Guest Post: Julie Kagawa on the audiobook experience

Julie Kagawa, New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey and Blood of Eden series and all around superstar, is here today to celebrate audiobooks with us. Of course her books are amazing, but the audio is even more engaging. She has had some amazing luck when it comes to narrators! She's here to share her thoughts about the audio versions of her books and express her love for all things audiobook.

Find Julie online... 

Website / Blog

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Check out her audiobooks HERE!

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Things I love about audiobooks:

1. They're great for when I'm too tired to actually pick up a book and read.

2. They're the best thing for long car/plane rides. Five hours on a plane zips right by when you're immersed in an audio book. It can even drown out the screaming infant sitting behind you.

3. If the narrator is James Marsters or Neil Gaiman, you get to listen to their (sexy) voice for the duration of the book.

Lol, okay okay. So this isn't the most logical list ever. Except maybe the screaming infant thing.  Regardless, I love audio books.  Maybe it goes back to my own mom reading me a story when I was a kid. I think that's where my love of reading began. And if the narrator is fabulous--as all of mine were--you get to hear the characters come to life in completely new and awesome ways.

For the audio versions of the Iron Fey and Blood of Eden series, I've had exactly five narrators.  One for Meghan, Puck, Ash, Ethan, and Allie. I've listened to them all, and I honestly can't say which I've enjoyed more. All the narrators were extraordinary and fascinating in their own way.  And for the record, hearing your own book read back to you is an odd experience; it's almost like you're listening to a different story. I must commend all of my narrators for what I know had to be several very emotional scenes. (The last chapter of The Eternity Cure comes to mind, and Therese Plummer nailed it.)     

I guess what I'm trying to say with this post is: if you haven't listened to an audio book yet, definitely try it out. Especially if you're going on a long car or plane trip. It really is a different experience. And grab a book read by Neil Gaiman or James Marsters. You'll thank me later.  ;)