An audiobook studio is set to open in the North East and will offer regional writers the chance to develop their skills with a set of workshops.
Sounds Good Audiobooks, a collaboration between New Writing North and publishers Hachette UK, is based on Northumbria University's city centre campus in Newcastle.
The studio has already started commercial production with its first audiobook, Barrowbeck, by award-winning author Andrew Michael Hurley.
Lucie McNeil, audio development producer for New Writing North and studio lead for Sounds Good, said: "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."
The venture opens up opportunities for staff and students at Northumbria University to incorporate writing for audio across various humanities programmes.
Neil Percival, acting director of cultural partnerships at Northumbria University, said: "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."
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Author Andrew Michael Hurley said: "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."
The UK's publishing industry contributes £11 billion to the economy, with the number of UK audiobook downloads increasing by 17 per cent between 2022 and 2023.
Claire Malcolm MBE, CEO of New Writing North, said: "The audio studio is a practical and tangible way of expanding the creative industries in the North East.
"The studio supports our mission to increase content production in the region which in turn supports Newcastle City’s Council’s industrial strategy and the creative and cultural ambitions of the North East Combined Authority."
The studio was part-funded by Creative UK’s Cultural and Creative Investment Programme, with funding from the North East Combined Authority.
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