The Next Elvis is now for sale on Audible!

My latest recording, The Next Elvis: Searching for Stardom at Sun Records by Barbara Barnes Sims, went on sale today on Audible.

This is a fun and informative nonfiction book about a young woman, Barbara Barnes, and her experiences working at Sun Records in Memphis in the 1950's.  From Audible:


"An American institution, Sun Records has a history with many chapters: its Memphis origins with visionary Sam Phillips, the breakthrough recordings of Elvis Presley, and the studio's immense influence on the sound of popular music. But behind the company's chart toppers and legendary musicians there exists another story, told by Barbara Barnes Sims. In the male-dominated workforce of the 1950s, 24-year-old Sims found herself thriving in the demanding roles of publicist and sales promotion coordinator at Sun Records. Sims's job placed her in the studio with Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, Carl Perkins, and other Sun entertainers, as well as the unforgettable Phillips, whose work made the music that defined an era. Her disarming narrative ranges from descriptions of a disgraced Jerry Lee Lewis to the remarkable impact and tragic fall of DJ Daddy-O Dewey to the frenzied Memphis homecoming of Elvis after his military service. Collectively, these vignettes offer a rare and intimate look at the people, the city, and the studio that permanently shifted the trajectory of rock 'n' roll."

I had a chance to speak with Ms. Sims a couple of times while recording this book (checking on name pronunciations) and she was a delight.  Head over to Audible to listen to the sample/purchase here. 

Enter to win a free audiobook by June 30th!

I'm having an audiobook giveaway on my website to celebrate June is Audiobook Month.  Just leave a comment -- even a brief 'hello' -- in the section on the bottom of this page.   At the end of June, I'll have a random drawing and 5 people will win their choice of any of my audiobooks.  Here's the current selection on Audible.

Good luck and keep listening!

It's June! That means it's Audiobook Month!

Yes, it's that time of the year again.  Audiobook Month.  A chance to celebrate audiobooks and post one of my favorite Ryan Gosling "Hey Girl" memes.

Audiobooks are becoming more and more popular as people find they have less time to read -- particularly for pleasure.  I tend to listen to a book when I'm doing something mindless like housework and/or exercise.  I've always read before going to bed (my nightstand is never without a book along with the current issue of The New Yorker and/or Vanity Fair on it).  But there are some nights when my brain is willing but my eyes are tired after a long stint spent recording from a Kindle in my booth/closet and/or editing files on my desktop.  On those nights, I put one ear bud in my ear from my Sansa MP3 player and continue listening after turning out the lights.  It's so soothing.  Right now I'm in the middle of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca narrated by the late actress Anna Massey.  I'm loving it.   

I actually downloaded Rebecca for free from Audiofile's SYNC program.  Each summer, Audiofile hosts downloads of two free audiobooks each week -- a current book and a classic one -- donated from various publishers.  The SYNC program runs from May 7th through August 13th -- that's 14 weeks of 2 free audiobooks each week.  You can sign up for email alerts so you don't miss out when the new books are released.  Here's the official 'purpose' of SYNC:  "SYNC is a program that gives away two complete audiobook downloads — a current Young Adult title paired thematically with a Classic or Required Summer Reading title — each week to listeners ages 13+ while SYNC is in session each summer."  So head on over here and sign up now!  

There are also a lot of contests and drawings going on this month for audiobooks.  A good way to keep pace is to look up the hashtags #audiobookmonth and #JIAM2015 on Twitter.  LOTS of good stuff out there!  I plan to have a drawing for free copies of any of my recordings a little later this month.  When I do, I'll post here and advertise on Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook.  Until then, keep listening!