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AUDIOBOOKS
2020 Audie Award® Winners: Audiobook Of The
Year, Best Male & Female Narrators, And More ...
March 3, 2020

(VOXtra) - Excellence has its rewards.

Last night at an elegant gala in New York City, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced this year's winners of the prestigious Audie Awards®, recognizing the best in audiobook and spoken word entertainment.

Big winners include:
  • The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff, as the 2020 Audiobook of the Year, narrated by a 45-person cast with Holter Graham;
  • Robert Bathurst, Best Male Narrator; and
  • Marin Ireland, Best Female Narrator
The Audies recognize outstanding achievement from authors, narrators, publishers,and producers across a wide array of genres and categories.

The APA notes that judges chose The Only Plane in the Sky as Audiobook of the Year based on criteria including narrative performance and author intent. (Pictured: Author Garrett M. Graff, left, and narrator Holter Graham; photos by Sean Zanni for Getty ).

Judges commented:
  • Judge Emma Straub: "The narrators were incredible."
  • Judge Adam Silvera: "It was the most transporting experience."
  • Judge R. Eric Thomas: "An extraordinary achievement. Graff has created a historical document with the deftness of a poet, and this production only builds on it, adding a narrative propulsion that never seems exploitative and an emotional depth that's never overwrought."
'MOST HONORABLE FORM OF STORYTELLING'

In a recap of the Gala held at NYC's historic Guastavino's, the APA reports it's presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to author Stephen King (pictured) in recognition for his achievements in the audiobook industry. 

"Stephen King is the best damn ambassador for audiobooks that anyone could ever wish or hope for," said King's son, bestselling author Joe Hill, when introducing the award. "His love for the form goes back decades. I know. I was there." 

And in his acceptance speech, King said, "I listen to my own books - the reason why is because you can hear everything you did right and everything you did wrong. This is the most honorable form of storytelling there is."  

The celebratory evening was hosted by Mo Rocca, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, author, and host of the Mobituaries podcast.

Rocca described audiobooks as "Part storytelling, part acting, wholly engaging with an unseen audience with your voice, heart and soul … all while doing your best not to 'pop your P's. I am proud to help celebrate all of tonight's nominees."  

Congratulations to all winners! (Also see all Finalists.)

2020 AUDIE AWARD® WINNERS
AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11
By Garrett M. Graff, narrated by a full cast with Holter Graham 
Simon & Schuster Audio

AUDIO DRAMA
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes
By Tony Kushner, performed by Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane, Susan Brown, Denise Gough, Beth Malone, James McArdle, Lee Pace, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Bobby Cannavale, and Edie Falco
Penguin Random House Audio  

AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
Becoming
Written and narrated by Michelle Obama
Penguin Random House Audio  

BEST FEMALE NARRATOR
Nothing to See Here
By Kevin Wilson, narrated by Marin Ireland
HarperAudio  

BEST MALE NARRATOR
Kingdom of the Blind
By Louise Penny, narrated by Robert Bathurst
Macmillan Audio  

BUSINESS / PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
So You Want to Start a Podcast?
Written and narrated by Kristen Meinzer
HarperAudio  

FAITH-BASED FICTION & NON-FICTION
How the Light Gets In
By Jolina Petersheim, narrated by Tavia Gilbert
Oasis Audio  

FANTASY
The Ten Thousand Doors of January
By Alix E. Harrow, narrated by January LaVoy
Hachette Audio  

FICTION
City of Girls
By Elizabeth Gilbert, narrated by Blair Brown
Penguin Random House Audio  

HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY
American Moonshot
By Douglas Brinkley, narrated by Stephen Graybill
HarperAudio  

HUMOR
More Bedtime Stories for Cynics
By Kirsten Kearse, Gretchen Enders, Aparna Nancherla, Cirocco Dunlap, and Dave Hill, narrated by Nick Offerman, Patrick Stewart, Alia Shawkat, Ellen Page, Jane Lynch, John Waters, Anjelica Huston, Wendell Pierce, Mike Birbiglia, Rachel Dratch, Matt Walsh, Nicole Byer, Harry Goaz, Aisling Bea, and Gary Anthony Williams
Audible Originals  

LITERARY FICTION & CLASSICS
The Water Dancer
By Ta-Nehisi Coates, narrated by Joe Morton Penguin
Random House Audio  

MIDDLE GRADE
Charlotte's Web
By E.B. White, narrated by Meryl Streep and a full cast
Penguin Random House Audio  

MULTI-VOICED PERFORMANCE
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11
By Garrett M. Graff, narrated by a full cast with Holter Graham
Simon & Schuster Audio  

MYSTERY
The Chestnut Man
By Søren Sveistrup, narrated by Peter Noble
HarperAudio  

NARRATION BY AUTHOR OR AUTHORS
With the Fire on High
Written and narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo
arperAudio  

NON-FICTION
Grace Will Lead Us Home
By Jennifer Berry Hawes, narrated by Karen Chilton and Jennifer Berry Hawes
Macmillan Audio  

ORIGINAL WORK
Evil Eye
By Madhuri Shekar, narrated by Nick Choksi, Harsh Nayyar, Annapurna Sriram, Bernard White, and Rita Wolf
Audible Originals  

ROMANCE
Devil's Daughter
By Lisa Kleypas, narrated by Mary Jane Wells
HarperAudio  

SCIENCE FICTION
Emergency Skin
By N.K. Jemisin, narrated by Jason Isaacs
Brilliance Publishing  

SHORT STORIES/COLLECTIONS
Full Throttle
By Joe Hill, narrated by Zachary Quinto, Wil Wheaton, Kate Mulgrew, Neil Gaiman, Ashleigh Cummings, Joe Hill, Laysla De Oliveira, Nate Corddry, Connor Jessup, Stephen Lang, and George Guidall
HarperAudio  

THRILLER/SUSPENSE
The Institute
By Stephen King, narrated by Santino Fontana
Simon & Schuster Audio  

YOUNG ADULT
Hey, Kiddo
By Jarrett J. Krosoczka, narrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Jeanne Birdsall, Richard Ferrone, Jenna Lamia, and a full cast
Scholastic Audio  

YOUNG LISTENERS
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
Written and narrated by Mo Willems
Weston Woods    
For more information about the Audie Awards and the APA - a not-for-profit trade organization for the audiobook industry - visit www.AudioPub.org.


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