Audiobook Month 2013

Karin Slaughter, the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of 13 thrillers, is no stranger to the thrill of a good audiobook. In this interview, she discusses the dangers of listening to a shocking story while running on a treadmill, how listening to Annie Proulx's ACCORDION CRIMES can turn even the most stubborn reader on to audiobooks, and the paradigm-shifting effect of ear crushes (which aren't as painful as they sound). Karin's latest thriller featuring detective Will Trent, UNSEEN, releases on July 2nd.

No buried secrets here: Joseph Finder is the New York Times bestselling author of many thrillers, including THE ZERO HOUR, HIGH CRIMES (made into a major motion picture starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd), PARANOIA (the film adaptation with Liam Hemsworth, Gary Oldman and Harrison Ford is scheduled for release in August), COMPANY MAN (winner of the Barry and Gumshoe Awards for Best Thriller) and KILLER INSTINCT (recipient of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Thriller). His most recent thriller, BURIED SECRETS, is a sequel to VANISHED, which introduced readers to private spy Nick Heller. In our latest audiobook blog post, Finder reveals his favorite audiobook, the danger of driving while listening, and the importance of keeping track of accents when recording your own books.

Rainbow Rowell, the author of ATTACHMENTS, FANGIRL and, most recently, ELEANOR & PARK, is no stranger to a good audiobook. From Grisham to Austen, Rainbow is an avid listener --- even if she's simultaneously cleaning her house. Here, she discusses the role that a good narrator plays in drawing listeners into the story in new ways, how hearing a difficult book can make it more accessible, and why her two young sons can't get enough audio-bedtime stories.

Although Mary Roach --- author of PACKING FOR MARS, BONK, SPOOK and STIFF --- doesn't often listen to audiobooks, she knows that a great narrator can add a whole new dimension of vitality to even the most lifeless text. Mary's writing has appeared in Outside, Wired, National Geographic and the New York Times Magazine, among others, and her latest book, GULP: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, released in April. 

A writer and an actor, Aaron Hartzler’s autobiographical performances have been seen in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, where he received a GLAAD Media Award nomination for Outstanding Off-Off Broadway Performance. RAPTURE PRACTICE, his memoir for young adults, was published in April. In our latest audiobook blog post, Aaron talks about how a great narrator can make or break the tone of a book --- as well as make all the unread classics in your to-be-read pile seem a little less intimidating --- and why it’s unsafe to drive while listening to Rupert Everett read his own memoir, RED CARPETS AND OTHER BANANA SKINS.

Gary Dell'Abate, a.k.a. “Baba Booey,” has been the producer of the world-renowned Howard Stern Radio Show for nearly 30 years. In this interview, the author of the bestselling memoir THEY CALL ME BABA BOOEY talks about some of his favorite audiobooks, why actors make the best narrators, and how listening to books has made his hour-long commute not only bearable but enlightening as well.

Together with her mother, author Lisa Scottoline, Francesca Serritella writes the weekly “Chick Wit” column in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The column has been published in four collections, the most recent of which, MEET ME AT EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE CLAIM, released in November. With her signature humor, Francesca discusses why funny memoirs make the best audiobooks, and how fun --- and unexpectedly emotional --- it was to record her own work with her mother.

Jack Gantos has written novels for adults, young adults and middle-grade readers, as well as over 20 books for primary readers, including 12 titles chronicling the misadventures of Rotten Ralph. FROM NORVELT TO NOWHERE, the sequel to his Newbery Award-winning DEAD END IN NORVELT, will be published in September. In this interview, Gantos shares some of his favorite audiobooks and explains the terrifying art of narrating his own work. 

The qualities of a good audiobook are no mystery to Mary Kay Andrews. In this interview, the New York Times bestselling author of 20 books --- 10 of which are mysteries penned under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck --- discusses the captivating power of audiobooks and how especially useful they are on long car rides with children. Her 10th Mary Kay Andrews novel, LADIES' NIGHT, is now in stores.

June is Audiobook Month, and to celebrate, we’re kicking off a month-long blog series with pieces from authors who are avid fans of audiobooks. First up is Janis Ian, author of the top-selling autobiography SOCIETY’S CHILD; the audiobook version won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. She’s also a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer and musician, so she has a good ear for what makes a great audiobook (hint: anything read by Katy Kellgren has a huge head start).