BBC Audiobooks America proudly announces that two of its 2008 titles were the recipients of Benjamin Franklin Awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association (PMA) on May 28, 2009. The exclusive audiobook original, Martin Misunderstood, written by Karin Slaughter and narrated by Wayne Knight, was named the Best Fiction Audiobook, and The Good Rat written by Jimmy Breslin and narrated by Richard M. Davidson, Richard Mover, and Kaipo Schwab was named the Best Nonfiction Audiobook.
Other BFA finalists published by BBC Audiobooks America include Blindness by Jose Saramago, and Life Class by Pat Barker, both in the Fiction category. Named in honor of America's most cherished publisher/printer, the Benjamin Franklin Awards™ recognize excellence in independent publishing and are bestowed by the Independent Book Publishers Association. Publications, grouped by genre, are judged on editorial and design merit by top practitioners in each field. The awards were presented at the Roosevelt Hotel, New York City.
On May 29th, 2009, in a ceremony at the New York Historical Society in New York City, the Audio Publishers Association named The Odyssey by Homer, narrated by a full cast, as an award winner for Best Audio Drama in its 2009 Audies® competition. These are the industry's top awards and the only awards in the United States devoted entirely to honoring spoken word entertainment.
Additional Audie®-nominated titles, published under the BBC Audiobooks America company imprints, BBC Audio and BBC Radio, include: Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien (Audio Drama), Martin Misunderstood by Karin Slaughter (Humor), Buying In by Rob Walker (Nonfiction), and Mismatch by Tami Hoag (Romance). Finalists in 31 categories were considered for the 2009 Audies® based on content, production quality, packaging, and narration. More than 1000 entries were submitted for consideration in 2008.