An Idea for Laptops?

[Hart Larry]

I was wondering if there are any conversion programs in linux which you can
convert text 2 mp3?  Only versions I've ever seen or run have been in windows.
Seemingly if there were a linux version, you could maybe configure it as a
software speech.  I would love to load linux on a laptop, but not the way
Festival sounds.  I am spoiled by Eliquence.  Thanks in advance for any
comments or links
Hart