The story of Canadian audiobooks

BookNet Canada

It would be fair say that we’re fascinated by audiobooks and learning about their production, distribution, and everything else involved in the process. Last month we interviewed Jamie Dupras and Jeff Guillot from Deyan Audio in Los Angeles, but for this month’s podcast episode, we brought the conversation to Canada. Ann Jansen, Director of Audiobook Production at Penguin Random House Canada, and David Caron, Co-Publisher at ECW Press, joined BookNet Canada Research Associate Shimona Hirchberg for a conversation about the state of the audiobook industry in Canada and what’s on the horizon for this rapidly evolving chapter of publishing. (Find the transcript here: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/8/31/podcast-the-story-of-canadian-audiobooks) Links: -BookNet Canada's Press Play: Audiobook Use in Canada 2020: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/press-play-audiobook-use-in-canada-2020 -ECW Press' office land acknowledgment: https://ecwpress.com/pages/about-us -Longest audiobook Ann has ever worked on, First Snow, Last Light by Wayne Johnston: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/549668/first-snow-last-light-by-wayne-johnston/9780735272576 -Longest audiobook David has ever worked on, Membering by Austin Clarke: https://ecwpress.com/products/membering -Audiobook on about diversity and inclusion that PRHC licensed, The Authenticity Principle by Ritu Bhasin: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/605932/the-authenticity-principle-by-written-and-read-by-ritu-bhasin/9780771009747 -Audiobook PRHC is about to co-publish with Dundurn Press, Seven by Farzana Doctor: https://www.dundurn.com/books/Seven -Audiobook Ann was recently directing remotely, Dearly by Margaret Atwood: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/647306/dearly-by-margaret-atwood/9780771012969 -Backlist books PRHC has worked on or is currently working on: Funny Boy by Shyam Selvadurai: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/163908/funny-boy-by-shyam-selvadurai/9780771001758 Halfbreed by Maria Campbell: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/610927/halfbreed-by-maria-campbell/9780771024092 Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/113915/fugitive-pieces-by-anne-michaels/9780771058820 Lives of the Saints by Nino Ricci: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/153652/lives-of-the-saints-by-nino-ricci/9780385696050 Richard Wagamese’s books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/authors/32220/richard-wagamese -Titles part of ECW’s Bespeak list: Policing Black Lives by Robin Maynard, narrated by Marcia Johnson: https://ecwpress.com/products/policing-black-lives Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars by Kai Cheng Thom, narrated by Adri Almeida: https://ecwpress.com/products/fierce-femmes-and-notorious-liars In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Mosionier, narrated by Michaela Washburn: https://ecwpress.com/products/in-search-of-april-raintree Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead: https://ecwpress.com/products/jonny-appleseed Islands of Decolonial Love by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, narrated by Tantoo Cardinal: https://ecwpress.com/products/islands-of-decolonial-love