Author Adrienne Kress explains why audiobooks are a gateway for reluctant readers. Plus, producer Nick Martorelli shares how they found the perfect voice for THE EXPLORERS: THE DOOR IN THE ALLEY, the first audio in this hilarious and action-packed new series!
Author Adrienne Kress on Why She Loves Audiobooks
Author Adrienne Kress
But it was when I was first introduced to the term “reluctant reader” that I came to realize just how important audiobooks were. I’m using the term to mean a person who, though capable of reading at high level, is nonetheless reluctant to pick up a book, who is possibly intimidated by the prospect. Someone who would rather watch a movie or play with friends. I didn’t have the term when I was growing up as a child, but I absolutely would apply it to myself then and even now. And one way that I found to enjoy reading was to have someone read to me.

Original art of Adrienne’s father reading The Lord of the Rings
© Deena Pagliarello
This is a very large reason that I’ve always been a huge supporter of audiobooks, to the point where I not only recorded the audiobook of my YA novel The Friday Society, but I also worked for a time recording children’s audiobooks professionally.
So as an author, getting to have an audiobook of my own work is not only very special, it’s important to me. Especially with a book like THE EXPLORERS: THE DOOR IN THE ALLEY that is geared towards the reluctant reader. It was a truly wonderful experience working with my producer Nick Martorelli to choose a voice actor to read the story. And while all the options were just amazing, the narrator we went with, Kristen Sieh, really shone through for me. Her voice was personable and a little quirky, two things I thought were perfect for the book. Her quirkiness is a great match as The Explorers itself is quirky. And I wanted a narrator that the listener would immediately be drawn to, would understand was on their side. Warm and human.
LISTEN TO A CLIP: THE EXPLORERS
Hearing a story read well shows the reluctant reader what a story can sound like and how involving it can be. And a good audiobook becomes a gateway that gives them the confidence to discover the voice of the story the next time they pick up a book to read for themselves.
—Author Adrienne Kress

Producer
Nick Martorelli
Praise for THE EXPLORERS: THE DOOR IN THE ALLEY:
“A quirky and lighthearted romp with likable characters and ample plot twists and turns; hand to fans of Lemony Snicket.”—School Library Journal
“A notably diverse supporting cast ranging from a female Indiana Jones (with an affinity for animals but no people skills)…Fans of a Series of Unfortunate Events will be drawn to this series opener.”—Booklist
“Animals in teeny hats, Wonderland-style logic, and loads of wordplay and sarcasm will keep readers giggling all the way through to the dramatic—and metafictive—cliffhanger…Readers will look forward to the sequel.”—Kirkus