At a black-tie gala in Chicago on June 4, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) recognized their peers at the Ninth Annual Audie Awards. While the music industry celebrates with a Grammy, the movie industry doles out an Oscar, and the theatre community gives a Tony, the audio publishing industry honors publishers with an Audie, the only completely juried awards covering audiobooks and spoken word entertainment.

The award ceremony held in the Winter Garden Room at the Harold Washington Public Library Center in Chicago honored excellence in audio publishing in 26 categories. The emcee for this evening�s announcements was Emmy and Tony winner, Edward Herrmann. Herrmann is known as one of the best audiobook readers in the business. His long list of audiobook credits include �A Beautiful Mind� by Sylvia Nasar (winner of a 2003 Audie), �The Apocalypse Watch� by Robert Ludlum, �The Path Between The Seas� by David McCullough, and �Hornet�s Nest� by Jimmy Carter. Best known for his portrayal of American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt in �Eleanor and Franklin� and again in �Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years,� Herrmann currently can be seen on �The Gilmore Girls� as patriarch Richard Gilmore. Other guests included APA members, authors, narrators, finalists, members of the media, and friends of the industry.

The judges were responsible for reviewing 525 audiobooks submitted for consideration. All titles submitted were released between November 1, 2002 and October 31, 2003.

�This year�s award winners celebrate the diverse group of audiobook publishers,� said Mary Beth Roche, President of the Audio Publishers Association. �APA applauds all the winners, finalists, and entrants for their contribution to the audio publishing community.�

For the first time, the APA presented the audiobook of the year award at the Audie ceremony. One audiobook from five finalists were presented with this prestigious award. The finalists included The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare, David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The John Cheever Collection, and A Patriot�s Handbook.

Winners of the Ninth Annual Audie Awards by category:

Audiobook of the Year

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J. K. Rowling, read by Jim Dale Executive Producer: Orli Moscowitz Producer: David Rapkin Director: Kathleen Hale Jacket Design: Original Cover Artwork by Mary GranPr�d; Original Package Design by Mary GranPr�d and David Saylor Package Design: Susan Daulton (Listening Library)

Fiction, Abridged

Brick Lane, by Monica Ali, read by Elizabeth Sastre Executive Producer: David Rapkin Abridgement: Lisa Kirazian Jacket Design: John Fulbrook III; Adapted by Nick Johnson (HighBridge Audio)

Fiction, Unabridged

All Over Creation, by Ruth Ozeki, read by Anna Fields Executive Producer: Haila Williams and Josh Stanton Producer/Director: Kate Fleming Sound Editing: Jason Daniel Jacket Design: Kathryn Galloway (Blackstone Audiobooks)

Mystery (Fiction)

Lost Light, by Michael Connelly, read by Len Cariou Executive Producer: Maja Thomas Producer: Linda Ross Director: John McElroy Package Design: Karen Cera and James Babbin (Time Warner AudioBooks)

Classic

East of Eden, by John Steinbeck, read by Richard Poe Executive Producer: Claudia Howard Producer/Director: Margo Passalaqua Sound Editing: Marc J. Avila and Dan Milledge (Recorded Books, LLC)

Non-Fiction, Abridged

The Opposite of Fate, by Amy Tan, read by Amy Tan Executive Producer: Max Bloomquist Producer/Director: Kathy Garver Sound Editing: Voice One Studios Abridgement: Sheryl Zajechowski Jacket Design: Cover Design by Andrea Ho; Image courtesy of Amy Tan (Brilliance Audio)

Non-Fiction, Unabridged

Charlie Wilson's War, by George Crile, read by Christopher Lane Executive Producer: Haila Williams and Josh Stanton Producer/Director: Christopher Lane Sound Editing: Jesse Ambrose Jacket Design: Kathryn Galloway (Blackstone Audiobooks)

Personal Development/Motivational

The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom, by Dr. Phil McGraw, read by Dr. Phil McGraw Producer: Karen Pearlman Director: Jesse Boggs Sound Editing: Karen Pearlman Abridgement: Jesse Boggs (Simon & Schuster Audio)

Biography/Memoir

The Nazi Officer's Wife, by Edith Hahn Beer with Susan Dworkin, read by Barbara Rosenblat Executive Producer: Susan Dworkin Producer/Director: Susan Dworkin Sound Editing: Jerry LaRosa of Coreeli Jacobs, NY Jacket Design: Leslie Kameny (Jewish Contemporary Classics, Inc.)

Business Information/Educational

Use What You've Got & Other Business Lessons I Learned From My Mom, by Barbara Corcoran and Bruce Littlefield, read by Barbara Corcoran Executive Producer: Alisa Weberman and Alfred Martino Producer/Director: Alisa Weberman Sound Editing: CDM Sound Studios Abridgement: Alisa Weberman Jacket Design: ABGM Studios (Listen & Live Audio, Inc.)

Science Fiction

Monstrous Regiment, by Terry Pratchett, read by Stephen Briggs Executive Producer: Rick Harris Producer/Director: Maurice Leitch Sound Editing: Motivation Jacket Design: Scott McKowan (Harper Audio)

Children�s Titles for Ages Up to 8

Chato and the Party Animals, by Gary Soto, read by Luis Guzman Executive Producer: Linda Lee Producer/Director: Producer: Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly Sound Editing: Leigh Corra and Steve Syrato Music: Otmaro Ruiz (Weston Woods Studios)

Children�s Titles for Ages 8+

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J. K. Rowling, read by Jim Dale Executive Producer: Orli Moscowitz Producer: David Rapkin Director: Kathleen Hale Jacket Design: Original Cover Artwork by Mary GranPr�d; Original Package Design by Mary GranPr�d and David Saylor Package Design: Susan Daulton (Listening Library)

Inspirational/Spiritual

The Lakota Way: Native American Wisdom on Ethics & Character, by Joseph M. Marshall, III, read by Joseph M. Marshall, III Executive Producer: C. K. West Media Producer/Director: David Swenson Sound Editing: David Swenson Abridgement: Joseph M. Marshall, III Jacket Design: Don McQuiston (Makoche)

Inspirational/Faith-Based Fiction

Treasure of Stonewycke, by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella, read by Davina Porter Executive Producer: Claudia Howard Producer/Director: Julie Bakoian Sound Editing: Kathy Gormley (Recorded Books, LLC)

Humor

David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall, live performance by David Sedaris Executive Producer: Maja Thomas Producer/Director: Maja Thomas Package Design: Karen Cera (Time Warner AudioBooks)

Short Stories/Collections

Home on the Prairie, by Garrison Keillor, read by Garrison Keillor, et al. Executive Producer: Tiffany Hanssen and Jason Keillor Jacket Design: Christopher Marble (HighBridge Audio)

Original Work

The Bronx Soundwalk, by Soundwalk, read by Tony Morante, BG183 aka Sotero Ortiz and The Original Jazzy Jay Executive Producer: Soundwalk Producer/Director: Stephan Crasneanscki Sound Editing: Dug Winningham Jacket Design: Calliope Studios (Oversampling Inc.)

Solo Narration � Male

Last Car to Elysian Fields, by James Lee Burke, read by Will Patton Producer/Director: Karen Frillman Sound Editing: Frog Pond Productions Abridgement: Jim Shokoff (Simon & Schuster Audio)

Solo Narration � Female

The Nazi Officer's Wife, by Edith Hahn Beer with Susan Dworkin, read by Barbara Rosenblat Executive Producer: Susan Dworkin Producer/Director: Susan Dworkin Sound Editing: Jerry LaRosa of Coreeli Jacobs, NY Jacket Design: Leslie Kameny (Jewish Contemporary Classics, Inc.)

Narration by Author or Authors

Naked in Baghdad, by Anne Garrels, read by Anne Garrels and Vint Lawrence Executive Producer: Laura Wilson Producer/Director: Laura Wilson Sound Editing: Tim Franklin (Audio Renaissance; A Division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC)

Audio Drama

The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare, by William Shakespeare, read by a cast of nearly 400 top Shakespearean actors, including Eileen Atkins, Joseph Fiennes, Sir John Gielgud, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Howard, Jan Lapotaire, Amanda Root, David Tennant, and Timothy West Executive Producer: Tom Treadwell and Bill Shepherd Producer/Director: Clive Brill Sound Editing: Wilfredo Acosta, Sound House, London Jacket Design: James Traill, Carlson Group, and Dena Ratner, The Audio Partners Publishing Corp. (The Audio Partners Publishing Corp.)

Multi-Voiced Performance

Ghost Riders, by Sharyn McCrumb, read by Dick Hill and Susie Breck Executive Producer: Max Bloomquist Producer/Director: Dick Hill and Susie Breck Sound Editing: Mikael Naramore Jacket Design: Jacket Photograph by Kenneth Murray (Brilliance Audio)

Audiobook Adapted From Another Medium

The Killings Tale, by W. A. Frankonis, read by John Romeo, Mary Jane Hansen, Joel Aroeste, Joe McCormack, Robert Dalton, John McGuire, David Bunce, Carole Edie Smith, Sean Mack, Brendan McDermott, Kathryn Lange, Alain Ackerman, Ron Komora and Sara Leeseman Executive Producer/Director: William Fortune Producer: Patricia Di Benedetto Snyder Stage Director: Ed. Lange Sound Editing: 100% Sound Jacket Design: Linda O'Malley and Timothy H. Raab Composer: Will Severin (Family Classics/NYS Theatre Institute)

Package Design

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J. K. Rowling, read by Jim Dale Executive Producer: Orli Moscowitz Producer: David Rapkin Director: Kathleen Hale Jacket Design: Original Cover Artwork by Mary GranPr�d; Original Package Design by Mary GranPr�d and David Saylor Package Design: Susan Daulton (Listening Library)

Achievement in Production

The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis, read by Full Cast: Paul Scofield as the Storyteller, David Suchet at Aslan; And Starring Howard Attfield, Timothy Bateson, Gwynn Beech, Robert Benfield, John Blathal, Russell Boulter, Norman Bowler, Richard Brightiff, Charlie Burnell, Nick Burnell, Sally Ann Burnett, Justin Butcher, Elizabeth Consell, Elizabeth Counsell, Wendy Craig, Bernard Cribbins, Elizabeth Eaton, Chris Emmett, Evangeline Evans, Tenniel Evans, Paul Ewing, Freddie Findlay, Jessica Fox, Martin Friend, Jane Gambier, Katy Glassborow, Jamie Glover, Peter Goodwright, Douglas Gresham, Paul Grunert, Dilys Hamlett, Michael Haughey, Martin Jarvis, Freddie Jones, Milton Jones, Paul Jones, Peter Jones, Katherine Kellgren, Katy Kellgren, Stash Kirkbride, Sallyanne Law, Frank Lazarus, Nathaniel Lippiett, Theo Maggs, Tom Maggs, Polly March, Betty Marsden, Gary Martin, Robert Meadwell, Robin Meredith, Lily Milton, Ron Moody, Joan Moon, Peter Moreton, Joanna Myers, Derek Nimmo, David Oakley, Audrey Palmer, Jody Peach, Daniel Philpott, Andrew Sachs, Gyuri Sarossy, Jonny Scott, Joe Shaw, Philip Sherlock, David Simeon, Christopher Snell, Victor Spinetti, Mervyn Stutter, Katherine Suchet, Richard Suchet, Philip Sully, Richard Syms, Frank Topping, Simon Treves, Zoe Verner, Steven Webb, Paul Webster, Matthew White, Jade Williams and John Woodnut Executive Producer: Kurt Bruner Producer: Dave Arnold Dramatization/Director: Paul McCusker Casting Director: Philip Glassborow Sound Design: Mark Drury, Dave Arnold, Todd Busteed and Duane Harms Jacket Design: Beau Henderson Music: John Campbell (Focus on the Family)

The Audio Publishers Association (APA) is a not-for-profit trade organization whose primary goals are to promote awareness of the audiobook industry, gather and disseminate industry statistics, encourage high production standards, and represent the interests of audiobook publishers. Since 1986, the APA has worked to bring audio publishers together to increase interest in audiobooks.

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Media Contact: Shawn Zelman +1 703-556-7172 szelman@audiopub.org