As audiobooks continue to grow in popularity, more authors are getting into narration. Learn about what goes on behind the scenes in this discussion with author and educator Torrey Maldonado, executive producer Brian Ramcharan of Penguin Random House Audio, and founder and CEO Tavia Gilbert of Talkbox Productions. We’ll hear all about Torrey’s experience, the pros and cons of self-narration, and how Brian and Tavia approach their work with authors and voice artists.

What to expect: Approximately 45 minutes of discussion and 15 minutes of Q&A. A recording and materials will be shared with registrants after the event.

Ideal audience: Writers who are curious about narrating audiobooks, producing audiobooks, and promoting them.

A Q&A will follow the presentation; you can pre-submit a question when registering for the event. A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend live.

The event will take place via Zoom with automatic closed captioning. To request any other accessibility features, please email support@authorsguild.org and we will make every effort to accommodate.

Panelists

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Torrey Maldonado is an acclaimed author and educator whose work impacts middle grade, young adult, and elementary school literature. He approaches thirty years teaching in NYC and has been celebrated by two Chancellors as a top culturally responsive educator. Named Best Books of the Year by NPR, the Washington Post, Oprah, and The NY Times, Hands, What Lane?, Tight, and Secret Saturdays are inspired by his and his students’ lives. They’re praised for their authenticity about friendship, family, and choices. Torrey contributes to anthologies alongside celebrated authors. Children’s literature celebrates his 2026 debut picture-book, Just Right, and upcoming picture-books Uncle and Little Artist that publish soon. Learn more at torreymaldonado.com.

Tavia Gilbert is an award-winning audiobook narrator, voice director, performance coach, and keynote speaker with nearly two decades of experience in audio. She works with writers, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and publishers to develop and amplify the voice behind their message.

Brian Ramcharan is a executive producer at Penguin Random House Audio. Brian has been an audio professional for over 10 years, with roots in the music industry as a recording engineer in New York and Los Angeles. After developing an affinity for spoken word, Brian transitioned to audiobooks and worked as an audio editor, and then moved on to become a well-known fixture at CDM Studios, where he recorded and directed audiobooks, podcasts, and TV and film projects. His audio productions have been recognized with Earphones awards, Apple Must Listens, and Audible Editors Select picks (as producer). Most notably, he received a GRAMMY® nomination for his work as a recording engineer on PRH Audio’s production of Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz.

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