Iceland’s audiobook prize, the Storytel Awards, will be presented tonight at a ceremony at Norðurljós in Harpa for the fourth time. It’s an annual event where audiobook lovers, publishers, authors and readers celebrate the release of the best audiobooks of the year together. Hugleikur Dagsson will be the presenter of the evening, as well as qualified artists.
Prizes will be awarded in six categories, as well as a special prize for an invaluable contribution or outstanding work in the field of audiobooks. This year, for the first time, a special prize will be awarded to the audio series of the year, but there are stories in several parts where the world of sound plays a big role, in some works there are also scenes read plays and original music.
After the public election, the nominated books are put before special professional juries. Elva Ósk Ólafsdóttir, actress and reader of Storytel, is the president of the main jury, Rebekka Sif Stefánsdóttir, author, is the president of the jury for children and young people, and finally, Gunnar Árnason, one of the main sound technicians in the country , is the president of the audio series jury. The juries were guided by a holistic view of each article, because careful reading of a good text can add a lot to the reader’s experience. Therefore, not only the writers will be rewarded, but also the readers of the audiobooks, and among the readers nominated this year are a number of nationally known actors who lent their voices to historical figures the previous year.
According to Lísa Bjarkar Óskarsdóttir, Managing Director of Storytel in Iceland, it’s nice to see that the number of nominated editors has increased:
“Icelandic publishers are producing more and more audiobooks, which is a great source of enjoyment for Icelandic listeners. Last year, Storytel published around 300 audiobooks and 200 e-books in Icelandic. Storytel listeners in Iceland have access to thousands of books in five languages, but more than 80% of listening and reading is done in Icelandic,” says Lísa Björk.
The following writers, translators and readers will receive nominations for their works for the Icelandic Audiobook Awards, Storytel Awards 2023:
Novels
The letter
Author: Kathryn Hughes
Translator: Ingunn Snædal
Reading: Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir
Publisher: Storyside
Sverri’s wife
Author: Valgerður Ólafsdóttir
Reading: Margrét Örnólfsdóttir
Publisher: Editions Benedikt
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Translator: Sunna Dís Másdóttir
Reading: Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir, Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir, Sólveig Guðmundsdóttir Publisher: Bókabeitan
Emotions are for the poor
Author: Kamilla Einarsdottir
Reading: Saga Garðarsdóttir
Publisher: Bright
Already understood
Author: Steindor Ivarson
Reading: Lára Sveinsdóttir, Stefan Jónsson
Publisher: Storyside
Criminal stories
The bear is sleeping
Author: Emilie Schepp
Translator: Kristján H. Kristjánsson
Reading: Kristjan Franklin Magnus
Publisher: MTH Publishing
death hunt
Author: Emil Hjörvar Petersen
Reading: Hjörtur Jóhann Jónsson
Publisher: Storytel Original
Disappears
Author: Stefan Mani
Reading: Rúnar Freyr Gíslason
Publisher: Sagar edition
The maid
Author: Nita Prose
Translator: Magnea J. Matthíasdóttir
Reading: Kristín Lea Sigríðardóttir
Publisher: Forlago
You do not see me
Author: Eva Björg Ægisdóttir
Reading: Guðmundur Ingi Þorvaldsson, Haraldur Ari Stefánsson, María Dögg Nelson, Sigríður Eyrún Friðriksdóttir, Sigríður Láretta Jónsdóttir, Þórey Birgisdóttir
Publisher: Bright
Non-fiction material
11,000 volts: the development story of Guðmundar Felix
Author: Erla Hlynsdottir
Reading: Rúnar Freyr Gíslason
Publisher: Sagar edition
Elspa – the story of a woman
Author: Guðrún Frímannsdóttir
Reading: Valgerður Guðnadóttir
Publisher: Sagar edition
The city of the rock
Author: Solveig Pálsdóttir
Reading: Sólveig Pálsdóttir
Publisher: Storyside
Crackers
Author: Eliza Reid
Reading: Eliza Reid, Marianna Clara Lúthersdóttir
Publisher: Forlagð
The creature in the dirt – the mental world of a food addict in search of healing
Author: Lara Kristin Pedersen
Reading: Úríður Blær Jóhannsdóttir
Publisher: Sagar edition
Youth and children’s books
The teacher who set it on fire
Author: Bergrun Iris Sævarsdóttir
Reading: Arni Beinteinn Arnason
Publisher: Bookbait
The little Mermaid
Author: Anna Bergljot Thorarensen
Reading: Andrea Ösp Karlsdóttir, Anna Bergljót Thorarensen, Sigsteinn Sigurbergsson, Stefán Benedikt Vilhelmsson, Thelma Hrönn Sigurdórsdóttir, Árni Beinteinn Árnason, Þórunn Lárusdóttir Publisher: Lotta Playgroup
Salka: the world of IT
Author: Bjarni Fritzson
Reading: Þórdís Björk Þorfinnsdóttir
Publisher: Storyside
The Shadow Bridge
Author: Ingi Markusson
Reading: Haraldur Ari Stefánsson, Jóhann Sigurðarson, Álfrún Helga Örnólfsdóttir Publisher: Storytel Original
troll dance
Authors: Friðrik Sturluson, Guðmundur Ólafsson
Reading: Birna Pétursdóttir, Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson, Guðmundur Ólafsson, Hallgrímur Ólafsson, Jóhann Sigurðarson, Mikael Emil Kaaber, Orri Huginn Ágústsson, Sigríður Eyrún Friðriksdóttir, Sigurjón Kjartansson, Stefánmar Hildsson Rafóggson Rafóggson Valþn Valþ
Publisher: Storytel Original
sweet reading
The small bakery in Strandgatu
Author: Jenny Colgan
Translator: Ingunn Snædal
Reading: Esther Talía Casey
Publisher: Angustura
Herta’s story
Author: Anna Sundbeck Klav
Translator: Herdís Magnea Hübner
Reading: Ísgerður Elfa Gunnarsdóttir
Publisher: Storytel Original
Christmas weather coverage
Author: Sarah Morgan
Translators: Marta Hlín Magnadóttir, Birgitta Elín Hassel
Reading: Solveig Guðmundsdóttir
Publisher: Bookbait
It ends here
Author: Colleen Hoover
Translators: Marta Hlín Magnadóttir, Birgitta Elín Hassel
Reading: Thrúður Vilhjálmsdóttir
Publisher: Bookbait
Roots of fate
Author: Anne Thorogood
Translator: Ingibjörg Eythórsdóttir
Reading: Berglind Björk Jónasdóttir, Svandís Dóra Einarsdóttir
Publisher: Storytel Original
audio series
Ah!
Authors: Sigyn Blöndal, Sævar Helgi Bragason
Reading: Sigyn Blöndal, Sævar Helgi Bragason
Publisher: Storytel Original
The Manuscript Trap: The Captured Book Thief
Author: Friðgeir Einarsson
Reading: Friðgeir Einarsson
Publisher: Storytel Original
Hemingway’s Hundred Misadventures
Author: Lilja Sigurardottir
Reading: Birgitta Birgisdóttir, Kolbeinn Arnbjörnsson, Lilja Sigurðardóttir, Lára Sveinsdóttir, Sigríður Láretta Jónsdóttir, Örn Árnason, Þuríður Blær Jóhannsdóttir
Publisher: Storytel Original
Cut
Authors: Ragnar Egilsson, Áslaug Torfadóttir
Reading: Haraldur Ari Stefánsson, Guðmundur Ingi Þorvaldsson, Jóhanna Friðrika Sæmundsdóttir, Stefán Hallur Stefánsson, Svandís Dóra Einarsdóttir
Publisher: Storytel Original
Story time with Grandpa
Author: Orn Arnason
Reading: Örn Árnason
Publisher: Storytel Original
