Well… we did it. Last night in the elegant surroundings of the New York Historical Society, Romeo and Juliet: A Novel won the Audie for best original work. Given the strength of the competition I had talked myself into believing we didn’t stand a chance. But you never know, do you?
The Audies are a wonderful institution and very much a level playing field which is not always the case with these things. None of the nominations get past the first post unless they’ve been through a field of volunteer listeners sifting them out. It really is about the work, not the schmooze or politics.
It’s important to emphasise too that this is an award for the people behind the work, not just the author. Without Richard Armitage’s immense skills as a narrator and interpreter… without Audible’s formidable attention to detail when it comes to production, direction and delivery this could never have worked,
I’m indebted to you all, and none more than Steve Feldberg, the producer, who first decided to take a chance on rewriting Shakespeare eight years ago with Macbeth. One of the many things I love about Audible is that it’s a publisher willing to take risks. And without risks there can be no creativity.
To you all and the many listeners to my adaptation of Juliet and her Romeo who’ve supported it from the start… a million thanks.
Here’s the moment it happened… and who better to break the news than that fantastic narrator and actress Lorelei King…
David Hewson 