( October 1, 2007 ) - Audible, Inc. launched a groundbreaking, episodic novel called The Chopin Manuscript. This new novel, a collaborative creation by the world's top thriller writers, is available only as serialized downloadable audio from audible.com.

Created by 15 of the most recognized thriller writers (including New York Times best-selling writers Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, Joseph Finder, and Lisa Scottoline), this collaboration began when Jeffery Deaver wrote the opening chapter of the work and handed it off to fellow best-selling writer, David Hewson, who wrote chapter two. This process continued, with each successive chapter written by 13 different authors. The intense thriller-in-progress finally returned to Jeffery Deaver, who wrote the final two chapters before the work was narrated by noted actor Alfred Molina.

Starting today, Audible customers can receive the novel serially. Two to three chapters will be automatically delivered each week for eight weeks.

“I think The Chopin Manuscript is an important literary innovation in three ways,” observed Donald Katz, Chairman and CEO, Audible, Inc. “First, 15 of the most gifted practitioners of a very demanding and technical form of modern fiction – the thriller – came together to create a chapter of a single novel before handing the plot development to the next master. Second, the fact that the novel was written to be produced and published as an audiobook is a step forward for the literate listening category Audible was founded to develop. And finally, the work is being delivered as an episodic, high-tech-Dickensian publishing cycle, using Audible’s technology to automatically deliver a chapter at a time. In a variety of ways this grand experiment deploys technology and new techniques to open up digital media possibilities that can expand the digital audio sector and the literary form in general.”

Many of the participating authors are well-known to observers of The New York Times best seller list. Lee Child’s Bad Luck and Trouble hit #2 on the list; Joseph Finder’s Power Play debuted at #7: and Jeffery Deaver’s latest book, The Sleeping Doll, hit #15. Lisa Scottoline, David Hewson, and other contributors to The Chopin Manuscript are also well known for their large and avid followings.

“I was blown away by the quality of the writing and the imagination of my fellow authors,” said Jeffery Deaver.

“It was like a great jazz improv at the Village Vanguard,” offered Lee Child. “At worst you have a fun week with your friends; at best you create a classic that lives on for 40 years.”

All the writers are members of International Thriller Writers, which partnered with Audible on the creation of The Chopin Manuscript.

Described by USA TODAY’s David Lieberman as “the first major work of fiction to be introduced only as an audio download,” The Chopin Manuscript will be available today exclusively at www.audible.com/manuscript