20+ Authors Share Their Love of Audiobooks
Authors Share Their Love of Audiobooks
in celebration of Audiobook Appreciation Month
Every June, book lovers celebrate Audiobook Appreciation Month—a time dedicated to recognizing the growing popularity and unique magic of audiobooks. Once considered a niche format, audiobooks have evolved into one of the most dynamic and accessible ways to enjoy literature. With expert narration, immersive sound design, and the convenience of hands-free storytelling, audiobooks have transformed the way we read.
As a book blogger, I have the joy of interviewing authors about their work, their creative process, and their reading habits. One of my favorite questions to ask is: Do you prefer hardback, paperback, ebook, or audiobook? It’s a simple question, but it often sparks the most interesting and thoughtful responses. Some authors remain loyal to the feel and weight of a hardback, others love the portability of an ebook, and increasingly, many express a deep appreciation for audiobooks.
There’s something intimate and engaging about hearing a story told aloud. Whether it’s a suspenseful thriller, a swoon-worthy romance, or an inspiring memoir, the right narrator can elevate the experience and draw listeners deeper into the world of the book. For authors, hearing their work in audio form can be a powerful and emotional experience. For readers, audiobooks offer a way to bring stories into the moments of daily life—on commutes, during chores, or while relaxing.
Over the years, I’ve noticed more and more authors selecting audiobooks as their preferred format. Some mention that audiobooks help them find time to read during busy writing schedules. Others appreciate the artistry involved in narration and love hearing their characters brought to life in a new way. And some are simply audiobook fans at heart, always with earbuds in and a queue full of titles waiting to be played.
Audiobook Appreciation Month is the perfect time to celebrate this evolving format and the authors who love it. Audiobooks aren’t just convenient—they’re transformative. They bring storytelling to life in a completely different way, offering new interpretations and emotional layers to a familiar text. They’re also an inclusive option for readers with visual impairments or learning differences, making literature more accessible to a wider audience.
I’ve found that asking authors about their format preferences isn’t just a fun icebreaker—it opens a window into their relationship with books as readers. Audiobook fans often describe the experience with warmth and enthusiasm, speaking not only to the convenience but to the joy of listening. There’s a shared sense of wonder that comes through—about voice, pacing, interpretation, and the unexpected moments that hit harder when heard aloud.
In honor of Audiobook Appreciation Month, I’m sharing some of the authors who, when asked whether they prefer hardback, paperback, ebook, or audiobook, chose audio as their favorite or made special mention of its value. Their responses, featured below, highlight the many reasons audiobooks continue to gain fans among both writers and readers. Whether you’re new to audiobooks or a longtime listener, I hope their words inspire you to press play on something new this month.
So grab your headphones, settle in, and celebrate the voices behind the stories. There’s no better time to fall in love with audiobooks—or to hear what your favorite authors have to say about them.
I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist..
Rachel Lynn Solomon
Author Interview with Rachel Lynn Solomon
Audiobook! I’m usually in the middle of one of each format at any given time, but I go through 3-5 audiobooks/month.
Lois Melbourne
Author Interview with Lois Melbourne
Every genre has a format best suited for the story. I get through the most books via audiobook, because I listen while walking the dogs, driving and doing housework.
Kyle Ann Robertson
Author Interview with Kyle Ann Robertson
Audiobook! Only thing that gets me through exercise, weeding, laundry, and housecleaning!
Madi Sinha
Author Interview with Madi Sinha
Currently, audiobook. I have a long commute to work, and a good book makes it feel like five minutes. I also listen while I’m doing dishes or the laundry, because I’m a compulsive multi-tasker.
Louise Lennox
Author Interview with Louise Lennox
On my drive to work, audiobooks make the drive worth it!
Jeffrey Dale Lofton
Author Interview with Jeffrey Dale Lofton
Long walks, commuting, washing dishes, sweeping the patio, cradling Petunia (our toy poodle) in my lap . . . I am invariably listening to audiobooks. If one isn't available, I turn to print, always enjoying the tactile sensation of turning a page or admiring the beauty of a graceful font.
Jenny Colgan
Author Interview with Jenny Colgan
When I'm walking the dog or driving, audiobooks. Some of the readers are just superb.
Annette Nauraine
Author Interview with Annette Nauraine
I love to listen to audiobooks because I can listen when I'm cleaning or gardening or folding clothes.
Carol Van Den Hende
Author Interview with Carol Van Den Hende
…audiobooks are staples that accompany me during household tasks!
Lucy Ashe
Author Interview with Lucy Ashe
Audiobooks are perfect for the morning when I am getting ready for work. I prefer a light read for an audiobook, as I am usually multi-tasking.
Jean Kwok
Author Interview with Jean Kwok
I have a special place in my heart for audiobooks because I get to choose the narrators for my novels and I'm just blown away by how they bring my work to life. It's amazing to hear something I've written be read with so much feeling and wit.
Aimee Liu
Author Interview with Aimee Liu
I spend hours each week listening to audiobooks as I walk around my neighborhood. I love the fusion of story and place that occurs in the process. For instance, my memory of Jess Walter’s Beautiful Ruins is framed in images of Venice Beach, where I listened to most of it. Kate Atkinson’s A God in Ruins is interlaced in my mind with the hills in Mar Vista that I trudged while struggling to keep track of her leaps and bounds in time and sorrow and narrative invention.
Brittainy Cherry
Author Interview with Brittainy Cherry
I love when the narrators match the written word like a missing puzzle piece.
Gabriella Saab
Author Interview with Gabriella Saab
I absolutely love audiobooks! They're so wonderful to listen to while I'm driving, walking my dog, folding laundry, or doing just about anything. It's a great way to get more fiction reading in, as much of my physical book reading is spent on research.
Dinah Jefferies
Author Interview with Dinah Jefferies
Audiobooks every time. I just devour them, and I have my favorite narrators. Julia Whelan in the US, and in the UK Stephanie Racine who narrated Daughters of War. I must have about 400 audiobooks, and it all started when Audible gave me ten free credits after I’d done an interview with them.
Tammy Euliano
Author Interview with Tammy Euliano
…the vast majority of my "reading" is audiobooks while walking the dogs, grocery shopping (yeah, not very sociable I'm afraid), cooking dinner (and not a very good cook). The value of a good narrator cannot be overstated.
Vivian Mae
Author Interview with Vivian Mae
Audiobook is my favorite, only because it's the best way I can get reading in. Otherwise, I'm writing 90% of my spare time. What I absolutely love about audiobooks though is how sexy the narrators sounds. Have you heard Priest by Sierra Simone yet? If not, you'll definitely understand the hype for audiobooks. Oof, that narrator did a great job for Father Bell.
Will Dean
Author Interview with Will Dean
I was an early adopter of audiobooks. I used to listen to Bill Bryson books on tape through my Walkman. Not a cool look when you’re a teenager. Then, building my forest cabin, putting in the windows, I listened to The Secret History by Donna Tartt (narrated brilliantly by the author). I’m very attached to that memory.
Julie Ryan McGue
Author Interview with Julie Ryan McGue
Covid made me a huge fan of audio and I have one going all the time as I drive here and there. Having an audiobook makes long trips and heavy traffic seem less burdensome.
Victoria Christopher Murray
Author Interview with Victoria Christopher Murray
I buy the ebook and audiobook for every single book. I listen while I’m out walking and then, I read it every other time. I love that it syncs.
