Featured Audio Giveaway – July 2014 – Good Morning, Mr. Mandela

July 2nd, 2014 by audioaudio · Featured Audio Giveaways

Featured Audio Giveaway
Good Morning, Mr. Mandela

Hear an excerpt
Good Morning, Mr. Mandela

Zelda la Grange; read by Adjoa Andoh; introduction read by the author
  

A Memoir. A powerful, intimate portrait of the late South African president and apartheid leader Nelson Mandela from the white Afrikaner woman who overcame her own upbringing and prejudice to serve as one of his private secretaries.

A white Afrikaner, Zelda la Grange grew up in segregated South Africa, supporting the regime and the rules of apartheid. Her conservative family referred to the imprisoned Nelson Mandela as “a terrorist.” Yet just a few years after his release and the end of apartheid, she would be traveling the world by Mr. Mandela’s side, having grown to respect and cherish the man she would come to call “Khulu,” or “Grandfather.”

Good Morning, Mr Mandela tells the extraordinary story of how a young woman’s life, beliefs, prejudices—everything she once believed—were utterly transformed by the man she had been taught was the enemy. It is the incredible journey of an awkward, terrified young secretary in her twenties who rose from a job in a government typing pool to become one of the president’s most loyal and devoted associates.

This audiobook offers a rare, intimate portrait of Nelson Mandela and his remarkable life as well as moving proof of the power we all have to change.

Includes an introduction read by the author as well as an author interview.

 

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How to Win This Audio CD

1. Send an email to newsletter@highbridgeaudio.com
2. Put the word “Mandela” in the subject line.

Entries must be received by no later than 7/31/2014.
See the Program Details for more information.

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Last Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to MELINDA R., winner of the previous giveaway, The Bones Beneath. Thanks to all who participated.

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August Giveaway

More Famous People Play Not My Job

Don’t miss next month’s giveaway, The Best of Wait Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me! More Famous People Play “Not My Job”!

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Doctor Who meets Sherlock

June 26th, 2014 by audioaudio · Uncategorized

Jackaby Jackaby is a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre. Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant.

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary–including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police–with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane–deny.

The audiobook is narrated by Nicola Barber. Nicola is an Award-Winning British Voice Over actor originally from London, UK with over 12 years of experience. She is a two-time Audie Award Winner and recently won two Earphones Awards. Nicola is based in New York City and has her own professional studio. You can hear Nicola’s recent recording of Call the Midwife: Shadows of the Workhouse and Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth, and her work on the upcoming December release of The Case of the Missing Moonstone by Jordan Stratford.

Jackaby will be available on audio CD and digital download September 9.

Meet the cast of Jackaby!

Author Insights: William Ritter on writing Jackaby

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Calling all Doctor Zhivago fans!

June 20th, 2014 by audioaudio · Uncategorized

The Zhivago Affair The Zhivago Affair tells the dramatic, never-before-told story of how a forbidden book in the Soviet Union became a secret CIA weapon in the ideological battle between East and West.

The audiobook is narrated by Simon Vance. Simon has been narrating audiobooks for more than 30 years and has completed more than 700 titles. He has won accolades from across the publishing world and beyond for his masterful ability to bring books to life. You can hear Simon’s recent recording of The Hidden Child by Camilla Läckberg, and his work on the upcoming October release of Cobra by Deon Meyer.

The Zhivago Affair is now available on audio CD and digital download.

To celebrate the publication of The Zhivago Affair by Peter Finn and Petra Couvée, Pantheon Books is giving away a selection of Zhivago-related goodies! The winner will receive a copy of the original Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, a DVD of the 1965 film adaptation, a copy of The Zhivago Affair, and a pair of copper Moscow Mule mugs. To enter the contest, visit Pantheon Books Facebook page.

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Doomsday Rider Rides Again

June 13th, 2014 by Josh Brown · Uncategorized

Doomsday Rider You don’t really see a lot of westerns on the bestseller list these days. Personally, I think that’s a crying shame. In general, westerns represent tried-and-true fundamental themes such as honor, justice, defense/protection (in a western it’s most commonly someone defending his or her land), and the moral limits of revenge and retribution.

These themes are timeless – it doesn’t matter whether the story is a western yarn taking place in 1870, or a sci-fi tale taking place on Mars in 2155. When you think about it, is there really much difference between Big Jake and Han Solo? (Heck, John Wayne’s Big Jake even has a canine companion, not much unlike Harrison Ford’s Han Solo with his constant Wookiee companion, Chewbacca.) The heroes of the western genre are guys you can look up to – brave and tough, maybe sometimes a little bit of an outcast or loner, but always willing to stand up for what is right.

In Doomsday Rider, Buck Fletcher is facing a twenty-year sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. Senator Falcon Stark steps up and gives Fletcher a shot at redemption, all he has to do ride deep into the unforgiving Arizona Territory and rescue the senator’s daughter from crazy doomsday cult. If only it were that easy. Fletcher soon finds himself dealing with a bloodthirsty band of Apaches, as well as a relentless bounty hunter.

Doomsday Rider is a classic western tale, and includes all the tropes. Nothing is what it seems, and we get more than one double cross. The villains are so classically shady, I can almost see them twirling their dark, bristly mustaches as narrator Terry Evans delivers their lines. Doomsday Rider is indeed classic western material, but thankfully doesn’t fall into the cliché category. The story gives you what you want, and then some. Watch out for a few unexpected twists along the way.

Speaking of the performer, Terry Evans expertly narrates the western, bringing Ralph Compton’s stories to life. Evans’ voice harks back to the days when westerns ruled cinema and television. Evans offers just enough southern drawl, careful that every word is clear and understandable. His character voices are spot on, allowing you to get a clear picture in your mind of what each character looks like — mostly based on the voices alone.

Doomsday Rider is currently available on CD or digital download.

Also available:

Louis L’Amour Collection
Starring Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash!
Louis L'Amour Collection

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Invictus Star Voices Grange’s Mandela Memoir

June 13th, 2014 by audioaudio · Author/Narrator News

Good Morning, Mr. Mandela HighBridge is pleased to announce that British actress, Adjoa Andoh, will narrate Good Morning, Mr. Mandela, the memoir of Zelda la Grange, Nelson Mandela’s long-time personal assistant. Good Morning, Mr. Mandela tells the story of how the life and beliefs of la Grange, a conservative white Afrikaner who grew up supporting the segregation rules of apartheid, were transformed by the time spent working with the former South-African president as his private assistant.

Adjoa Andoh is an acclaimed British film, TV, stage and radio actress of African descent who played the role of Brenda Mazibuko, Mandela’s Chief of Staff, alongside Morgan Freeman in the 2009 Academy Award nominated film Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood.

Good Morning, Mr. Mandela will be available on audio CD and digital download July 15.

Photo: Adjoa Andoh narrates Good Morning, Mr. Mandela

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Featured Audio Giveaway – June 2014 – The Bones Beneath

June 5th, 2014 by audioaudio · Featured Audio Giveaways

Featured Audio Giveaway
Bones Beneath

Hear an excerptThe Bones Beneath

Mark Billingham; read by the author
  

The latest in the Tom Thorne series!In the latest addition to the internationally bestselling Tom Thorne series, Thorne once again must confront Stuart Nicklin, a master manipulator and ruthless murderer. When Nicklin announces that he wishes to reveal the whereabouts of one of his earliest victims and that he wants the cop who caught him to be there when he does it, it becomes clear that Thorne’s life is about to become seriously unpleasant. Thorne is forced to accompany Nicklin to a remote island off the Welsh coast which is cut off from the mainland in every sense. Shrouded in myth and legend, it is said to be the resting place of 20,000 saints, and as Thorne and his team search for bones that are somewhat more recent, it becomes clear that Nicklin’s motives are darker than could be imagined.

The twisted scheme of a dangerous and manipulative psychopath will result in many more victims and will leave Tom Thorne with the most terrible choice he has ever had to make. Other volumes in the series (not included in the giveaway):

Sleepyhead Scaredy Cat From Dead Dying Hours

  

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How to Win This Audio CD

1. Send an email to newsletter@highbridgeaudio.com
2. Put the word “Bones” in the subject line.

Entries must be received by no later than 6/30/2014.
See the Program Details for more information.

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Last Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to YVONNE JEFFERSON, winner of the previous giveaway, The Hidden Child. Thanks to all who participated.

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June Is Audiobook Month!

June 4th, 2014 by Kay Weiss · Uncategorized

June Is Audiobook Month!
Don’t forget–June is Audiobook Month!

Celebrate the greatest (in our humble opinion) month of the year by listening to titles from your favorite authors and narrators. And everything is on sale for the month of June. What could be better!!!

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Narrators Announced for The Future for Curious People

May 7th, 2014 by Josh Brown · Author/Narrator News

The Future for Curious People HighBridge is pleased to announce that Heather Corrigan and Justin D. Torres will be narrating The Future for Curious People, a unique and clever new novel by author Gregory Sherl. The Future for Curious People imagines a world in which an “envisionist” can tell you whether your partner is really your soulmate. With this sort of information at your disposal, how could the course of true love not run smooth? Evelyn and Godfrey are about to count the ways.

Heather Corrigan is an actress and voice over artist in NYC. She has narrated scores of books in many different genres, including the recent The Art of Secrets for HighBridge. She received a starred review in Publishers Weekly for her work on When She Woke by Hilary Jordan, also a HighBridge audiobook.

Justin D. Torres is an accomplished voice over actor in New York City. His voice can be heard on countless audiobooks, websites, commercials, industrials, and videogames. If you’re in New York, you can catch him on any of his weekly improv teams at the Magnet or the PIT.

The Future for Curious People will be available on audio CD and digital download this September.

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Middle-Grade Historical, Literary–and Funny–Mystery Series

May 7th, 2014 by Steve Lehman · Acquisition News

I’m not usually one to have much to say about middle-grade literature, but the first book in a new series is so much fun, I want to let everyone know that it’s coming. The series is The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency by Jordan Stratford, and HighBridge has rights to all three books. Jordan StratfordThe first is The Case of the Missing Moonstone, and it’s a book that former English-major parents will delight in reading right along with their middle-grade child. It takes place in London, 1826, and unites, in a slight but wonderful temporal mash-up, eleven-year-old Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron and a math genius credited with being the first computer scientist, with fourteen-year-old Mary Godwin, later Shelley, author of Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus. The two form the secretive Wollstonecraft Detective Agency in order to unravel the mystery of a stolen heirloom and expose a false confession. The prose is witty, whimsical, fast-paced, and humorous throughout, teeming with clever word-play, while the story abounds with literary and historical references and features cameo appearances from childhood versions of other famous literary figures. The Case of the Missing Moonstone is coming in January 2015 and will be followed in August of that year by The Case of the Girl in Gray, and if you haven’t yet picked up on the literary references in those two titles, it’s time for you to review that syllabus from your Nineteenth Century British Novel class! (Or you could just click on the hyperlinks, I suppose.)

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Soon I Will Be Invincible

May 6th, 2014 by Josh Brown · Uncategorized

Invincible
in·vin·ci·ble
/in-ˈvin-sə-bəl/ adjective
1. impossible to defeat or overcome
2. incapable of being conquered, overcome, or subdued

What would you do if you were invincible? Would you save the world? Or would you destroy it? Would you be a “good guy,” or a “bad guy”?

Soon I Will Be Invincible I wasn’t even into the first hour of Soon I Will Be Invincible, and I began asking myself, “Why am I rooting for the villain?” As the story unfolds further, the reason why becomes clearer. Sure, Doctor Impossible wants to take over the world (or destroy it, not sure it really matters to him), but once we get to the root of why he wants to exert total world domination, it’s easy to feel for the guy. Shunned, ignored, and at times bullied as a child genius, he perhaps comes across as the most human character among a cast of super-powered misfits (trust me, they’re all misfits, no matter which side they are playing for).

I can hear you saying, “But superheroes are for comic books, not novels or audiobooks!” Author Austin Grossman easily proves that notion false. His engaging prose grabs you almost immediately and doesn’t let go until the end. The story is full of wit and is an absolute riot — sprinkled with clever nods and tributes to the Golden and Silver ages of American comic books throughout.

The narrative bounces back and forth between supervillain Doctor Impossible, fresh out of prison and on a mission to take over the world (again), and superhero Fatale, a female super-cyborg who is the latest recruit of a group of young heroes (think Justice League). It’s easy to see Grossman’s inspiration for many of the characters, especially Blackwolf, who, unless I am completely missing something, is a tribute to Batman.

The interesting thing about the story is that Grossman explores the human side of the heroes and villains, most pointedly Doctor Impossible and Fatale. What’s it really feel like to be invited to join the most elite super team in the known universe? Self-conscious superheroes? Yup. What’s it really feel like to be the smartest human being in the world, only to be ignored by said world? How do you respond to that? You try to take over the world, time and time again, that’s how you respond. And even though you are foiled every time, you keep trying. In this case, attempts at world domination are really just a cry for attention.

Superherodom brings with it a celebrity status. Supervillaindom, on the other hand… well, that’s another story. I mean, when you attempt to take over the world about a dozen times, you’d expect at least someone to recognize you on the street. Sadly, Doctor Impossible is just a poor shmuck who wants some attention.

I’m trying to resist a comparison to Alan Moore’s Watchmen here, but I can’t help myself. Similar to Watchmen, Grossman’s Soon I Will Be Invincible explores the personal struggles and human emotions of super-powered beings – beings that are portrayed as God-like in most traditional comic books of the past. Turns out, heroes and villains have real-life feelings and real-life problems just like the rest of us. Who knew? But unlike Watchmen, a dark and twisted tale, Grossman’s story comes off as a playful tribute to the history of American comic books. Not to mention the ending of Soon I Will Be Invincible makes a lot more sense than Watchmen’s ending. (Don’t get me wrong, I loved Watchmen, but 25 years later I still can’t quite figure out what the heck Moore was trying to say with that ending.)

J. Paul Boehmer is absolutely brilliant as Doctor Impossible. And Coleen Marlo gives Fatale’s voice the touch of humanity that I believe author Grossman was going for. These two narrators completely pull you into the story, placing you smack dab in the middle of a comic book, the panels and pages in your mind.

One other interesting thing to note is that the cover (see picture above) was designed by Chip Kidd. That name may not mean much to you unless you work in the publishing industry, but you need to know that Kidd is a highly celebrated graphic designer known for his striking book covers (USA Today called him a “rock star” of graphic design)… oh, and he just happens to be a huge comic book fan himself.

So go download and listen to Soon I Will Be Invincible today. Who knows, you might even get inspired to save the world (or destroy it!).

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