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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, New Writing North and Hachette UK have launched Sounds Good Audiobooks, a new recording studio at Northumbria University, with their first production being Andrew Michael Hurley’s “Barrowbeck,” a dark folk-horror story.
Sounds Good Audiobooks
New Writing North and Hachette UK have officially launched Sounds Good Audiobooks, a dedicated new audiobook recording studio based within Northumbria University’s city center campus in Newcastle.
The studio has commenced commercial production with its debut audiobook, Barrowbeck by award-winning Lancashire author, Andrew Michael Hurley. Hurley, whose debut novel The Loney garnered the Costa Best First Novel Award and was named Book of the Year at the British Book Awards, is renowned for his captivating storytelling. His 2019 novel, Starve Acre, was recently adapted into a feature film.
Barrowbeck, a chilling folk-horror tale set in a remote Yorkshire-Lancashire valley, is brought to life by actors Gabriella Pond and Matt Jamie. The project was spearheaded by Lucie McNeil, whose innovative concept for a collaborative audiobook studio led to this partnership between Northumbria University, New Writing North, and Hachette UK.
Northumbria
Northumbria University is a leading research institution committed to unlocking potential and driving positive change. A significant proportion of our undergraduate student body originates from the North East of England, and a substantial number of graduates find employment within the region. This demonstrates Northumbria’s substantial contribution to social mobility and regional economic growth.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone for the North East creative industries, providing a valuable resource for the region’s burgeoning audio sector.
The North East has an incredible array of talent and graduates primed to work in audiobooks, and now we have a central hub where they can be created locally. The studio is right in the heart of Newcastle and all its transport links, so it’s easy to get to.
We are excited to continue working with our long-term partners Hachette to build publishing infrastructure and opportunity in the north, and New Writing North’s partnership with Northumbria University has always had a creative, collaborative approach. We want to build our audio work into Northumbria University’s MA in Publishing and other courses and provide industry experience for students and creatives.
-Lucie McNeil, Audio Development Producer for New Writing North and studio lead for Sounds Good
Northumbria University and New Writing North, partners since 2012 in teaching, community engagement, and research, have launched Sounds Good Audiobooks. This new studio, co-located with their innovative MA Publishing program (co-delivered with Hachette), will offer valuable learning experiences for students across Humanities programs by integrating writing for audio into their curriculum.
One of the reasons we have established strong cultural partnerships with local organisations such as New Writing North is to sustain and build the creative ecology of the region.
We’re looking forward to providing new opportunities to our students through this collaboration, including co-designing and delivering a new undergraduate module alongside New Writing North across courses such as English Literature and Creative Writing.
-Neil Percival, Acting Director of Cultural Partnerships at Northumbria UniversityÂ
Barrowbeck
It’s such an honour to know that Barrowbeck will be recorded and produced by Sounds Good Audiobooks. It’s a wonderful, collaborative venture that will give writers, publishers, actors, and sound technicians across the North so many opportunities.
-Andrew Michael Hurley
For centuries, the inhabitants of Barrowbeck, a remote valley on the Yorkshire-Lancashire border, have lived uneasily alongside a potent, unseen force. They toil the land, raise their families, and offer refuge to those seeking solace, but a pervasive darkness lingers beneath the surface.
A father grapples with the terrifying belief that his daughter is possessed by an unholy entity. A childless couple faces an agonizing moral dilemma. A grieving widower awaits the return of his lost wife. And a troubled man is haunted by apocalyptic visions.
As generations pass and the valley succumbs to the march of progress, the darkness intensifies. The people of Barrowbeck, once respectful guests of the land, have forgotten their place. Now, a reckoning is upon them, and two millennia of history teeter on the brink of oblivion.
Barrowbeck was at the top of my list when Lucie and I originally discussed books that could be recorded as part of the partnership. I’m delighted that we’re kicking things off with this production, and I’m looking forward to many more audiobooks coming out of Newcastle through 2025.
-Dominic Gribben, co-Audio Content Director at Hachette
Andrew Michael Hurley resides in Lancashire with his family. His debut novel, The Loney, initially published as a limited edition by Tartarus Press, garnered widespread acclaim following its republication by John Murray. Translated into twenty languages, The Loney received numerous accolades, including the Costa Best First Novel Award and the British Book Awards’ Book of the Year 2015. Recognizing its cinematic potential, New Regency Television acquired the rights, with Jonathan van Tulleken (known for his work on Shogun) attached to direct.
Hurley’s second novel, Devil’s Day, further solidified his reputation, receiving critical acclaim and being named a Book of the Year by five major newspapers. It also garnered the prestigious Encore Award.
In 2019, Hurley published Starve Acre, which has recently been adapted for the screen by director Daniel Kokotajlo and is slated for cinematic release this autumn.
Creative UK
In 2024, Creative UK and New Writing North established Sounds Good Audiobooks, a pioneering initiative aimed at fostering audio talent in the North East. Key aspects of this venture include:
- Talent Development: Conducting workshops and training sessions led by experienced audiobook narrators, commissioners, and editors, equipping aspiring actors with the skills to excel as narrators and producers.
- Industry Research: Undertaking collaborative research to gain valuable insights into the evolving audio industry.
Partially funded by Creative UK’s Cultural and Creative Investment program and supported by the North East Combined Authority, the studio aims to provide a cost-effective and high-quality recording solution for publishers across the UK, encouraging them to utilize local talent.
Beyond audiobook production, New Writing North is actively expanding its audio offerings:
- Writer Development: Running an eight-month audio-making development program, led by renowned writer-producer Mark Nixon, culminating in the creation of original audio episodes by six talented writers.
- Educational Outreach: Delivering a diverse range of courses and masterclasses, including a dedicated program supporting regional universities in broadcasting their research through engaging podcasts.
To date, over 50 local writers have benefited from bursaries and courses offered by Sounds Good, enabling them to adapt their written work for the audio medium.
We were delighted to collaborate on this project to support the creation of the studio, and enable talented writers to have the opportunity to gain new skills and diversify their skills. We’re pleased to be supporting creative ambition in the region, and look forward to seeing the opportunities this will create in the future.
-Carol Bell, OBE, Associate Regional Director for Creative UKÂ
New Writing North
New Writing North champions creative writing and reading across the North of England. Founded in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1996, we have a long history of producing nationally significant work. As a charity and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, we strive to identify and nurture exceptional writing talent from all backgrounds, create pathways to success for writers at every stage of their careers, inspire a love of reading and writing in communities across the region, and connect writers with diverse audiences through innovative programs and events. We believe that everyone has the potential to be a writer, and we are dedicated to breaking down barriers to creative expression.
Find more now:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4gGsV7q
Hardcover: https://amzn.to/4a6A26O
Audible: https://amzn.to/4gXnQaA
Apple Books: https://apple.co/4gG9208
Apple Audiobook: https://apple.co/3DCikvN
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