I’m very excited to announce that Audio Rights for The Gray Man and On Target have been sold to Audible, with an option for Ballistic, the 3rd book in the series.
It says in my contract with audible that I can give them my opinion on a narrator, I’ve listened to a few of the more well known narrators and have found a couple that I would LOVE to do the book- my criteria? I like guys who don’t sound like they are doing a car commercial (that weeds out quite a few) Also, I as a fan of foreign language and accents, I have incredible respect for actors/narators who can do foreign accents- In the Gray Man there are Germans, Brits, Hungarians, Frenchmen, a Korean, Swiss, and others. Obviously a narrator isn’t going to get them all right, but I’ve been blown away by the talent of a couple of these guys.
I love audio books and have an incredible respect for the men and women who can bring the page to life- but my #1 pet peeve? Guys trying to sound like women. YOU CAN’T DO IT, TRYING TO DO IT SOUNDS AWFUL AND EMBARASSING. Years ago I had an unabridged Clancy Op Center audiobook, and there was a Chinese woman who was a major character- the narator tried to effect a syrupy effeminate chinese woman voice, and it was PAINFUL. It turned me off to audiobooks for a long long time!
did audible pick up ballastic
They did- it should be out any day- they had a slight delay for some reason but I expect it up at any time!
Hey Mark,
What’s the possibility of having a Male reader for male characters and a female reader for the female characters? I agree with it ruining an audio book to have the female part read by a guy. They usually wind up sounding like an estrogen deficient southern bell.
Reading Ballistic now. Still loving it. You have a real gift man.