The Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced its inaugural Hall of Fame members on February 26, 2026. The five honored narrators are George Guidall, Hillary Huber, January LaVoy, Robin Miles, and Simon Vance, who collectively have recorded thousands of audiobooks. They were recognized at the 31st Audie Awards on March 2, held at Pier Sixty in New York. This new honor aims to acknowledge individuals whose outstanding contributions have significantly impacted audiobook narration and the industry as a whole.
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Dan Zitt, chair of the APA’s Hall of Fame Committee, stated the board wanted to celebrate narrators and industry leaders whose artistry and dedication have transformed modern audiobook publishing. Each narrator has shared insights into their craft, offering different perspectives on how they work. For instance, Guidall prefers having someone present while recording, emphasizing the need for interaction during narration. He remarked, “I need someone on the other side of the glass to talk to.” He believes narration is about connecting with the audience rather than merely performing.
Hillary Huber transitioned from commercial voice-over to audiobooks, starting her audiobook career with a reading of The Bell Jar. She advises aspiring narrators to submit a sample of a specific book rather than a general demo. LaVoy, a celebrated actress and audiobook narrator, reads each book thoroughly to create a listener's experience, flagging key dialogue tags to enhance her delivery.
Robin Miles, trained at Yale, prepares by reading each book once and taking notes on character descriptions to accurately portray them. She emphasizes the importance of remaining humble in the craft, focusing on the author's intent. Meanwhile, Vance, who began narrating in the 1980s, discusses the physical demands of narration, noting that stamina is crucial for long recording sessions. He engages with the text by visualizing his characters as he reads, likening the experience to a game of chess against himself.
Despite their different methods, a common theme among these narrators is the importance of preparation and understanding the material. They avoid improvising pronunciations and focus on character depth to connect with listeners. All narrators also highlight the need for voice care, with LaVoy even sharing a simple but effective tip: the use of lip balm.
These insights provide valuable lessons for both seasoned narrators and newcomers in the industry. The message is clear: understand your characters, prepare diligently, and remember the listener.