Kris Hartrum

Kris Hartrum is the founder and publisher of The Talking Book, an audiobook recording studio and production house located in Asheville, North Carolina.1 He is also the host of The Talking Book Podcast.1 Hartrum established The Talking Book with the goal of recording and producing audiobooks for innovative authors and publishers, particularly those that might be overlooked by larger publishing houses.3

In addition to his work with The Talking Book, Hartrum is involved in various writing and publishing projects:

1. He writes stories and produces audiobooks and podcasts at thetalkingbook.org.2
2. He is the editor of the literary journal "Of The Talking Book".2
3. Hartrum is also the publisher of TYO MAG, a Tokyo-based art magazine.2

Since 2018, Hartrum has expanded The Talking Book's operations to include a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm, which focuses on publishing audiobooks that might otherwise be overlooked by larger houses.13 The company works with a variety of publishers, including North Atlantic Press, UNC Chapel Hill, New Directions, Bookshop.org, The Jewish Braille Institute, Coffee House Press, and Penguin Random House.1

Hartrum's passion for audiobooks and independent publishing is evident in his work. He started The Talking Book to record "badass books" from indie publishers and innovative small presses that were rarely adapted into audio formats.3 Under his leadership, The Talking Book has produced audiobooks for authors such as Bud Smith, Michael Bible, Clancy Martin, and Tiffany Scandal.3