The Audio Publishers Association (APA) has announced three Audie nominees for the prestigious Audiobook of the Year Award and five nominees for the newly created Distinguished Achievement in Production category.

• Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, read by Gerard Doyle, published by Listening Library;
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, read by the author, published by HarperAudio; and
• A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs, read by the author, published by Macmillan Audio.

• Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren, published by Listen & Live Audio;
• Fairest by Gail Carson Levine, read by Sarah Naughton and a full cast, published by Full Cast Audio;
• Many Things Invisible by Carrington MacDuffie, read by the author, published by Blackstone Audio;
• The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer by various authors, read by Stacy Keach and a full cast, published by Blackstone Audio; and
• Louis Vuitton Soundwalk: Shanghai read by Joan Chen, published by Soundwalk.

As the third book of the Inheritance trilogy, Brisingr already had a strong following but the audiobook was an integral part of the overall Inheritance experience. Clues about the next book in the series were even included in an audio-only interview with the author.

 

Narrator Gerard Doyle’s masterful performance encompassed everything from people of all ages and genders to fantastic beasts with magical powers, demonstrating his own magical gifts in the process.

The Graveyard Book leaped into immortality with its Newbery Medal win, but the audiobook adds the author’s haunting performance, which strikes the perfect balance between a professional reader and the heart and soul of the author.

 

Bela Fleck’s eerie and whimsical original musical composition for the audiobook sets the tone and punctuates the production. Gaiman’s unabashed enthusiasm for the audiobook format found expression throughout his book tour and on his website. Gaiman’s and HarperAudio’s efforts have clearly won new fans through these recorded readings and effective social media marketing.

Augusten Burroughs’ audio bestseller features a dramatic narration by the author and additional material specifically related to the audiobook production, including original songs from Patti Smith, Sea Wolf, Ingrid Michaelson and Tegan Quin, and a unique musical score.

 

Additionally, Burroughs was particularly involved in both the production and promotion of the audiobook, endorsing the audiobook product as much as he did the hardcover.