Mendoza novel gets audiobook treatment

Las Cruces artist and writer George Mendoza has added another entry to his growing list of accomplishments with the release of his Pulitzer Prize-nominated novel “Journey of the Spirit Man” in audiobook form. The project was created using cutting-edge AI narration technology from Amazon to create a more immersive literary experience.

According to a release by the artist, the audiobook was voiced by Amazon’s dynamic AI narrator Jessica, to bring Mendoza’s epic tale—described by the author as “the next Wizard of Oz” – to life. The production to adapt the text using the new technology was led by New Mexico State University graduate Sigi Treviso.

“This AI technology is mind-boggling,” Mendoza said. “Jessica’s voice gives this story a whole new soul. I believe it will sell millions of copies. Dream big, baby, dream big!”

Blind since age 15 due to a rare degenerative eye disease, Mendoza has spent his life turning adversity into art. He became a record-breaking runner, an internationally recognized painter, and an award-winning author. His paintings, part of his Colors of the Wind collection, have been exhibited in galleries across the country, including the Smithsonian-affiliated New Mexico Museum of Art and the United Nations.

“This release marks a bold step forward in inclusive storytelling—where technology meets soul, and imagination breaks free from limitation,” Mendoza said in his release.

“Journey of the Spirit Man,” which he calls a “deeply personal and imaginative novel,” captures a “mythic inner landscape inspired by dreams and visions.” The new AI-narrated audiobook offers a new level of accessibility for both blind and sighted listeners.

For more information on George Mendoza and “Journey of the Spirit Man,” visit GeorgeMendoza.com.