My first book on tape was Tom Sawyer. My dad and I listened to it on cassette tape one summer when we drove from North Carolina to Connecticut together. It was a treat, and apparently I paid attention because I still remember the story in detail.

Still, audiobooks were never my preferred method of reading. I liked feeling a book in my hand, turning the pages, going at my own pace, imagining the characters' voices and the rhythm of the words themselves. Even now, I get distracted by sights and sounds when I'm listening to music, to NPR, to a sermon or a podcast.

But I learned recently that lots of people are not like me. According to the New York Times, "Once a small backwater of the publishing industry, in part because of the cumbersome nature of tapes, audiobooks are now flourishing. Sales have been rising by double digits annually in recent years. A recent survey by industry groups showed that audiobook revenue climbed 22 percent in 2012 compared with 2011."

I'm pleased to announce that A Good and Perfect Gift is a part of this trend. It is now available to download–free if you are a new subscriber to Audible, and at a reduced rate if you purchase it along with downloading it to your Kindle ($10 for the package deal). Please help me spread the word!

Do you listen to audiobooks? Any recommendations?