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! 

It's that time again! June is Audiobook Month! JIAM

Yes, once again, audiobook month has rolled around.  I would certainly be remiss if I didn't post about this topic.  If you've never listened to an audiobook but would like to dip your toe in the water, please give LibriVox a try.  The audiobooks are free -- all are recorded by volunteers.  The books are ones in the Public Domain which in the U.S. means they were published before 1923.  Great way to listen to a classic or two that you've never gotten around to reading.  You can even follow along with the printed text which is available for each book recorded.  Moby Dick, anyone?


There's a small audiobook company I've mentioned many times on this blog.  Iambik Audiobooks works with small and independent publishers to get their author's works recorded.  The books are very reasonably priced and Iambik always posts the entire first chapter of each book on the site so that you get a pretty good listen before deciding to purchase.  I've recorded for them and they're a great bunch of people.



Of course, you can't talk about audiobooks without a shout out to Audible.  They are the 'big Kahuna' when it comes to recorded books.  I'm currently working on my 14th title for them.  My 13th is coming out later this month -- I'll post details here when it does.  There are thousands and thousands of books available on Audible so you won't have trouble finding something to your liking. 

For kids/young adults, there's a great and free program going on again this summer.  The site called  "SYNC: YA Literature Into Your Earphones" posts 2 free books each week during the summer months.  One book is a contemporary title and the second is usually a classic.  Up for free download until June 13th are The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, narrated by Wanda McCaddon.  You can download these two books from here.   Remember that the books change every two weeks so don't miss out!

And, naturally, I can't finish this post without my favorite meme featuring Ryan Gosling.  Happy listening!