Since 1999, Scott Brick has recorded nearly 300 audiobooks. While work for Books on Tape represents almost 50% of his output, this tireless reader worked for virtually every audio publisher in 2006. Among the 25+ audiobooks he recorded last year, he delivered outstanding performances for Audio Renaissance (Joseph Finder’s Killer Instinct), Blackstone (Robert Littell’s Vicious Circle), Brilliance (Alex Kershaw’s The Few), Hachette (Nelson DeMille’s Wild Fire), Penguin (Clive Cussler’s Skeleton Coast) and Random House (Lincoln Child’s Deep Storm). PW’s review of his 2006 reading of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood said, “Brick’s surefooted performance is nothing short of stunning. This facile audio actor delivers an award-worthy performance.” native of Southern California, Scott has been an actor (among other things) since leaving UCLA in the late 1980s. “I spent about 10 years in a traveling Shakespeare company, doing dozens of shows all over the state,” quoth “The Brickman,” as he sometimes calls himself. “I guess I’ve had a pretty solid grounding in the classics, as well as contemporary work. Beyond that, I’ve been a fan of old-time radio my entire life and have always been passionate about the spoken word. That’s the reason I wanted to be an actor, because I’m so fanatic about telling stories. And audiobooks are the purest form of doing that, aren’t they?”

Gathering everyone for quality family entertainment can be as important as sitting down to dinner together. In today’s fast-paced world of hundreds of television channels, millions of Web sites and iPods in every kid’s backpack, sometimes it seems that entertainment is becoming a solitary experience that each family member enjoys alone. One innovative form of family entertainment that is becoming more and more popular with parents is the audiobook — stories the whole family can listen to on CDs, at home and in the car. Particularly popular, these days, are fantasy and magic-oriented tales that can be engaging for both parents and children alike. We all like a good story. It’s no wonder more families are turning to audiobooks, as nothing beats having a great storyteller read one to you. Audiobooks are being used by parents as a great way to get kids to use their imagination, and as innovative tools to get children interested in reading. As many parents can attest, audiobooks make for wonderful diversions on those long family car trips. Some great ideas for enjoying audiobooks with your family: * Schedule regular audiobook nights the way you would a movie night, with snacks. * Treat new audiobook releases the way you would new movies and get the whole family excited for upcoming stories. * Make the car a place for storytelling. Instead of turning on the radio, engage your family’s minds by taking audiobooks on the road.