The Wait Is Almost Over: The Shamed Ranger Is Coming to Audiobook!

Six years. Countless requests. One very long wait. And finally… some exciting news!

Ever since The Ascension Legacy – Book 1: The Shamed Ranger first hit bookshelves back in 2020, there’s been one question I’ve heard from readers more times than I can count:

“When are your books coming out on audiobook?”

For six years, my answer has always been the same: “Not yet.”

Well, I’m thrilled to announce that I can finally change that answer to something much more exciting:

“SOON!”

That’s right! If everything continues moving in the right direction, The Shamed Ranger will make its audiobook debut in late 2026 or early 2027!

And believe me, nobody is more excited to finally share that news than I am.

Six Years in the Making

So, why has it taken so long?

Well, when I first started exploring the possibility of bringing The Ascension Legacy to life in audio, I had a very specific voice artist in mind. Someone whose voice, delivery, and storytelling ability I felt would be the perfect match for the world and characters I’d created.

Unfortunately, there was one rather significant obstacle: his schedule.

As it turns out, when someone is exceptionally talented, they tend to be exceptionally busy. And this particular voice artist has certainly been no exception.

For six years, I held out hope that an opening might eventually appear in his calendar. But between his existing commitments and the steady stream of new projects coming his way, it became increasingly clear that I could be waiting another six years—or longer.

And while patience may be a virtue, even I have my limits!

Eventually, I realized that if I wanted readers to experience The Ascension Legacy in audiobook format anytime in the foreseeable future, it was time to explore some other options.

Finding a New Voice for the Legacy

Earlier this year, I began auditioning voice artists to find someone who could do justice to the story, its characters, and the world I’ve spent so many years building.

And this past spring, I found someone who caught my attention.

After listening to his work and considering what he could bring to the series, I decided to take the plunge and enter into an agreement to produce the audiobook for The Shamed Ranger.

Now, my ultimate goal is to have all six books in The Ascension Legacy produced as audiobooks, preferably with the same narrator providing a consistent voice throughout the series.

But rather than committing both of us to a six-book undertaking right out of the gate, we agreed to start with Book 1.

Think of it as a trial run of sorts. We’ll see how the first production comes together, how well we work together, and whether the enthusiasm is there on both sides to continue the journey through the remaining five books.

So far, I’m optimistic!

And I’m genuinely excited to see how this new interpretation of the story comes to life.

Want a Sneak Peek? You’re in Luck!

Of course, I wouldn’t dream of making an announcement like this without giving everyone a little something to look forward to!

In the coming days, I’ll be sharing an audio preview of the opening of The Shamed Ranger!

You’ll finally have an opportunity to hear the story brought to life and get your first taste of what the completed audiobook might sound like.

I’ll be posting that preview on my Facebook and Instagram pages, so if you’re not already following me, now would be an excellent time to fix that!

I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks of the narrator and his interpretation of the opening scenes.

After all, these characters have had voices in my head for years. It’ll be interesting to find out whether the voices you hear match the ones I’ve always imagined!

So, When Can You Listen to the Whole Thing?

Ah, yes. The million-dollar question.

And unfortunately, it’s the one question I still can’t answer with absolute certainty.

While I’m currently targeting late 2026 or early 2027, there’s still work to be done before I can confidently circle a release date on the calendar.

The narrator has a few things left to complete on his end, and once those are finished, there will be additional work for me to tackle before the audiobook is ready for distribution.

Then comes the process of getting everything submitted, approved, and made available through the various audiobook platforms.

In other words, we’re getting closer to the finish line, but we’re not quite ready to break out the champagne just yet.

Rest assured, though, that the moment I have a confirmed release date, you’ll hear about it!

And here’s a little insider tip: My Facebook and Instagram followers will probably hear the news first.

Social media tends to be where I share the quick announcements, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes updates before I get around to writing a full blog post or updating the website.

So if you want to be among the first to know when The Shamed Ranger becomes available for your listening pleasure, make sure you’re following along.

A New Chapter for The Ascension Legacy

When I published The Shamed Ranger back in 2020, I had plenty of hopes and ambitions for the series. Seeing it brought to life as an audiobook was always one of them.

I just didn’t expect that particular dream to take six years to start becoming a reality!

But here we are.

A narrator has been selected. Production is underway. And for the first time, an audiobook release is more than just a distant possibility.

It’s actually happening.

To everyone who has asked about audiobooks over the years, thank you for your patience, your encouragement, and your continued interest in my stories. Knowing that people want to experience The Ascension Legacy in another format has meant more to me than you might realize.

We’re not quite there yet, but the wait is finally nearing its end.

The world of The Ascension Legacy is about to find its voice.

And I can’t wait for you to hear it.

— Gary Richardson