VoiceOverXtra: Finalists Announced for 2018 \'Audiobook of the Year\' Audie Award

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AUDIE AWARDS®
Audio Publishers Association Announces
Five Finalists For 'Audiobook Of The Year'
March 21, 2018

(VOXtra) - Dozens of the coveted Audie Awards® will be presented to audiobook narrators at the Audie Awards Gala in New York on May 31, but the really BIG prize will go to the Audiobook of the Year - and five finalists for that have been announced by the Audio Publishers Association (APA), sponsor of the annual competition.

"The Audiobook of the Year recognizes the audiobook that, through quality, innovation, marketing, and sales, has had the most significant impact on the industry," the APA explains. "Each nominated title is distinguished by excellence in production as well as its ability to create new interest in the audiobook format through creative marketing."

APA Executive Director Michele Cobb adds that 2017 was another "exciting year of growth for the audio publishing industry, with clear enthusiasm for the format reflected in this strong list of Audiobook of the Year finalists."

The five titles competing for Audiobook of the Year are:

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, written and narrated by Trevor Noah, published by Audible Studios

Columbus Day: ExpeditionaryForce, Book 1, by Craig Alanson, narrated by R.C. Bray, published by Podium Publishing

The Handmaid's Tale: Special Edition, by Margaret Atwood and Valerie Martin, narrated by Claire Danes, Margaret Atwood, and a full cast, published by Audible Studios

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, narrated by George Saunders, Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, and 163 others, published by Random House Audio

The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness, written and narrated by Paula Poundstone, published by HighBridge Audio, a division of Recorded Books.

WHAT JUDGES SAY ...

In announcing the finalists, the APA also shares judges' comments about the selections:

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (Audible Studios)
Trevor Noah's formidable storytelling skills combined with his facility with various South African dialects and accents immerse listeners in this captivating account of his coming of age during the apartheid era.

Columbus Day: Expeditionary Force, Book 1 (Podium Publishing)
A rousing military science fiction adventure read with humor and gusto by R.C. Bray, chock-full of compelling characters from across the galaxy.

The Handmaid's Tale: Special Edition (Audible Studios)
Claire Danes' flawless performance of this dystopian modern classic is supported by additional material written for the audio by author Margaret Atwood, extending the original work.

Lincoln in the Bardo (Random House Audio)
In a stunning choral performance featuring 166 voices, Saunders' innovative novel is transformed into an auditory experience unlike any other, revealing President Lincoln's grief after his son's death.

The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness (HighBridge Audio, a division of Recorded Books)
Paula Poundstone infuses the story of her career as a comedian and her experiences as a parent with self-deprecating humor and sharp wit, framed by her search for personal happiness.