I am a big audiobook fan, and I’m not the only one! Audiobooks sales are booming. In fact, audiobooks are the fastest-growing segment in publishing . Much of this surge in popularity can be related to the increasing popularity of the digital download,  though most audiobooks are available in both cd and digital formats. The production quality of audiobooks has also increased dramatically in recent years, with accomplished performers bringing their talents to the audiobook realm. Not surprisingly, publishers are producing more and more audiobooks – look how the publication of audiobooks has grown:

Recently, the Audio Publishers Association released their finalists for the 2016 Audie Awards. Once a smallish gathering of industry insiders, the Audies have taken on a lot more prestige these days. You might call them the Oscars of the audiobook world! There are a total of 135 audiobooks in 25 categories competing for awards this year, and the winners will be announced at the annual Audies Gala on May 11. We own many of the nominated titles, here are some in the most popular categories:

Best Female Narrator:

• All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani (narrated by Blair Brown)
• The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant (narrated by Linda Lavin)
• Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray (narrated by January LaVoy)
• The Lost Landscape by Joyce Carol Oates (narrated by Cassandra Campbell)
• Wild Rover No More by L. A. Meyer (narrated by Katherine Kellgren)

Best Male Narrator:

• Dead Wake by Erik Larson (narrated by Scott Brick)
• The English Spy by Daniel Silva (narrated by George Guidall)
• Finders Keepers by Stephen King (narrated by Will Patton)
• Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (narrated by Scott Brick)

Narration by Author:

• Born With Teeth by Kate Mulgrew
• Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
• I Must Say by Martin Short
• Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann

Mystery:

• All the Old Knives by Olen Steinhauer (narrated by Ari Fliakos and Juliana Francis Kelley)
• Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (narrated by Robert Glenister)
• Corrupted by Lisa Scottoline (narrated by Kate Burton)
• Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty (narrated by Gerard Doyle)
• The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny (narrated by Robert Bathurst)

Fiction:

• Citizen’s Creek by Lalita Tademy (narrated by Bahni Turpin and J. D. Jackson)
• A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson (narrated by Alex Jennings)
• Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (narrated by Amy Ryan and Michael Stuhlbarg)
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (narrated by Polly Stone)

Non-Fiction:

• The Dorito Effect by Mark Schatzker (narrated by Chris Patton)
• Ghettoside by Jill Leovy (narrated by Rebecca Lowman)
• I Wasn’t This Strong When I Started Out by Lee Gutkind (narrated by Tavia Gilbert)
• Missoula by John Krakauer (narrated by Mozhan Marno)
• Song Machine by John Seabrook (narrated by Dion Graham)

You can see the list of finalists in all categories, and even hear short sound clips, here.