Bolinda Audio signs collection of short stories from Granta's Best Young British Novelists 2023

Bolinda Audio has signed a collection of short stories from the 20 writers listed as Granta’s Best Young British Novelists 2023.

Head of new business Emily Scorer acquired world English-language audio rights from Isabella Depiazzi at Granta. The audiobook will be released on 1st August 2023.

The audiobook, entitled Best of Young British Novelists, aims to introduce "listeners around the world to a cohort of outstanding new British voices". Graeme Armstrong and Thomas Morris narrated their own pieces while Ghanaian narrator Jude Owusu narrates Derek Owusu’s story to ensure accurate pronunciation of the Twi words in the text. The remaining 17 stories were told by Alex Wingfield, Kate Winter and Emily Barber.

The full list of authors included in the collection include Armstrong, Jennifer Atkins, Sara Baume, Natasha Brown, Eleanor Catton, Eliza Clark, Tom Crewe, Lauren Aimee Curtis, Camilla Grudova, Isabella Hammad, Sophie Mackintosh, Anna Metcalfe, Morris, Owusu, K Patrick, Saba Sams, Olivia Sudjic, Yara Rodrigues Fowler and Eley Williams.

Rose Lander, Bolinda’s casting co-ordinator, said: "Casting a collection of short stories from 20 different authors is a very different process to casting a full-length book from a single author. It was crucial for both Granta and Bolinda to consider the multiplicity of author voices in the collection. We put a lot of time and thought into the number of narrators we’d have and who would read which stories, prioritising both authenticity and a balanced, enjoyable listening experience. We are thrilled with the final collection and hope listeners will love it too."

Sigrid Rausing, Granta’s editor for this issue, said: "Our ‘Best of Young’ candidates have never had as much time to write their stories for the Granta edition as they did this time, and it really shows. This is a fantastic collection of writing, in turns funny, spooky, lyrical and profound. I am very proud of the writing in this collection and so pleased it has been brought to life in audio."