things about 2019 was getting to perform in some incredible Audible Original multi-cast projects with such a creative team of producers, directors, engineers, writers, actors, and crew. From laughing and doing character bits with the cast of Rivals 2, to amazingly fun-to-perform group scenes in ‘Riley Mack’, to getting to play both comedic and dramatic turns in A Very Scalzi Christmas, to making up campfire songs with the cast in between takes for R.L. Stine’s Camp Red Moon, I’m greatful to have worked with such a fantastic, playful group of storytellers."
Emily Bauer
"Christmas came early for me when I had the privilege to narrate the role of Beth in Audible’s new and glorious production of Little Women. As an narrator, I’m drawn to rich, truthful storytelling, and our all-star ensemble cast brings the March sisters’ world to life beautifully. This audiobook invites you to curl up in front of a fire, get cozy and warm, and indulge in a rich and rewarding audiobook. Introduce your family members to this classic for the first time, or relive your favorite March Sisters moments all over again."
Mark Boyett
"This a sort of tangential story in the Galaxy’s Edge universe. I was so fortunate to be asked to grab the mic on this one. It’s a fantastic book, beautifully and powerfully written, and it afforded me my most memorable experience in the booth in 2019 when, during the climactic scene on the battlefield, both my engineer and I had to stop multiple times mid-recording to just cry. Which wasn’t actually all that surprising since during my prep phase of the book (when I don’t have to worry about extracurricular sounds) I literally sobbed hot tears through the entire eight page scene. Great book. Great experience."
Hilary Huber
"This book is like nothing I’ve ever read—A woman goes on a rampage killing and eating her lovers. Sounds gross, and it is, but it is also dark and snarky and dirty and sexy and hilarious. It is written with such razor-like precision it cuts. Narrating this book was delectably delightful and I didn’t want it to end. For the adventurous listener, not the faint of heart!"
