In countless ways. The works of shakespeare, toni morrison, Jason Reynolds and Michelle Obama are of fire richer experience hard and silently read. Guest you are constantly listening and ill get my own fine and i think it might have some characters. I think it is less of myself as a poet who performs, and out is myself being like, let me hold your hand and tell you this thing i heard once. It is guiding people but in a different way. If i dont give everybody, the utmost respect and understanding and compassion and empathy, i am not doing justice to this book. Studies have shown the listening to audiobooks is more Emotional Experience and stories shared through other mediums. Is none of your book but it has the best of both worlds. It is a very intimate form of experience in the start because you actually human being giving the story to you. Noi absolutely love that. Tearing this how the person is telling thest story. Hearing your novel read aloud and bring transformed into an audiobook, is such an honor and a privilege. Its a whole new layer to a story printed. On a books right now are an incredible experimentation. Its also another way to access whether it is and often times commits away it for nontraditional readers. It is more people experience great stories. These are people cannot read yes. And youre all the reason that 50 percent of americans listen to an audiobook in 2019. So heres to all of you, here is to amazing audiobooks. And heres to 25 years of the audio work. Ladies and gentlemen we are thrilled to introduce master ceremony, the witty and wonderful. He is a correspondent for cbs sunday morning. The frequent panelist on ncrs hit show, dont tell me. He is the author audiobook narrator of the bestseller. Great lives worth reliving published l by Simon Schuster and Simon Schuster audio printed hes also the host of a podcast. We are excited to have him miss our host this evening. So without further ado, areas. Thank you thank you. This is kind of a dream for me i have to say. Hearing him in this fabulous venue. And in front of the splintering crowded. Stephen king is here. [applause]. Audie awards. I feel like carrie she was asked to the prom. [laughter]. Anyway have been given the royal treatment. They sent a card for me. How nice is that. I will be out and about two hours. And christine answered back nice. It is the 25th anniversary of the awards and things have never been better for this sector of the Publishing Industry and is growing by leaps and bounds and its been seven years of double digit growth, 5000 titles last year alone with revenues of over 1 billion. B in the high school cafeteria, that is the s publishing world, the audiobook people are sitting at the cool kids table. In the ebooks people are thanking them for lunch money. [laughter]. The big people dont need your pitys they just need something to eat okay. Y. And now in a sign of how hot you books have become tonights nominees included serious star power. Mo rocca meryl streep is nominated for audie awards tonight. She is nominated for reading charlottes web. I hear her spider accent is amazing. Back thank you. That category, audiobook of the years super star studded. Tom hanks is in that category, and the dutch house. [applause]. I dont know what that book is about im sure that tom hanks has made it supremely likable. I mean, he could rated the unit bombers manifesto and he would think i kinda like this guy. And in bright power, nominated for that sequel to the handmaids tale. [applause]. It sounds really fun. And who else is in that category. Michelle michelle, oh yeah Michelle Obama. She is a full counts. [laughter]. I hope you will find it. Well. Anyway, let me say that meryl streep was so good reading charlottes web that shes already been hired to narrate the sequel. Pet cemetery. [laughter]. Is pretty good right. [laughter]. Now makes perfect sense that we are honoring stephen king tonight. Not only for his early instead passive support of audiobooks but also because the nightmare we are currently living through something out of a stephen caring for her. [applause]. Stephen king. I know you are asking what nightmare that im talking about. Im talking about all of the one the world shaking our hands with her elbows. I dont understand how to think throughout. [laughter]. Maybe i will skip that. Demi moore is nominated tonight. And when i think of the audiobook publishing world i think giving more and harrison rolling around in the bed. All of our pile of cash. And the ebooks people are just watching. [laughter]. They dont get to touch. [laughter]. And then of course there are the real audiobook stars. Not the johnnycomelately, hollywood era try to help this bright gravy train. I am talking about real audiobook voices. [applause]. Back it up hollywood. Scott, a. K. A. , where is he. The master of migration. That is what he is known as. I met him earlier in the me tell you, his voice is so handsome. And i think that your male and female narrators of the year are here. [applause]. E] bonnie and simon, they are here. [applause]. [screaming]. They are both in the narrator hall of fame. But i doo wonder there is an asterix next to simon same. I think it was tested positive for something thats just what i heard. [laughter]. [laughter]. Read it was a really long look at a rate. In the body winter joe is here. In the audie awards winter. And my only disappointment is that these awards did not have been two months ago because that i wouldve been able to say, you know i really think. Okay that joke. Hillary uber is nominated. [screaming]. For best female narrator. Now hillary is also doing the voiced of god introductions tonight, so everyones at say, hope she wins. Because you dont want to an voice of god. [laughter]. No you dont, you do not want to make me angry. Hillary, please reveal yourself so that we can worship you. Back. Mo rocca , the house. [applause]. Where is she going. While the audio boards began 25 years ago, the audiobook is so goes back much farther. E the very first work of western literature was an audiobook. I am talking of course by homer the one to change earl jones but that he was unavailable. When it took high school lesson, homers work was intended to be hurt, nuts read. And he received a raise on the odyssey. Homer had deal. Go with it. It is whimsical. [laughter]. There was a problem though. This being 800 bc, theres no such thing as recorded sound. So he had to actually find homer and get him to recite his work life. But homer was blind and just sort of wondering around so you never know where to find him letsnd just say he could be vey cranky if he founding. Especially when you put him to get him to go back. When you asked him to read. Needless to say this was not a solid Business Plan and in fact you could say it was, an epic fail. Are there any librarians here. Yeah, you guys love it. My librarians have a back. Fastforward 2785 years to the dominant modern audiobook. The very first time adult in 1985 was a total thriller. I get your point across in 30 seconds or less. Read by author frank milo. They wanted James Earl Jones but he was simply doing voiceovers for cnn. Just a decade c later, converts audio awards. Among the winners was the original post of sunday morning. Charles. And im very proud to be in the show. And handling that. I recorded my own audiobook this year. Thank you very much. [applause]. Rate lives worth reliving. I actually requested jim dale, not because of harry potter but because i saw him in the original cast of barnum was 12 and he was superb. But he was busy doing something with harry potter i think. For in depth reporting my own audiobooks start to finish it was an experience. One thing, i discovered many words mispronounced all my life. [laughter]. The word was one thing in its actually rococo read i thought it was a biopsy, its a bio patch. And i hope the word was posthumous which i now makes me sound like daffy duck but its actually posthumous. To be clear i wrote a book of obituaries and did not know how to pronounce these words. [laughter]. Fortunately, had a terrific producer, scott. [applause]. [screaming]. And scott, take me by the tongue and helped guide me through a Creative Process which is much more nuanced than i realized printed form of communication all of its own. Part storytelling, part acting, fully engaging with an audience that is insane with your voice, your heart and your soul. All while doing your best not to pop your piece. Posthumous. Okay. And so i am proud to be here to celebrate all of tonights nominees. [applause]. And i will find out who actually one. Most of the awards will be acknowledged by the winter standing at the tables for applause. Spak is how we will acknowledge winners. Will all of the judges who are with us tonight please stand and be recognized for their hard work. [applause]. We could not do any of this without you. One more practice session, will all tonights finalists please stand and be recognized. [applause]. I get to kick off tonight with a special acknowledgment, this year we heard from audiobook lovers all over the world as they voted on social media for their favorites audiobook. And the People Choice recognition goes to, random house audio for becoming. [screaming]. [applause]. The people have spoken. And now it is my pleasure to introduce the first presenters of thedu evening. Jared, is the body nominated author which is a book award. His grandfather used to say they will thank him oscar, in his name wouldve been oscar chris got stuck which is a great way to learn to pronounce his last name assuming you would have a different accent. [laughter]. Mo williams wrote awardwinning books in place and he currently serves as the kennedy artist in residence. Thank you to npr one nomo per show he is yet to be contestant, dont tell me. And he is to because that is fantastic. Please welcome jared and the other mo. [applause]. Nonfiction has been described as trying to make the truth and make it read like fiction. These finalists have certainly created their work and to learn from. In the finalists for nonfiction are, Jennifer Bailey on, narrated by Jennifer Bailey on. When they tell us about ourselves. Predator by stephanie and Tom Patterson and teresa bunker. [inaudible]. We are the weather, written and narrated. [screaming]. And audie grace will lead us home. Jennifer barry hobbs. And those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. So, how do we know the repeating it. The fact it is said the history is written by the winners that seemed a little unkind to the finalists. However the finalists of the biography are. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. [screaming]. [inaudible]. [inaudible]. [screaming]. Mo rocca the history biography envelope, harper audio for american. [applause]. Congratulations. [applause]. Mo the finalists for autobiography memoir are. [inaudible]. Becoming written and narrated. [applause]. Elton john, elton john. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. [inaudible]. Mo and the audie awards goes to, kingdom random house becoming by Michelle Obama. [screaming]. Bac mo our next presenter marcus, claimed shift behind many restaurants include marcus montreal, and in newark new jersey an opening in miami, creator of the audible original samuelson was also the youngest person to ever receive a threestar review from the New York Times and is one multiple Foundation Awards including best chef in new york city in season two of his show, is out now to watch online pbs. Org please welcome to the stage marcus. [applause]. Marcus thank you well. Great job. It is the first time i am doing this. Gotta give my all. I am very excited. The finalists in or visit personal development and business art. Business and personal development. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [screaming]. A leaders guide to the real world. Written and narrated by marcus buckingham. [applause]. [inaudible]. [applause]. Mo in the audio goes to harper audio. [applause]. Mo the finalists for humor is humor, written and narrated by abby. [inaudible]. [applause]. More bedtime stories, like kirsten. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [screaming]. [applause]. [applause]. [screaming]. [applause]. Mo so the audie goes to more bedtime stories. In the finalists for the fiction and nonfiction video are breathing again, written and narrated by nathan. [inaudible]. [applause]. [screaming]. [screaming]. [applause]. [screaming]. [laughter]. Mo in the audio goes to oasis aud audio. [screaming]. Mo next to present a celebrity judge of the New York Times, bestselling author of they both die at the end and more happy than not and history is all you left me with me. His most recently bestselling was published this past january. Please welcome to the stage adam. [applause]. Adam that evening and thank you all for being here today. I came to this game a little bit late. I came out like 20a years old. It is because i did not get starting rate reading gave books until it was like 19. I can only imagine that i am find it known audiobooks existed when i was like ten years old, i wouldve been gay so much sooner. [laughter]. Like really gay. [laughter]. [applause]. Thankfully, thanks to all of the booksellers and teachers and educators in my area and we have audiobooks for all ages beginning with young listeners. In the finalists. [laughter]. [inaudible]. [applause]. Disney press near an narrated by. [inaudible]. [applause]. [screaming]. [applause]. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. [inaudible]. [applause]. Adam in the audie for the young listeners goes to weston wood for the pigeon. Bac[applause]. Adam moving on up, the finalists for middle u radar. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. [applause]. [background sounds]. [inaudible]. [applause]. [screaming]. [applause]. [applause]. [screaming]. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. Adam in the audie goes to the middle grade,. [laughter]. Penguin for charlottes web. [screaming]. [applause]. [applause]. It can take a very long time to be young. The finalists for young adults are. [inaudible]. [applause]. [applause]. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. [screaming]. [applause]. [applause]. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. Adam in the audie for young adults goes to the classic audio for hey kiddo. [applause]. [screaming]. [applause]. Adam our nets presenters are well written bear. Number one best selling author, Lauren Blakely can often be found with the earbuds and listening to an audiobook usually romance humor our comedians memoir. Another is jamaican mother traveling author and traveling person. Crossfire in the audible original mother strucker she is right or die new yorker who refuses to leave new york. Please welcome them to the stage. Lauren so story collections and insight into other worlds. The finalists for this collection are short stories. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. [inaudible]. [inaudible]. [inaudible]. [inaudible]. [inaudible]. [applause]. Lauren harper audio gets the audie awards. [applause]. [screaming]. [applause]. Lauren fiction reveals truth unearthed meeting, transports us as one. Apparently the president does not read action. Fiction is the magic the dazzles us. Just like the following candidates have dazzled us. Milkman. [inaudible]. [applause]. [inaudible]. [inaudible]. [inaudible]. [applause]. Lauren in the audi goes throug to peng. [applause]. [screaming]. [applause]. Mo bonnie is a Los Angelesbased after and go up in east she is a multiple audie award winter. The twotime odyssey award winner. In the magazine golden voice has been inducted into the audible hall of fame. Jacqueline whitson is the bestselling author of more than two dozen awardwinning books and she is a fourtime National Award finalist in a fourtime new perry honor winter and into time in aa cb award winner in a two time scott king award winner. Please welcome them both to the stage. [applause]. Jacqueline [laughter]. Oh my goodness, i would listen to this like four times. I love that book so much. Sorryte that is not what i am announcing now. The finalists ofuc romance are e light detector. [screaming]. [inaudible]. [screaming]. Back. [inaudible][inaudible]. [applaus. Jacqueline and the winter is harper audios double. [applause]. [inaudible]. Jacqueline please stand and be recognized. And if you dont know this, where reading. [laughter]. [applause]. Oh my goodness, i have so much work appear. [laughter]. The finalists are a fantasy. Based of the frozen son. [inaudible]. [applause]. [inaudible]. [applause]. [screaming]. [applause]. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. Jacqueline in the audie goes to for the 10000 of january. [applause]. [screaming]. Please stand and be recognized. [screaming]. [applause]. Jacqueline the finalists for science fiction. Emergency. [inaudible]. [inaudible]. [inaudible]. [screaming]. [applause]. And the audie goes to, brilliant publishing for emergency. [applause]. [inaudible]. These give a warm welcome to annamarie. [applause]. Hello i am utterly and it is my pleasure to turn our attention to mr. Stephen king. Who four years, long before audiobooks were fashionable has championed the work that all of you do and all of the magic that you make. Through his support has expanded the audience for an inspired improvement to audiobooks. His with full hearted enthusiasm the week so racing beginning by sharing with him a Lifetime Achievement award. [applause]. Steve, first of all i am going to say thank you for all of your brilliant adventures. I feel honored to witness your amazing artistry. Im a huge fan and i have been forever. Stephen king will still be read 100 years from now. Congratulations. [cheers and applause] presenting this award. And for jill hill to prevent blood present the actual award the bestselling author and it just a few seconds ago one the audie for full throttle. And the author of walk and key a longrunning comic book. [applause] i am honored to be here tonight to celebrate audiobooks alongside the people who work so hard so brilliantly to bring them to leaders everywhere. For anybody that could wish or hope for. And i was there. I know. But after they married they filled the house with books. Crammed on shells and on piles and the conversation revolved almost around makebelieve people in the world with that culinary specialty and with the hamburger thrown in and publishing and the wellknown moral failings of literary critics. But those came after dinner we took turns reading aloud to each other in this way we work through the burglar who like kipling and the stories of lovecraft which were so pretentious and overwritten i put us in hysterics.