Behind the Mic: Narrators, Authors, and Producers on the Magic of Audiobooks

Welcome to the very first episode of Book Lounge by Libby! We’re kicking things off with an ode to audiobooks—the voices, the stories, and the behind-the-scenes magic that makes them so special. 

First up, our host Joe chats with thriller author Carter Wilson, narrators Allyson Ryan and Patrick Zeller, and audiobook producers Catherin Bucaria and Almeda Beynon from Sourcebooks Audio to dig into what it really takes to bring a story from the page to your headphones and their work on Carter’s book TELL ME WHAT YOU DID. Then, Jason Reynolds and Dan Zitt join the lounge to talk about the creative process behind Jason’s audio-exclusive project, SOUNDTRACK. 

In the second half of the show, guest hosts Carmen, Jananie K. Velu, Kayla, and Meara stop by with some truly excellent audiobook recommendations to keep you listening all year long. 

Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel! 

Guest Host Recommendations:  

Carmen’s Picks: 

• Oye – Melissa Mogollon  

• You Dreamed of Empires – Alvaro Enrigue  

Jananie’s Picks: 

• Enter Ghost – Isabella Hammad 

• If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English – Noor Naga  

Kayla’s Picks:  

• Recitatif– Toni Morrison 

• The Favorites– Layne Fargo 

Meara’s Picks:  

• Everything is Tuberculosis  – John Green 

• The Weight of Blood – Tiffany D Jackson  

Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts: 

Segment 1:  

Part 1:  

• Carter Wilson – Website 

• Allyson Ryan – Website 

• Patrick Zeller – Website 

• Catherine Bucaria & Almeda Beynon, Sourcebooks Audio – Instagram 

Part 2:  

• Jason Reynolds – Website 

• Dan Zitt, Penguin Random House Audio – Instagram 

Segment 2:  

• Carmen – @tomesandtextiles Linktree 

• Jananie K. Velu – @thisstoryaintover Website  

• Kayla – @booksandlala Linktree 

• Meara – @mearaisreading Links 

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode! 

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog! 

We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!  

Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!