Audies award winners named

The Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced the winners of the 2008 Audies® on May 30th 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. Hosted by acclaimed audiobook narrator Scott Brick, the gala celebrated audio's most entertaining and ground-breaking audiobooks of the 2007 publishing year.

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. The Chopin Manuscript, a title available only through download, took home the evening's grand prize, Audiobook of the Year.

Competing against the latest installments of past Audie winners such as The Bible Experience: Old Testament (The New Testament was last year's Audiobook of the Year) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the audiobook series was the first Hall of Fame inductee in 2006), the Alfred Molina-voiced title also beat out I Am America (And So Can You!) and The Invention of Hugo Cabret due to a winning combination of superb production quality, innovative presentation as a serial release, and an impressive marketing strategy. 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."

Additionally, the APA and AudioFile Magazine have joined together to provide an interactive way to listen to this year's Audie® winners. The website, 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
http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/earshot/index.html.

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 OvitskySingers: 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: Harper

Children'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
TallgrassBy: 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 HillRead By: David Ledoux
Publisher: HarperAudio
Executive Producer / Director: Rick Harris
Sound Editing: Lance Neal

Solo Narration – Female
TallgrassBy: 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 Audio Publishers Association (APA)
The Audio Publishers Association (APA) 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. Please visit www.audiopub.org for more information.