Audio Book News!
A month or so ago I heard that audio rights have gone to Listening Library, which is terrific. I was really pleased and started wondering who would read it, until a friend suggested that I read it myself. I hadn’t thought of that, but now that the idea had been put into my head I decided to go for it (assuming they couldn’t get Emma Thompson 
).
I practiced reading a section (the part where they find the green box and call the Hunt) and then recorded it in my hastily assembled “recording studio.” This consisted of installing some audio software on my laptop and kitting out the walk-in closet in my bedroom with a small table, microphone, pop screen and mic stand. I wanted to give it my best shot, but it took a while – partly because I kept messing up and partly because Zulu kept peeking through the doors and wailing. Anyway, I managed to record a 13 minute section and sent it along to my agent, who sent it to Feiwel & Friends, who sent it to Listening Library.
Then the waiting started…
There were a few rumblings that they liked it, but nothing was certain until Friday when I heard from Listening Library’s head of production who said that they loved it and want me to read the book! Apparently it takes three days to record so they want me to let them know when I’ll be available. Their studio is in Woodland Hills, which is just up the road from North Hollywood where I live, so it should be fairly straightforward to sort out.
So exciting!
Posted in Spellbinder | 6 Comments »
April 11th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
That’s great Helen! Can’t wait to hear it.
May 21st, 2010 at 2:04 am
40 days since you–(or anybody else)– posted an update, a comment, or an encouraging word. Is interest in your endeavours fading, or have the cats finally eaten you?
May 25th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Not at all! I’ve been finishing up the first five chapters of something completely new and my mother has been in the hospital — so just distracted really.
May 25th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I hope your mother is not in terribly serious condition. // Something completely new? Not Belladonna Johnson related? Diversification is always good, I maintain. Give your fans a hint.// How is the plan for the audiobook progressing?
May 26th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Not terribly serious, but worrying all the same. I’ve done the 6-hour drive up to the Bay Area and back for four weeks straight and I’m getting a bit too familiar with all the roadside junk on the I-5. (There’s the rather sad carcass of a bookmobile not far from Buttonwillow, for example!) I think she’s definitely on the mend now, though.
And yes…something completely new!
May 26th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Interesting…When you didn’t post for such a long time I actually FELT–that’s the appropriate term–that it had something to do with your mother. How very interesting, or maybe odd.