You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Hot Key Books teams up with RNIB on Hits Different audiobook
Hot Key Books has partnered with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) for an audiobook recording of summer romance Hits Different.
The debut novel from former "Love Island" star and disability campaigner Tasha Ghouri, co-authored with Lizzie Huxley-Jones, was the very first to be recorded in the RNIB’s new accessible Talking Books studios.
Hot Key said: “The partnership aligns with both authors’ aims to normalise disabilities. A sizzling romance with an empowering message of self-love, Hits Different is based on Tasha Ghouri’s own experiences as a deaf dancer.”
Actor Eve Von Elgg, who has been hard of hearing in one ear since birth, narrated Hits Different from the RNIB’s new studio and was joined by both authors in April, who answered questions from their fans and provided exclusive bonus content.
Daryl Chapman, head of specialist content at RNIB, said: "We are delighted that Tasha’s recording with Lizzie Huxley-Jones was the first from our new Talking Books studios in RNIB’s head office at the Grimaldi Building [in north London].
“It was a privilege to have them join us and to showcase the work that has been done to create our truly inclusive studios. Having Tasha make her debut book accessible for blind and partially sighted people is a fantastic example to others of how simple steps can be taken to make materials accessible for people with sight loss to enjoy at the same time as their sighted peers.”
Von Elgg said: “It was a pleasure to be given the opportunity to narrate Hits Different and give voice to the uplifting narrative and to the wonderful variation of characters. I was struck by how much of it connected with me and put into words experiences that I haven’t seen much representation of. Cassie’s story is a journey into confidence and belonging, which left me feeling heart-warmed.”
Ghouri said: “I loved being involved in the audiobook for Hits Different, and it’s been great to partner on the production with the RNIB, which works to broaden accessibility to books for all readers. The process of bringing this book to life has been all about inclusivity and celebrating disability, so to work with Lizzie and Eve on this edition has been such a positive experience, and I hope readers will enjoy listening.”
Huxley-Jones said: “I’m really proud of what we’ve done with the production of Hits Different, thinking about accessibility and inclusiveness at every step, and working with the RNIB has been an amazing part of that.”
Hits Different will be published in paperback, e-book and audio on 6th June 2024.
