M
M asked Scott Hawkins:

So, I read Library a while back and fell in love with it. Then later discovered the audiobook and have listened to that more than a few times in subsequent years (it's easier to "read" when I can listen and do other things at work!). I'm wondering how do you feel that Hillary Huber did in bringing the story to life and giving voice to characters? Especially Carolyn?

Scott Hawkins I absolutely love, love, love what Hillary Huber did with the audiobook.

I don't know how familiar you are with the book publication process, but by the time that thing hits stores you've almost got every word memorized. It was a least a couple hundred hours to write the thing in the first place, followed by any number of end-to-end rewrites, copy editing, etc. Point being, by the time you're at the end of that most people have had enough of the book for the next ten thousand years or so.

I've listened to the audiobook twice now. That's how much I like it. She just absolutely nailed it. She's got great comic timing, the voices are distinct without being caricatures and I just like her voice. Plus it's a little different hearing someone else read it out loud than it sounded in my head--different interpretations of where the accent would go in a spoken sentences, or something? That's kind of interesting too.

Anyway, it was quite literally a dream come true. I've been a big audiobook guy for years , so I used to daydream about one day having someone produce a book I had written when I was on the treadmill or whatever. I was so, so happy.

Plus the process was fun. Hillary called at one point to talk about how to pronounce the Pelapi words, and what kind of accent the characters have and all that. It was so cool.

Anyway, I don't really get to pick (if someone buys the audio rights, they pick) but if I ever finish another book & and somebody wants to produce it, I will make sure Hillary's name comes up.

We still touch base on twitter every now and then as well--very nice woman. She also narrated A Mind of Her Own, which caught my eye by being #1 in audible across all categories the other day, plus about ten zillion others.


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