[h=3]Billy Crystals memoir named Audiobook of the Year[/h][h=6][/h] “Still Foolin’ ‘Em,” a memoir by comedian Billy Crystal, has been named Audiobook of the Year by the Audio Publishers Association. Crystal also won the prizes for best Humor audiobook and best audiobook Narrated by the Author, Thursday night at the Audies ceremony in New York. Perhaps not surprising for a trade organization of audiobook publishers, the judges were particularly impressed by Crystal’s ability to get so many buyers to listen up. “‘Still Foolin’ ‘Em’ does for the audiobook medium what Billy Crystal’s opening acts have done for the Oscars, which is to bring in a larger audience,” they said in a written statement. “Crystal pulled out all the stops to draw in fans and to create new ones with a clever mélange of audiobook-specific print, radio, TV, social media and store appearances.” The list of Audie winners at tonight’s ceremony — held during the BookExpo America convention — was dominated by well-known names, including two Pulitzer Prize winners: The late folk singer Pete Seeger won the Distinguished Achievement in Production Award for “The Storm King” (Hachette), edited by Jeff Haynes and read by Seeger. The judges praised the audiobook for its “sterling mixture of stories, narratives, poems and music.” Stephen King won the Fiction prize for “Doctor Sleep” (Simon & Schuster), a sequel to “The Shining,” read by Will Patton. Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Goldfinch” (Hachette), won the Literary Fiction prize, and the audiobook’s narrator, David Pittu, also won the prize for Best Solo-Narration-Male. Gilbert King’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book about Thurgood Marshall, ”Devil in the Grove,” read by Peter Francis James (Hachette), won the History prize. Malcolm Gladwell won the Nonfiction prize for his narration of his latest book, “David and Goliath” (Hachette). Here are the Audie winners in other categories: BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR: ”The Elephant Whisperer,” by the late Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence, read by Simon Vance (Tantor). INSPIRATIONAL/FAITH-BASED NONFICTION: “Keeping Hope Alive,” by Dr. Hawa Abdi, read by Robin Miles (Hachette). BUSINESS/EDUCATIONAL: “Leadership Skills of the Salvation Army,” by Robert Watson, read by Bob Souer (eChristian). PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: “You Are a Badass,” by Jen Sincero, read by Jen Sincero (Tantor). CLASSIC: “The Complete Sherlock Holmes,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, read by Simon Vance (Brilliance). INSPIRATIONAL/FAITH-BASED FICTION: “A Story of God and All of Us,” by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, read by Keith David and the authors (Hachette). SHORT STORIES/COLLECTIONS: “Sherlock Holmes in America,” by John L. Lellenberg et al, read by Graham Malcolm (Audible). ROMANCE: “The Longest Ride,” by Nicholas Sparks, read by Ron McLarty and January LaVoy (Hachette). EROTICA: “Carrie’s Story,” by Molly Weatherfield, read by Shana Savage (Audible). SCIENCE FICTION: “Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance,” by Lois McMaster Bujold, read by Grover Gardner (Blackstone). PARANORMAL: “Reviver,” by Seth Patrick, read by Ari Fliakos (Macmillan). FANTASY: “Wisp of a Thing,” by Alex Bledsoe, read by Stefan Rudnicki (Blackstone) MYSTERY: “Unleashed,” by David Rosenfelt, read by Grover Gardner (Listen & Live). THRILLER/SUSPENSE: “The Hit,” by David Baldacci, read by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy (Hachette). PACKAGE DESIGN: “Clockwork Angels: The Watchmaker’s Edition,” by Kevin J. Anderson, read by Neil Peart (Brilliance). CHILDREN’S TITLES FOR AGES UP TO 8: “Hooray for Anna Hibiscus,” by Atinuke, read by Mutiyat Ade-Salu (Recorded Books). CHILDREN’S TITLES FOR AGES 8-12: “Matilda,” by Roald Dahl, read by Kate Winslet (Penguin). TEENS: “Viva Jacquelina,” by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren (Listen & Live). AUDIO DRAMA: “Oliver Twist,” by Charles Dickens, adapted by Paul McCusker, read by Joe Holgate, Henry Goodman, Bill Sykes, Geoffrey Palmer, Roy Hudd, Finty Williams and others (Tyndale). MULTI-VOICED PERFORMANCE: “World War Z,” by Max Brooks, read by Max Brooks et al (Random House/Books on Tape). ORIGINAL WORK: “Thirteen,” by Scott Harrison et al, read by Barnaby Edwards et al (Spokenworld/Ladbroke). SOLO NARRATION–FEMALE: Katherine Kellgren for her reading of ”The Twelve Clues of Christmas,” by Rhys Bowen (Audible). George Guidall, who has narrated more than 1,100 audiobooks, won the APA’s lifetime achievement award.
