Earlier this year I was lucky enough to have my first two books Amazing Grace and Escape to Giddywell Grange which are published by Hera Books produced as audiobooks by Saga Egmont. I can’t explain the feeling when you hear your own words read out loud by a professional. It’s really quite surreal. Click on the book links above to purchase!
I’m delighted that Sunshine and Second Chances and Moonlight Over Muddleford Cove will also be produced in audiobook format with Saga Egmont in the not too distant future. I’m so happy about this!
In #LoveAudio week, I’ve asked a few of my booky friends what being able to listen to audiobooks means to them.
Author Nicola May says,
‘Discovering audiobooks has allowed me more precious reading time as I love to listen whilst cleaning and walking.’
Blogger Shell Baker says,
‘Listening to audiobooks takes me back to when I was at infant school and the teacher used to read to us. Sitting on a hard cold floor wasn’t nice, but listening to the teacher read made me forget how uncomfortable I was. I love audios because they take me away from the stress of the traffic during my 2 hour journey to work and back. I also listen on my daily 3 mile walk. I find audiobooks therapeutic and take me to another place. And if I am really enjoying the story I end up walking even more just so I can find out what’s going to happen next!’
Martin Hunt says,
‘I’m registered blind, and whilst I have some sight, I struggle with reading print so audio books are the only way I can get to enjoy books. I’ve heard people say you don’t read a book but you listen to it and that’s two different things. To me it’s not…I experience the same story, if anything it feels more real as I get the emotion from the narrator. The narration is important though, there’s nothing worse than a dull voice! I particularly enjoy a voice I recognise or a celebrity reading their own book!
You may take picking up a book and reading for granted when you don’t have sight problems, but by having audiobooks I feel like I’m included, feel part of it and don’t feel like I’m being left out, which I do feel in so many others aspects of life. I can still read some of these great books and experience that feeling of getting caught up in a story and not wanting it to stop.’
Alex Rivers has done a fabulous job on recording the audio for Amazing Grace and Escape to Giddywell Grange and when I asked about audiobooks she says,
‘Audiobooks are pure escapism.
As a narrator you get to bring to life characters that have only ever been on the written page, and that’s incredibly exciting. You are bringing your voice and the author’s world directly into the listener’s ears. It’s completely immersive.
You hope that the characters you create are what the audience had imagined in their head and when you get it right, the audience can escape for a few hours.’
As a leading digital publisher in Europe, Saga Egmont has published more than 30,000 audiobooks and 50,000 ebooks around the globe. Annalisa Woods, says,
‘For us, the story stands in the center, not the format. A book is, in its essence, a story that comes across just as well (if not better!) in formats such audiobooks and podcasts. We love how accessible audiobooks make reading and pride ourselves on finding exceptional voice talent to really bring our author’s stories to life.’
I’d love to know how you feel about audiobooks. Do get in touch via commenting on this post, or posting on my Facebook page
Here are the links to the audiobooks in case you might like to have a peek!
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