Some authors choose to do their own reading for audio books. But more and more publishers are choosing professionals.
The audio book reader business has become so large that each year a national audition is held in Manhattan, N.Y. to "find" those voices to narrate audio books. The audition gives each person five minutes to read at the audition at a cost of $800 per participant. From the hundreds of applicants, only a handful are chosen to become paid readers.
Famous celebrities become the "make or break voice" for popular audio books on tape or CD. Celebrities like Brad Pitt, Julie Roberts, Uma Thurman and others cash in on growing audio book demand.
The business of reading for audio books, of becoming the "voice" for popular or classic books has indeed become such a huge business that many famous names in show business and public life spend countless hours in small, confined quarters just to become a book character. Some do audio books because it's another way to express their talent. Others do it for their kids.
Here are just a few of the actors that have done audio books:
- Ethan Hawke - "Call of the untamed"
- Brad Pitt - "All the Pretty Horses
- Julie Roberts - "Nanny Diaries"
- Uma Thurman - "Maneater"
- Sissy Spacek - "To Kill a Mockingbird"
- Gary Sinese - "Of Mice and Men"
- Bill Clinton - "My Life"
- George Carlin - "Napalm and Silly Putty"
- John Stewart and his Daily Show cast - "America."
With the nationwide decline in literary, this industry has grown by "leaps and bounds" . Not long ago an Audio Publishers Association (APA) report estimates the audio book business to exceed $1 billion dollars.
To get a good idea of the number of audio books available, head over to www.audiotogo.com and check out their rental selection.
