An Original for Kobo Originals
Findaway Voices produces the first Kobo Originals audiobook.
Kobo, the global leader in digital content, recently kicked off their Kobo Originals program to feature exclusive eBook and audiobook content on the Kobo store for customers in Canada, France, and the Netherlands.
At Findaway Voices, we’re thrilled to have produced the first audiobook for Kobo Originals, The Best Kind of People, written by Zoe Whittall and performed by Sonja Field.
The Best Kind of People, a Scotiabank Giller Prize Finalist, tells the story of a popular high school teacher arrested for sexual improprieties at his prestigious Connecticut prep school and the implications his arrest creates for his family. Film rights for The Best Kind of People have been optioned by actress and filmmaker Sarah Polley, who intends to write and direct the film. The audiobook is available exclusively through Kobo.
Findaway Voices worked with London-based performer Sonja Field to create The Best Kind of People. Speaking of her performance, Sonja shared, “For a book like The Best Kind of People, the voices are more subtle… so I try to pick up on what the author was hearing as they wrote… I quite like to be surprised as I narrate, because I think listeners can tell when a narrator is very engaged. It helps keep my performance spontaneous.”
“I quite like to be surprised as I narrate, because I think listeners can tell when a narrator is very engaged.” —Sonja Field
Sonja’s performance is thoughtful and balanced, consistent with the overall story. The characters in The Best Kind of People are nuanced and facing the most trying circumstances of their lives. Listeners can experience the strain each endures — along with more subtle feelings of hope, family, and perseverance — through Sonja’s skillful delivery.
Production timing was a little tight as we had only five weeks to produce, edit, master, and have The Best Kind of People be available in the Kobo store. To make the timing a little more harried, production overlapped with December’s holidays and New Year’s celebrations. So much for a holiday slow-down!
All kidding aside, The Best Kind of People is a well-crafted novel and Sonja created a compelling performance that enhances the overall story. Producing with Kobo was a nice holiday treat, too! They’re a global leader in the book industry, and we’re excited to create future audiobooks with Kobo Originals.
Visit the Kobo store now to read more about The Best Kind of People and for exclusive interviews with the author and narrator!