Audiobook Narrator Johnny Heller Shares Funny Side of Business at Post Road Library

For Johnny Heller, telling stories comes pretty easy. After all, he’s been recording commercial voice overs and narrating bestselling audiobooks for more than 25 years. Now, he’s sharing both the hard knocks and the humor of producing and narrating audiobooks with Forsyth readers at the Post Road Library on Sunday, October 8 at 3:00 p.m.

Heller is expected to read from his most popular books and share stories from his experiences in the studio, working with authors and producers, and from the workshops he teaches for aspiring voice over artists in this special presentation hosted by RBdigital, a division of audiobook publisher Recorded Books, Inc.

RBdigital representative Brian Gilbert will give a brief demonstration of eAudiobook and eMagazine services available from RBdigital for library patrons at the beginning of the program.

“When we started providing eAudiobooks and eMagazines to FCPL patrons last year, we knew the service would be well used. Now, especially since the launch of the new RBdigital website and mobile app, we’d like to share a few shortcuts, as well as tips and tricks to help users get the most out of their experience with RBdigital,” says Gilbert.

Following the demo Gilbert will introduce Heller, a highly regarded voice over artist who narrated over 600 audiobooks. Heller is a 2005 and 2009 Audie Award Winner, a 2014 Nominee for Best Male Narrator, and a winner of over 25 Earphone Awards. Audiofile Magazine named Heller one of the top 50 voices of the 20th Century and he shows no signs of slowing down.

His most recent project is an audiobook recording of The Improv: An Oral History of the Comedy Club that Revolutionized Stand-Up by Budd Friedman with Tripp Whetsell and foreword by Jay Leno. The book and audiobook will be released September 19.

Heller still describes the process of narrating an audiobook as a learning experience, and one that many readers can identify with.

“One of the interesting things I've learned by narrating audiobooks is how many words I have always said incorrectly. It makes you feel really idiotic and then you think: ‘Wait. I've said this wrong my entire life ...and nobody corrected me? Are people not listening when I speak to them?’” jokes Heller.

Admission to Heller’s talk at the Post Road Library is free for library cardholders and for the general public. The program is intended for adults and advance registration is not required.

“Our patrons love audiobooks and we’re excited to work with RBdigital to bring Mr. Heller to the Post Road Library. It will be fun for our patrons to learn about what goes on behind the scenes of producing the books they love to hear,” adds Stephen Kight, Assistant Director for Public Services.

For more information on the event, or to learn more about eAudiobooks and eMagazines available for free through RBdigital at the library, please visit www.forsythpl.org.