Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

Poet Dean Atta draws on his skills as a spoken-word performer to deliver his novel in verse, which features an intimate, empowering portrayal of a Black gay teenageer coming of age in Britain. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the power of hearing Atta’s poetry read by the author, whose casual and conversational delivery also highlights all of the emotions and rhythms of the poetry. The story centers around Michael, a mixed-race teen who is raised by his mother and whose voice matures as listeners hear him grow from a curious 6-year-old to a bold university student finding his voice through poetry and drag performances. Highly recommended listening, and the winner of this year’s YA Stonewall Book Award. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frankie Corzo’s velvety voice will bring you under her spell as she narrates this Gothic horror audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s new novel set in the 1950s in Mexico, starring Noemí Taboada, a clever 22-year-old socialite sent into the countryside to check on her recently married cousin. What she finds is, at first, merely odd — but is slowly revealed to be truly horrific. Frankie Corzo skillfully conveys Noemí’s initial alarm and growing terror as she unravels the many mysteries of High Place and its enigmatic inhabitants. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb revisit the Hunger Games, this time through the eyes of Coriolanus Snow. Narrator Santino Fontana captures fans’ attention and hearts with his impactful performance of the prequel to the popular YA trilogy. Listeners discover how Snow morphed from an impoverished, sentimental teenager into a man who became the merciless leader of Panem. Fontana’s consistent characterizations guide listeners through the multilayered story as he builds suspense and maximizes the excitement. Get a behind-the-scenes peek into Panem and the ever more dangerous Hunger Games. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss an alternate history from author Curtis Sittenfeld. In this topsy-turvy world, listeners get to explore the question: What would have happened had Hillary and Bill not married? Carrington MacDuffie offers a savory performance, morphing from a delectable sensuality to a refined maturity and crisp delivery. Listeners follow Hillary’s civic journey from senator to a presidential bid where she and Bill compete directly. A guilty pleasure for Hillary fans. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss dispatches from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. Emily Woo Zeller’s melodious voice, clear diction, and thoughtful pacing are notable, and she expresses Fang Fang’s tone as she discusses daily life and the challenges of living through the pandemic in Wuhan. Emily Woo Zeller makes you feel as if you are listening to the author herself, which is how you know you are in skilled hands. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Gerard Doyle’s Irish heritage and English drama training make him a natural for Scottish, English, and Irish accents, but his relaxed pace and mastery of story are what make his performances shine. His character voices can convince listeners they are hearing a full-cast narration. He has won numerous AudioFile Earphone Awards and an Audie Award for his narrations. On today’s episode, AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss Gerard Doyle’s narration of OBLIVION OR GLORY: 1921 and the Making of Winston Churchill. David Stafford’s work centers around how 1921 was a pivotal year historically and for Winston Churchill personally. Gerard narration makes you feel as though he truly knows the man and is imparting his deep wisdom to you in a way that encourages you to listen more. Published by Blackstone Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor and narrator Emily Woo Zeller was inducted as an AudioFile Golden Voice this June. She is a marvel of a narrator with the ability to bring listeners into the story and capture the heart of a book. She narrates across many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, nonfiction, and stories of immigrants. She uses language and accents to voice audiobooks authentically, including many moving narrations of audiobooks by Asian and Asian American authors. She was nominated for an Audie Award for THE BRIDE TEST by Helen Hoang, and in 2018 won an Audie Award for FIRE ROAD by Kim Phuc Phan Thi. In today’s episode, host Jo Reed interviews Emily Woo Zeller, and they discuss her journey into audiobook narration through voicing anime, her skills with narrating using accents, and what it was like narrating Fang Fang’s WUHAN DIARY in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about Emily Woo Zeller and her audiobook narrations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suzanne Toren has been narrating audiobooks for more than 30 years, and she has more than 1,000 audiobooks to her credit. She has numerous AudioFile Earphone Awards, and is known for narrating history, biography, fiction, mystery, and current events titles. Her attention to detail with her narration serves her well in the variety of genres she narrates. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Suzanne Toren’s Earphone Award-winning narration of HAD I KNOWN, a collection of essays by journalist Barbara Ehrenreich. The audiobook gives listeners a perspective on the last 40 years in America and begins with an extended essay about the author’s time as a waitress and maid. Suzanne’s voice conveys the anger and the humor found in the essays that cover a range of issues, including poverty and Ehrenreich’s fight with breast cancer. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simon Prebble was among the first narrators honored as Golden Voices in 1995. He is much loved for his narrations of historical mysteries, literary fiction such as THE REMAINS OF THE DAY by Kazuo Ishiguro, and romance titles, such as Stephanie Laurens’s Cynster series. He won an Audie Award in Romance for his narration of Laurens’s UNTAMED BRIDE. AudioFile has honored 39 of his titles with Earphones Awards. On today’s episode, AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss A DIVIDED LOYALTY, Charles Todd’s newest mystery starring Inspector Rutledge. Simon Prebble is the perfect narrator for this series, as he’s so skilled at highlighting the historical details that are the hallmark of the series. Simon narrates with ease as he helps create an almost palpable atmosphere that runs through the story, set in the mysterious Avebury with its neolithic standing stones. This is the 22nd title in the series but makes for an enjoyable listen even for those new to the Inspector’s tales. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Jim Dale has probably brought more people to audiobooks than any other narrator. A generation grew up listening to his performances of the Harry Potter series. Jim was originally a musical comedy and dance man who performed in “Barnum” on Broadway. He brings his acting talents to his audiobook narrations, where he creates immensely imaginative and memorable character voices. He brings such energy to every audiobook he narrates, and curious listeners should explore his longform interview that was on the podcast this spring. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss PUSS IN BOOTS, a lively audiobook musical by Neil Fishman, Harvey Edelman, and Khristine Hvam. Jim Dale helms the narration of the story, with a full cast lending spirited performances to add zest to the script and songs. This is a family listen ideal for fans of musicals, folktales, and cats. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator John Lee is no stranger to British history, and he is skilled with all of the accents and speech patterns to make both historical and contemporary characters sound vibrant. John’s rich, smooth voice keeps momentum through long historical audiobooks, including DARKEST HOUR by Anthony McCarten, a 2019 Audie Award-winning History/Biography audiobook. He has a gift with many British accents and is able to set the tone and style for mysteries and histories set in England. One timely listen is THE PANDEMIC CENTURY by Mark Honigsbaum. On today’s podcast, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss John Lee’s narration of ALEXANDER THE GREAT: His Life and His Mysterious Death, by Anthony Everitt. It’s a first-rate audiobook history examining a story now 23 centuries old, and John lends it his compelling voice. Discover an audiobook told with a freshness and clarity rarely experienced in a biography of an ancient figure. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Rosenblat is one of AudioFile’s original Golden Voice narrators, and she is a wonderful chameleon who makes listeners believe in every character she voices. To listeners’ great delight, many of those characters are outrageous! She delights in Sue Townsend’s hilarious send-up of the royal family, THE QUEEN & I, and in Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones, or the iconic Amelia Peabody from Elizabeth Peters’s long-running mystery series. She has also narrated serious literary work, including SUITE FRANCAISE by Irene Nemirovsky, and is a master of accents. She has more than 60 AudioFile Earphones Awards to her name. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Barbara’s narration of a light romp that makes for great listening right now, Judith Deborah’s SOUP TO NUTS. Barbara creates wonderful vocal portraits of all of the vibrant characters in a touching story about food, friendship, and love. Comfort food and comfort listening for every season. Published by Judith Deborah. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Robin Whitten speaks with narrator Arthur Morey, one of AudioFile’s 2020 Golden Voices, as we celebrate his excellent audiobook narrations. Arthur Morey has delighted listeners across genres, and especially in histories, biographies, and memoirs. He is a frequent name on AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of the Year list, most recently for E.B. White’s ON DEMOCRACY and REPORTER by Seymour M. Hersh. Listen to learn about his particular approach to narrating someone’s life story, and discover the story of a man and his horse in THE EIGHTY-DOLLAR CHAMPION: Snowman, the Horse that Inspired a Nation by Elizabeth Letts. Learn more about Arthur Morey’s audiobook narrations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Guidall is one of AudioFile’s original Golden Voice narrators, and he was honored with the accolade two decades ago. He continues to prove his talents with more than 100 AudioFile Earphones Award-winning audiobook performances ranging from science fiction to histories to spy thrillers. George is excellent at pacing his narrations, getting every emphasis of the author’s intent just right in dialogue, internal monologue, and descriptive text. He was honored with the Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss George Guidall’s narration of THE PALADIN, David Ignatius’s new thriller. George gives a flawless performance, elevating the finely tuned novel into one that grips the listener. Former CIA officer Michael Dunne becomes the agency’s scapegoat when a project goes wrong, and he is out for personal vindication. Published by Recorded Books. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edoardo Ballerini is a highly acclaimed narrator who was honored as an AudioFile’s Golden Voice last year. He won the Best Male Narrator Audie Award in the same year for his narration of WATCHERS by Dean Koontz, and in 2013 he won his first Best Male Narrator Audie Award for BEAUTIFUL RUINS by Jess Walter. Audiobook listeners love his smooth voice and easy delivery and his skill with a range of accents. He is known for excellence in his narrations across genres, including thrillers. In today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Edoardo’s narration of THE EIGHTH SISTER, Robert Dugoni’s espionage thriller. It is the first in Dugoni’s new Charlie Jenkins series about a retired CIA caseworker called back for a mission tracking down an assassin in Russia. Nothing goes according to plan, and it’s a race for his life to get back home to his family. Edoardo’s skilled narration guides listeners through the many twists and turns and ratchets up the intensity of the story. Published by Brilliance Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Stefan Rudnicki is an Audie Award winner and nominee for many Science Fiction and Fantasy audiobooks, and he is much loved by listeners in these genres. His distinct deep pitch and steady pace also make him a popular narrator for historical audiobooks and biographies. He has landed on AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of the Year list and has won numerous Earphones Awards over the course of narrating hundreds of audiobooks. He won a Grammy for Best Children’s Album for THE CHILDREN’S SHAKESPEARE. He is known for his gravitas and confidence in his narrations. In today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Stefan’s narration of Joseph Conrad’s THE ROVER. This is Conrad’s last complete work, the story of a French sailor who, having spent the last fifty years of his life roaming the seas, returns home to France in the aftermath of the Revolution. Listeners can hear how Rudnicki’s resonant voice meanders through all the picturesque descriptions of the countryside and intuitively reflects the natural cadence of Conrad’s prose. Published by Blackstone Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bahni Turpin is an incredible narrator, honored as a Golden Voice by AudioFile Magazine in 2019. That same year, her narration of CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE, Tomi Adeyemi’s brilliant fantasy, won Audiobook of the Year. The previous year she took home the Best Female Narrator award for Angie Thomas’s powerful THE HATE U GIVE. Bahni is skilled at drawing out all of the emotion in the stories she narrates and conveying the intensity of the action or drama to listeners. Bahni has earned a spot on AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks list for many fabulous audiobooks, including children’s and teen titles, fiction, biographies, and memoirs. On today’s episode, AudioFile’s Emily Connelly and host Jo Reed discuss Bahni Turpin’s narration of THE YELLOW HOUSE, Sarah M. Broom’s National Book Award-winning memoir. Broom has woven her family’s story into the broader story of New Orleans East, and Bahni narrates the vivid prose with a flawless performance. Listeners explore the structural inequality and racism that impacted Broom’s family along with so many others in the city. Bahni performs the audiobook with pitch-perfect accents for each of Broom’s relatives and gives the audiobook the feeling of an oral history, with voices chiming in to tell their stories. Published by Audible, Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Dion Graham is much loved by audiobook listeners and has won numerous Earphones Awards for his narrations. Dion narrates with dexterity and so much emotion, shifting nimbly from one rich character voice to another. He has won Audie Awards for his narrations, including TROMBONE SHORTY, the children’s picture book memoir packed full of music and joy. His narration of BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF earned him a nomination for a fantasy Audie Award this year and a spot on AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks list. Dion’s narrations shine in many genres, including literary fiction, fantasies, biographies, and children’s audiobooks. Today, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Dion’s narration of LEAVING LYMON, Lesa Cline-Ransome’s historical fiction about a young Black boy growing up in the 1940s. In this Earphones Award-winning audiobook, listeners get to know Lymon, who appeared as a bully in her earlier book, Coretta Scott King Award-winner FINDING LANGSTON. Dion narrates the story with so much heart, conveying Lymon’s vulnerability at always feeling left behind by those he loves. Listeners see Mississippi, Milwaukee, and Chicago through Lymon’s eyes, as he moves from home to home. Dion’s calm tones give listeners hope that love and music will heal Lymon. Published by Dreamscape. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ramón de Ocampo is one of AudioFile’s 2020 Golden Voices. These narrators are the best in the audiobook business, known for their skill and versatility in bringing stories across genres to life. Ramón’s recent accolades include a 2019 Audie Award nomination for Casey McQuiston’s romance RED WHITE & ROYAL BLUE and numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and Best of the Year audiobooks. He skillfully narrates a range of titles, including bestselling series for children, powerful works of historical fiction, and meaningful coming-of-age stories. Listen to Ramón’s conversation with host Jo Reed about getting his start in the world of audiobooks, his emotional connections to the audiobooks he narrates, and the acting skills he uses to deconstruct the text and help listeners engage with the story. Learn more about Ramón’s audiobook narrations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

January LaVoy was named an AudioFile Golden Voice narrator last year, and she has been captivating listeners for years with her narrations. This year she won several Audie Awards, including the Fantasy award for her narration of Alix E. Harrow’s THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY. She has more than 30 AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrations and is frequently on AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks lists in a range of genres. January brings so many of her acting talents to her narration work, and she’ll convince you that you’re listening to a full cast performance. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss January’s lively narration of HIDEAWAY, the newest romantic thriller from Nora Roberts. January creates a full cast of voices to bring each character to life. HIDEAWAY begins with the kidnapping of 10-year-old Caitlyn, whose family is considered “Hollywood royalty,” and the kidnapping changes her life in many ways. January expertly handles the range of accents required and shifts her voice to convey Caitlyn’s maturity as the years pass. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Simon Vance is a rock star in audiobook narration, with 71 Earphones Awards and 16 Audie Awards. He is a master of rendering character and at maintaining narrative pace and momentum. His pacing is vigorous without being too fast, his voice is endlessly listenable, and his interpretations of characters both major and minor are imaginative. In today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss BOWIE’S BOOKSHELF, John O’Connell’s exploration of the books that changed the rockstar’s life. Simon Vance narrates with a professional tone as he introduces a wide-ranging stable of authors who affected Bowie’s evolution. Listeners learn more about Bowie and the connections between great literary works and his songs. The result is a literary mosaic that will satisfy Bowie devotees and possibly create new fans. Published by Tantor Media. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Grover Gardner has 40 years of audiobook narrating experience and more than 1,200 titles to his name, with numerous Earphones and Audie Awards. Grover’s voice has been described as “sandpaper and velvet,” and he is skilled with using pitch and tone variations to evoke rather than imitate regional accents in his work. He often conveys that he’s having a jolly time recording, narrating with a smile in his voice. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed journey to the Italian countryside with Grover’s narration of Andrea Camilleri’s THE SAFETY NET. In Commissario Montalbano’s latest adventure, listeners discover multiple mysteries, including one about the filming of a wall on the same day over years and an armed man in a middle school classroom. Gardner’s able narration brings out Montalbano’s droll sense of humor, dedicated work ethic, and humanity. Published by Blackstone Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Johnny Heller is known for his varied voice, energized delivery, seemingly breathless presentation, and nuanced accents. He has more than 30 AudioFile Earphones Awards and has been a finalist for a dozen Audie Awards for his work. In his stories for young listeners, he combines childlike innocence and silliness with a debonair sophistication. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Johnny Heller’s narration of Jack Reid’s history of hitchhiking, ROADSIDE AMERICANS. He narrates engagingly with a sureness of tone and plainspoken style that suits the many interesting stories, personal histories, and critiques of hitching rides. The audiobook chronicles how hitchhiking mirrors the cultural trajectory of the country from the early clean-cut days to counterculture hitchhikers to the present decline. Published by Tantor Media Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Robin Miles can boast 46 Earphones Award-winning audiobooks and multiple Audie Awards for her narrations. She is skilled at finding the perfect performance level for a specific audiobook, narrating lyrically or intensely as the piece demands. She is well known for her work with accents, including her narration of Zora Neale Hurston’s BARRACOON, one of AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of 2018. She brought New York City to life in N.K. Jemisin’s THE CITY WE BECAME, and her narrations of the author’s Broken Earth trilogy are fan favorites. Robin is also a coach and director, giving many new narrators guidance and support. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Maaza Mengiste’s THE SHADOW KING, read by Robin Miles with a flawless and emotional narration. In this Earphones Award-winning audiobook, listeners journey to Ethiopia in 1935 and 1974 through the eyes of a female resistance fighter. Mengiste’s beautiful writing draws fully formed characters, and Miles adds another dimension to their inner lives with strategic pacing to add suspense and fervor to their experiences. Published by Recorded Books. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Michele Cobb speaks with narrator Julia Whelan, one of AudioFile’s 2020 Golden Voices, as we celebrate her excellent performances across a wide range of genres. Julia Whelan won the 2019 Audie Award for Best Female Narrator for Tara Westover’s EDUCATED and has narrated numerous Earphones Award-winning audiobooks. Today Michele and Julia discuss her narration of YOU CAN’T CATCH ME, Catherine McKenzie’s twisty audiobook about stolen identity, cults, and revenge. Hear Julia’s thoughts on the challenges and thrills of narrating this new psychological suspense audiobook. Learn more about Julia Whelan’s audiobook narrations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Scott Brick has narrated more than 800 audiobooks over his 20 years of narrations, and he has many prize-winning titles across genres. His voice is often characterized as masterful and authoritative, providing emotional power with small changes in his straightforward tone. He is well loved for his narrations of high profile series, including those by Brad Meltzer, Clive Cussler, and Frank Herbert. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Scott Brick’s lively narration of THE WRECK by Landon Beach. The audiobook’s plot about a treasure hunt makes for a fun beach read. Nate and Brooke Martin are in a struggling relationship. When they spend a summer on Lake Michigan, they find a gold coin, and this starts them on the hunt for lost treasure in the Great Lakes. Scott Brick amplifies all the drama and foreboding for a fun, engaging listen. Published by Landon Beach. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Woo Zeller is one of AudioFile’s 2020 Golden Voice narrators, with compelling narrations of popular favorites such as Marie Kondo’s THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP and Mary Roach’s GULP. To many listeners, she’s known for her numerous science fiction and fantasy narrations, and part of that comes from her success with creative and believable world-building. She was nominated for a 2020 Audie Award in romance for Helen Hoang’s deeply moving love story, THE BRIDE TEST. She’s a gifted teller of stories and has a special sensitivity for crafting emotional connections between the listener and the characters. In today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Emily’s skills with world-building in VAGABONDS by Chinese author Hao Jingfang, translated by Ken Liu. A complex exploration of interplanetary diplomacy between Mars and Earth in 2201, it’s literary, contemplative science fiction with elegant prose. Emily balances the philosophical style with deliberate elegance and clarity, and her charafterizations are consistent and multi-layered. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Arthur Morey is known for his skill with nonfiction audiobooks, especially biographies and memoirs. He projects a fine sense of authority and intellectualism in his narrations, and listeners feel as though he has thought through the works as thoroughly as the author has. He can express the emotional tone of the author’s story with subtle believability. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Meir Shalev’s MY WILD GARDEN, a love letter to gardening that wends its way through foliage and flowers with a sweet, affectionate tone. Shaleve is a passionate gardener in Jezreel Valley in Israel, and Arthur helps listeners realize it’s just as much a rumination on life as it is about tending a garden. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ramón de Ocampo is a standout narrator, and we’re pleased to name him one of AudioFile’s 2020 Golden Voice narrators. He helps listeners feel an emotional connection to the characters in the audiobooks he narrates, whether they are playful friendships or difficult and more intense confrontations. He is celebrated often for his work on children’s and young adult audiobooks, and he connects well with young listeners. Ramón’s characters always seem real, and he’s attuned to the tempo and energy of what the author has written. His lively narration of Casey McQuiston’s RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE earned him a Romance nomination for the 2020 Audie Awards. Today, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Ramón’s Earphones Award-winning performance of WE DREAM OF SPACE, Erin Entrada Kelly’s emotionally powerful story centered around the lives of three siblings and the tragedy of the 1986 CHALLENGER mission. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Whelan is one of AudioFile’s 2020 Golden Voice narrators, a well-deserved honor. We celebrate the best of the audiobook narrators to encourage listeners to seek out exceptional performers who have impressive narrations over a range of genres. Julia Whelan won the 2019 Audie Award for Best Female Narrator for her performance of EDUCATED by Tara Westover, and she is a frequent winner of AudioFile Earphone Awards and Best Audiobook selections. She’s stellar with dialogue, especially with characters in a group, and is sensitive to powerful emotions. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss BEACH READ by Emily Henry, which highlights a lot of Julia’s skill with sassy first-person narration. This is a lovely get-away romance that takes place at a little lakeside town in Michigan. The story centers on two writers, January and Gus, who are stuck with writer’s block and bet one another that they can write and sell a book in the other’s genre — rom-com and literary fiction. The witty banter, vulnerability, and chemistry between January and Gus come alive in Julia’s narration. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JD Jackson is one of AudioFile’s 2020 Golden Voices, and he is a skilled and versatile narrator with a long list of impressive credits to his name. He narrated two of this year’s Pulitzer Prize-winning audiobooks, Jericho Brown’s poetry collection THE TRADITION and Colson Whitehead’s historical novel THE NICKEL BOYS. His narration of THE NICKEL BOYS also earned JD a 2020 Audie Awards nomination for Best Male Narrator. Listen in to JD Jackson’s conversation with Jo Reed about his love of storytelling, getting his start in acting and narrating, the joys of falling into the rhythm of reading well-written prose, and the emotional impact of narrating sermons from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Learn more about JD Jackson’s audiobook narrations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June is audiobook month, and this June we are celebrating our Golden Voice narrators on the podcast all month long. Golden Voices are the stars of the audiobook universe. We kick off our celebration with JD Jackson, a narrator with amazing range who performs with confidence and believability. He was nominated for a 2020 Audie Award for THE NICKEL BOYS by Colson Whitehead, winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for fiction — and he also narrated THE TRADITION by Jericho Brown, this year’s Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry. Today host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss JD Jackson’s narration of Otis Williams’s memoir TEMPTATIONS, which Jackson reads in his soulful baritone. Hear a clip of his narration and tune in later today for a bonus interview with JD Jackson. Published by Tantor Media. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Rankin’s expressive narration and graceful tone guide listeners through this sympathetic story of the extended Strick family. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about the familiar themes of family life found in Emma Straub’s new and absorbing audiobook. Rankin superbly distinguishes three generations of the Strick clan, giving each character a unique and compelling persona and exposing their vulnerabilities and longings. A warm and insightful story to lose yourself in. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your true crime book club devolved into an actual mystery—with vampires? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this edgy story about darkness that lurks where we least expect it. There’s an air of disquiet in Bahni Turpin’s charming Southern drawl as she narrates as Patricia, a mother in a quiet town whose only excitement is getting together with her book club. Then an unassuming stranger moves to town, and the book club turns into a sisterhood of vampire slayers. Turpin’s delightful rendition of the ensuing gore, crisp expletives, and eerie suspense makes this horror story an enthralling listening experience. Published by Blackstone Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fifty years after four young people were shot by the National Guard at Kent State University, Deborah Wiles gives us an honest fictional account enhanced by this production. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the moving and powerful narration of this young adult novel in verse. The narrators give voice to several witnesses, each with a unique perspective. We hear the truth as perceived by students, townies, the National Guard, and others. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surrender to the worlds that Stephen King has created. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about the horror author’s latest collection of novellas, featuring gems for longtime fans and new listeners alike. Stephen King was honored earlier this year with a lifetime achievement award from the Audio Publishers Association, and the care he takes with his audiobook narrations is apparent. Three narrators familiar to Stephen King fans return to narrate a coming-of-age tale, a story of a descent into darkness, and what our reviewer calls “King’s most imaginative work in years.” Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Musician Alicia Keys delivers her memoir with a rich, inviting style, and listeners are treated to cameos from family and friends. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss this celebrity memoir that makes for an outstanding listen. Keys’s famous friends including Oprah, Bono, and Michelle Obama chime in during chapters relevant to their expertise or those that describe shared moments with the author. Keys herself is confident, warm, and personable as she narrates her story of becoming who she wanted to be rather than what others expected. Published by Macmillan Audio.= Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investigative reporter Jack McEvoy is back in Connelly’s thrilling series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the creepy and engaging dual narration. Peter Giles returns to portray McEvoy, the persistent and self-righteous investigator. When a one-time hookup becomes a murder victim, Jack connects the dots between her death and others across the country. Zach Villa provides the calm and creepy voice of the serial killer, The Shrike, an unusual but effective way to amp up the intensity of this audiobook. This is a fast paced and engaging listen. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten appreciate the poise and directness of Jesmyn Ward’s narration of her 2018 commencement address. The author of SING, UNBURIED, SING and SALVAGE THE BONES performs the moving speech she shared with the 2018 graduates of Tulane University. With raw emotion, Ward describes her disappointment and disillusionment when, after college graduation, she had no job offers or prospects to follow her passion, writing. Ward proclaims a powerful and persuasive message: Look beyond the horizon, set your sights on a star, and sail toward it. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ex-CIA operative and outsider Milo Weaver is caught up in a web of changing alliances in Steinhauer’s latest thriller. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about the meticulous yet conversational narrator, David Pittu, who uses subtle yet distinctive characterizations to make the story come alive. It’s a twisty thriller and needs your attention – there are many subtleties you don’t want to miss. The action takes place around the globe, and listeners will admire Steinhauer’s writing and Pittu’s skill as they create an unsettling, immersive experience. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and narrator Adrienne Raphael’s voice is bursting with enthusiasm as she dives into the world of crossword puzzles and cruciverbalists, or people who do crossword puzzles. AudioFile’s Robin Whitten tells host Jo Reed why she enjoyed learning more about this pastime shared by many since crosswords first appeared in 1913. Whether you’ve enjoyed solving crossword puzzles all your life or are newly discovering the hobby in quarantine, this is sure to be an engaging listen. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor and narrator Steven Weber is known for his roles in “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Wings,” and “Indebted.” He has narrated audiobooks by Harlan Coben and Stephen King, and has starred in audio dramas from L.A. Theatre Works. In our bonus episode, he speaks with host Jo Reed about his career—creating engaging characters on stage and screen and his journey to becoming an audiobook narrator. Discover his insights into heightening the tension in mysteries and keeping up with the intensity of Stephen King’s works of horror. Read reviews of Steven Weber’s audiobooks and thousands of other titles at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Lucas Davenport’s 30th PREY title, the daughter of a U.S. Senator and the children of other politicians become social media targets for some unsavory radical groups Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Richard Ferrone’s long-running narration of this engaging police procedural series. His voice has matured along with the lead character, to the point where he IS Lucas Davenport for longtime listeners. The topical plot takes on our obsession with social media and the potential threats posed by those who manipulate it. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Almarie Guerra brings Claribel A. Ortega’s humourous, energetic ghost hunting story to life as she introduces young listeners to Lucely Luna and her firefly spirit family. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed all about this adventurous children’s audiobook that’s perfect for kids who are ready for an exciting new listen. Lucely lives in Florida with her father and her ancestors' spirits, who flit back and forth between appearing as fireflies and showing their human forms. Lucely and her best friend work to unravel a decades-old mystery that is endangering her family and the whole community. The story is rooted in Dominican folklore and is a thrilling adventure brought to life with Guerra’s vibrant narration. Perfect family listening. Published by Scholastic Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Jennifer Finney Boylan’s memoir, telling the story of her life centered around seven dogs she loved. Boylan is a writer, a columnist for the New York Times, and a professor at Barnard College. Kesley Navarro narrates with warmth and highlights the author’s wry humor. Each dog’s story pivots around crucial moments in Boylan’s life, from a childhood rambling about in the woods with her father’s ridiculous dalmatian, to her retriever-chow chow mix full of scorn for her family. Boylan is trans, and she speaks about feeling as though she has been many people throughout her life—with a canine companion for each of those seasons. Hers is an insightful and intimate memoir. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phuc Tran’s story is an American immigration story and so much more. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly and host Jo Reed discuss Tran’s memoir about growing up as a Vietnamese refugee in small-town Pennsylvania and the unusual way he discovered he could fit in. Tran’s narration is crisp and engaging as he highlights both the humor in his story and the intensity of the difficulties he faced. Two very different forms of media shaped who he became—literature and punk rock. Each chapter is told in conversation with a classic work of literature as Tran traces his path from nerdy child to punk-rock misfit to college-bound scholar. His is a story about trying to find meaning in life and a sense of belonging, told beautifully. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Skillful soundscaping and a full cast heighten the atmosphere and emotion in this audiobook inspired by the childhood of coauthor Omar Mohamed. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the audiobook that captures the intensity and tedium of life in a refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya. Faysal Ahmed is extremely emotive as Omar, an 11-year-old boy who fled Somalia as a 4-year-old with his younger brother, but was separated from his mother after his father died. The full-cast narration helps listeners imagine the lively and warm community surrounding him throughout his childhood in the camp, where he finds joy in school and tries to balance the hope of resettlement against grim reality. It’s a moving and memorable listening experience. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly applaud Elizabeth Acevedo’s newest audiobook, told in free verse and narrated with passion and heart by the author along with Melania-Luisa Marte. Two girls lose their father in a plane crash and come to discover his deepest secret — they are sisters living an ocean apart. Melania-Luisa Marte narrates as Camino, the Dominican daughter whose father comes home every summer. She’s longed to take what she’s learned as an apprentice healer and start medical school in New York, and now knows her father had a secret life there. Elizabeth Acevedo narrates as Yahaira, who lives in New York with her mother and has a loving girlfriend in the apartment next door; she discovered her father’s secret marriage but didn’t confront him about it before he died. The two narrators alternate perspectives between chapters, and each narrator highlights the girls’ passion, grief, and resiliency. Extraordinary on audio. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

History and theater create a suspenseful mix in David Haig’s dramatic tale based on the true lead-up to D-Day. AudioFile contributor Brian Price tells host Jo Reed about a favorite way to experience the drama of a theatrical production at home — with audiobook listening. A Scottish meteorologist is summoned to the headquarters of the Allied forces on the eve of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. He must convince Eisenhower that they face two enemies—the Nazis and the fickle English weather, which could doom their expedition to failure. The dialogue is tense and convincing as British actor Jonathan Cake leads a stellar cast. Riveting. Published by L.A. Theatre Works Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a vocal naturalism and a wonderful feel for the author’s prose narrator, Kitty Hendrix makes this first masterwork by Sinclair Lewis sound as fresh and real as the day it was published. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Brian Price discuss this classic American work, shared in an annotated 100th Anniversary Edition. Full of penetrating detail, memorable characters, and wry observations. Hendrix’s nuanced reading of the intelligent, sensitive, and idealistic city girl Carol Kennicott takes this production to another level. Published by Post Hypnotic Press Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices