Alex L. Combs & Andrew Eakett are the authors, illustrators, and audiobook narrators of TRANS HISTORY, the 2026 Odyssey Award-winning production produced by Iris McElroy and Juan Garcia Ticoulat. Their speech was delivered at the American Library Association Conference in Chicago, Illinois on June 27, 2026. Learn more about all the 2026 Odyssey Award Winners from Listening Library here.
“When we first heard that someone bought the audio rights to our graphic novel we were like, huh??? We didn’t know what that would mean exactly.
I had just spent all this time drawing it and so I’m over here like ‘but how are they going to see the pictures?’
When they explained their concept involving music, sound effects, and a full cast of voice actors we were really excited.
We knew we wanted some of the other people who are quoted and interviewed in the book to be involved too, especially the Community Voices participants who’s stories comprise the last chapter in the book.
As it turns out, Iris and Juan had a vision that was in sync with ours, because they made the suggestion before we even got a chance to.
I actually do the majority of my reading through audiobooks. Not only for the entertainment value a reader can bring, but because it means I can read books while I’m stocking shelves at my regular day job. This gives me access to valuable reading time I wouldn’t have otherwise, and it’s really like having a superpower!
Trans History audio team at the Odyssey Awards
—Alex L. Combs & Andrew Eakett
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