From the days of reel to reel to the soaring popularity of digital download, Dan Zitt, Vice President, Content Production for the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, has been on the front lines of the evolution of the audiobook industry. During his twenty year career as a producer Dan has been the creative catalyst for over two thousand audio productions, collaborating with bestselling authors, notable celebrities, and award-winning narrators. Twelve of his recordings have been nominated for GRAMMY Awards®, with former President Bill Clinton’s autobiography, My Life, winning the award for Best Spoken Word Album. He has worked with President Clinton three times, as well as directing former President George W. Bush and First Lady Michele Obama. Currently Dan oversees the production of 800 audiobooks a year.
Take a tour through the Penguin Random House Audio studios with Dan as your guide:
Including these notable listens and more!
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WORLD WAR Z By Max Brooks This 2006 Audie Award winner is a listener favorite for its huge star-studded cast (40 narrators total!) and incredible storytelling. |
UGLY By Robert Hoge An inspiring Hear Diversity pick, read by the Author. |
A Selection of Awards for DZ’s Productions
GRAMMY Award® Winner |
Odyssey Honor Winner |
Audie Award Winner |
Learn about the audiobook casting process in this behind-the-scenes look (and listen!) at the making of THE DIVINERS, the first in a spellbinding series by Libba Bray. The sequel, LAIR OF DREAMS, (also produced by Dan) was a 2016 Audie Award winner for Young Adult audiobook.
Penguin Random House Audio Winning BIG @ the 2016 Audie Awards:
Photos © Angela Swan
In the Studio:
Upcoming Appearances
BOT’s Fresh-Squeezed Audiobook Buzz @ ALA Annual 2016
Sunday, June 26, 2016
9:00 – 10:00 am
Orange County Convention Center, Room W303
Hear the scoop on what it’s like to be a narrator, learn how audiobooks are made, and get the behind-the-mic news about the hottest summer and fall listens. Featuring Odyssey Award-winning narrator Jayne Entwistle, GRAMMY Award®-winning producer Dan Zitt, and BOT Marketing’s Cheryl Herman and Jen Rubins.
Grimm’s Fairy Tales LIVE @ San Diego Comic Con
Thursday, July 22, 2016
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Horton Grand Theatre
Join award-winning narrators Kirby Heyborne, Jayne Entwistle and Scott Brick for a live performance the full cast audio collection GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES, followed by a discussion moderated by Dan Zitt, taking listeners behind the scenes of the recording and exploring the enduring popularity of these classic stories.
Comic Con attendees: Entry to each Horton Grand Theatre panel requires a ticket for the corresponding panel. For more information click here.
Your Summer Playlist Needs Help: Audiobooks @ Read Up Greenville
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Peace Center, Greenville, South Carolina
Join our game show inspired panel with Dan Zitt and award-winning narrators Kirby Heyborne and January LaVoy, as they talk about their experiences telling stories, creating characters, and making funny sounds with their mouths. We bring audience participation to a whole new level with this panel and prizes will be won!
PS: Free signed audiobook for all attendees.
This is the Author PodcastDan is the co-creator of This is the Author, a new podcast interviewing authors about the recording process as they narrate their own audiobooks.
This is the Author celebrates the intimacy of listening to an author read aloud and shows the insightful, enlightening, sometimes difficult, and often hilarious moments in the studio.
Author Eddie Huang talks about narrating DOUBLE CUP LOVE (produced by Dan) here:
New Narrator Resource:
How does Penguin Random House Audio find the best voice talent in the entertainment industry? AHAB.us is an online self-service tool that is designed to get samples of narrators’ best audiobook performances into the hands of the preeminent producer team in the industry. Narrators can create a profile, upload their finest audio clips, and become part of the talent pool.
Dan explains more about AHAB here:
