On May 4, 2021 publisher Yen Press announced that there will be a new imprint for their company. The new imprint, Yen Audio, will be an imprint for audiobooks. Yen Press will be partnering with Hachette Audio to produce and distribute select titles in the form of digital audiobooks.
Yen Press shared that the Yen Audio label will be headed by Kurt Hassler as publisher and managing director. Hassler will team up with Hachette Audio’s “longtime Publisher and SVP Anthony Goff, who negotiated the world rights deal for Hachette Book Group.”
Hassler had this to say on the partnership:
Yen has been aware of the interest in audiobook adaptations of its novels for some time, and we’re incredibly excited not only to finally be taking this step but to be doing so with the GRAMMY® Award-winning talent at Hachette Audio. We could not be more excited to be launching both this program and partnership.
Audiobook Release Schedule
Along with the initial announcement of the audiobook imprint, Yen Press shared their launch release schedule. Included are five novel series titles that will be available in audiobook format:
July
Solo Leveling, Vol. 1 by Chugong
August
Sword Art Online, Vol. 1 by Reki Kawahara
September
Overlord, Vol. 1 by Kugane Maruyama, so-bin
October
Solo Leveling, Vol. 2
Sword Art Online, Vol. 2
November
The Miracles of the Namiya General Store, Vol. 1 by Keigo Higashino
The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 1 by Carlo Zen and Shinobu Shinosuki
December
Overlord, Vol. 2
Sword Art Online, Vol. 3
The first launch title, Solo Leveling, is a South Korean novel that was originally published online. The novel also served as the basis for a webtoon of the same title. Solo Leveling is described by Yen Press as:
E-rank hunter Jinwoo Sung has no money, no talent, and no prospects to speak of—and apparently, no luck, either! When he enters a hidden double dungeon one fateful day, he’s abandoned by his party and left to die at the hands of some of the most horrific monsters he’s ever encountered.
But just before the last, fatal blow…
PING! [Congratulations on becoming a Player.]
Source
Voice Talent and Where to Find Yen Press Audiobooks
Yen Audio will announce voice casting for each of the titles soon. Along with voice casting, the narrators for the fall titles Overlord and The Saga of Tanya the Evil will be announced separately.
The forthcoming audiobooks from Yen Press will be available “wherever downloadable audiobooks are sold”. Platforms include but are not limited to:
- Audible
- Audiobooks.com
- Apple Books
- Libro.fm
- Kobo
- Downpour
After the launch series, Yen Audio will release “regular seasonal adaptations”. With this new step into audiobooks, Yen Press’ titles will be available in a new form.
Are you looking forward to checking out Yen Audio’s audiobooks? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below or on Twitter.
