Bolinda creates ‘AI-cloned’ voice of Barbara Cartland for new audiobooks
Bolinda Audio has partnered with the estate of Barbara Cartland in an exclusive agreement to develop audiobooks from the author’s catalogue of more than 700 titles, creating a “bespoke AI-cloned” voice of Cartland specifically for its audiobook publishing.
The publishing programme will begin with the Eternal Collection, and the AI voice will “frame each title, welcoming listeners at the beginning and closing the experience at the end, creating a more intimate and cohesive connection between author and audience”.
“Carefully crafted to reflect Cartland’s distinctive tone and personality, it offers a rare sense of authorial presence within the listening experience,” Bolinda Audio states, emphasising that each title will be voiced by professional voice actors, “recognising that human narration remains central to storytelling and to supporting the wider creative industry”.
“The AI voice is used as a complementary creative layer within the overall production,” the company says, “enhancing the listener experience while preserving the integrity of performance.”
When asked by The Bookseller, Bolinda Audio did not give further details about how the AI voice was developed.
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Cartland wrote 723 books during her lifetime – including 23 written in 1976 – and to date is estimated to have sold more than one billion copies worldwide. Best known for her romantic novels, she also wrote numerous non-fiction titles, including biographies, plays and cookbooks. Her debut novel, Jigsaw, was published in 1925 when Cartland was 24, with her final novel publishing in 1997 when she was 96. After her death in 2000, 160 previously unpublished manuscripts were published as the Barbara Cartland Pink Collection.
Ellis Poolford-Moore, audiobook and originals content lead at Bolinda, said: “I’ve long admired Dame Barbara Cartland’s incredible body of work, and was surprised to discover only a handful of her titles have been made into audio to date. This partnership with her estate gives us the opportunity to celebrate a truly iconic author and introduce her stories to a whole new generation of listeners.
“What’s particularly exciting is the chance to experiment creatively with AI voice, using it to bring a sense of Dame Barbara herself into the listening experience – while continuing to work with world-class narrators to bring her stories to life.”
Tara Parker, Cartland’s granddaughter, who manages the estate, commented: “We are delighted and excited with this partnership, which will allow us to share my grandmother’s beautiful stories of romantic adventure with a much wider audience than was previously possible.
“Bolinda’s expertise in the audio format, combined with their extensive reach, particularly in libraries, will allow many more people to rediscover the joy of Barbara Cartland – and for those who are yet to enjoy one of her stories, give them the opportunity to uncover the magic that inspired an entire generation of readers.”
