A fan narrates one of his author heroes
Posted on September 15, 2018 by AudioFile Editors

Kirby Heyborne loves Ray Bradbury, and his enthusiasm about narrating A MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY is infectious. Listen as he shares insights into and excitement over this collection of captivating short stories.

“Ray’s at his best in this collection.”—Narrator Kirby Heyborne

A MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY: And Other Stories by Ray Bradbury, read by Kirby Heyborne
Recorded Books AudioFile Earphones Award

Strange forgotten towns, attics that transport one back in time, mystical visitors in the night—narrator Kirby Heyborne takes listeners through these subtly strange tales with the steady grace and tempo of a pro. Heyborne presses his own unique stamp into the words of master storyteller Ray Bradbury as everyday life collides with magic and surrealism.

Kirby narrates audiobooks for adults, such as MISTER MONKEY, and audiobooks for young listeners, including SAVING WINSLOW and THE SKY AT OUR FEET. Check out his full and extensive audiography.

Now Hear This: Kirby Heyborne. Written By: Joyce Saricks (author). First published May 15, 2018 (Booklist).

Acclaimed for his youthful voice and the skill with which he reflects emotions and channels authentic characters, Kirby Heyborne makes magic in the audiobooks he narrates.

100 Sideways Miles. By Andrew Smith. 2015. 7hr. Tantor, CD, $34 (9781494514099). Gr. 9–12.

Finn Easton’s life has been marred by two events: the freak childhood accident that killed his mother and caused his epileptic seizures and his father using him as the model for his cult sf novel. In a performance as intense and emotional as it is humorous, Heyborne explores Finn’s coming-of-age story, powerfully depicting memorable characters.

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding. By Alexandra Bracken. 2017. 10hr. Recorded Books, CD, $87.75 (9781501962387). Gr. 4–7.

Unexceptional Prosper Redding seems to be a misfit in his powerful family until he discovers that he is host to an ancient demon, one with revenge on all Reddings on its twisted mind. Heyborne creates spot-on voices for the varied cast and highlights the chuckle-aloud humor as well as the hold-your-breath suspense.

Four-Four-Two. By Dean Hughes. 2016. 7hr. Recorded Books, CD, $66.75 (9781501926815). Gr. 7–10.

Heyborne’s reverent narration honors Hughes’ novel and the courageous Japanese Americans of the highly decorated 442nd Infantry Regiment Combat Team as he follows two Japanese American friends in WWII. He convincingly conveys all the emotions the young men experience: fear, tension, tenderness, mercy, anxiety, and courage.

Continue reading the entire feature article on Booklist Online....

Father’s Day was this week. Did you make the dads in your life feel special? We wanted to celebrate all the fathers out there. We brought Kirby Heyborne on the podcast to lighten things up. Kirby is a husband, father, comedian, actor, and audio narrator. With Kirby’s hilarious sense of humor we talk about lessons he has learned as a husband and father and discuss parenting tips that have worked for him. Stick around after the interview because we decided to put our own husbands on the hot seat and talk about dad struggles and get a perspective on parenting from the viewpoint of fathers. Here is what we talk about during this fun interview:

1. Kirby’s family and career
2. How husbands and wives can connect during their busy lives.
3. How to keep a positive attitude during the rough times of fatherhood.
4. Kirby’s wife’s three finger approach to keeping Kirby in line.
5. Kirby’s dad fail.
6. Lessons Kirby has learned from acting that he has applied to his parenting.
7. How to keep focus on your family during the busy career life.
8. Living a life with high morals when you are working in the movie industry that does not value high morals.
9. The importance of finding ways for a father to connect with their family.

XFINITY TV Commercial April 2018 featuring Kirby Heyborne and Marin Miller

The chorus has an awesome 80s feel. This kid is only 16!

I love everything about audiobooks: the stories, characters, authors, producers, publishers, and the listeners. Thank you to those who like hearing me tell a story. I am honored and blessed.

Four-Four-Two by Dean Hughes Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award© "Heyborne's voice captures the heroism that these forgotten patriots showed on a daily basis"

During WWII, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed solely of Japanese-American soldiers, became one of the fiercest and most highly decorated units in the U.S. Army. Finding a fine vocal balance between youthful confidence and understandable apprehension, narrator Kirby Heyborne completely draws the listener into the story of two Japanese-American men, boys really, who leave the poverty and indignity of the internment camps to join the army. In the battle scenes Heyborne's voice captures the heroism that these forgotten patriots showed on a daily basis. His voice shines even more brightly when describing the personal drive it took to insist that they not to be left behind when it came to serving their country and honoring their families back home. Read more and listen to a sample from the book!

The Ethan I was Before by Ali Standish Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © "A perfect listening experience!"

Narrator Kirby Heyborne is extraordinary in the way he inhabits the character of 12-year-old Ethan, vocal cracks and all. He gives listeners the sense of eavesdropping on his innermost thoughts as he slowly finds his way back to the Ethan he was before. He voices Grandpa Ike with just the right balance of crustiness and compassion and gives tones of believable frustration mixed with longing to big brother Roddie, who had to leave girlfriend and dreams of baseball stardom behind. A perfect listening experience! Read more...

I had a great time talking with Tyson and Jeremy from College of Champions. Listen to and download the interview on the College of Champions website and on iTunes.

"Old Wolf" - Read by Kirby Heyborne, winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, Oct. 2015

A stirring performance by Kirby Heyborne complements this thought-provoking exploration of nature's complexity. Heyborne richly captures the various roles and voices of grey wolf pack members. Through a deep-toned, slow-paced narration, he conveys the age and wisdom of Nashoba, the old wolf who finds his role as pack leader challenged by Garby, a younger, angry, and aggressive wolf, whom Heyborne portrays with a stronger, faster-paced voice. Heyborne's versatility in pitch brings out the enthusiastic naïveté of 13-year-old Casey and the high, raucous cawing of Merla the raven. The emotional highs and lows in the characters' changing relationships are further expressed through Heyborne's dynamic use of volume. Overall, this is a beautifully intense and haunting listening experience. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2015]

Read review on AudioFileMagazine.com: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/104169/

A feature story on the Digital Universe (Brigham Young University, Provo, UT) By Jake Healey

Kirby Heyborne plays Elder Calhoun in "The Best Two Years" in 2004. Heyborne continues his acting work and has expanded to include narration and music work as well.

The 2004 film "Sons of Provo" contains a scene in which three musicians — Will, Danny and Kirby — struggle to think of a name for their band.

After much deliberation, Kirby suggests a simple label: "Everclean." He thinks his comment has gone unnoticed until a few seconds later, when Will repeats "Everclean" as though he'd come up with it himself. As Danny lauds Will's ingenuity, a visibly frustrated Kirby can only manage a half-hearted assent for the praise that should have been his.

Well-known LDS actor Kirby Heyborne portrayed the character who shares his name, and this scene is legendary in his house.

"It's my kids' favorite," Heyborne said in an interview with The Universe. "Whenever someone in our family feels like they're being ignored or they're not being heard, they just have to say 'Everclean' and we all know what they're talking about."

- Read the entire article: http://universe.byu.edu/2015/10/12/keeping-up-with-kirby-heyborne1/

Kirby Heyborne always knows his father is there to rescue him. - click to read entire tribute. By Trent Toone, Deseret News

It was on a river rafting trip as a young man that Kirby Heyborne gained a greater appreciation for his father.

Heyborne... recalls traveling with his father, Bruce,... to visit Teton National Park and float down the Snake River.

That summer, the water level on the Snake River was high and the current flowed fast over famous Class-IV rapids like "Lunch Counter" and "Big Kahuna," Heyborne said.

As their raft approached the whitewater rapids, Heyborne, then a "skinny, 100-pound 12-year-old," admitted he was probably having too much fun.

"I was trying to show off for the young women and show how brave I was," he said. "I asked if I could ride at the front of the boat."

The guide granted permission but warned Heyborne to be aware of some upcoming turbulence and rocks. Continue to Deseret News to contiune reading...

“You know how when you’re reading a great book, you want to throw everything aside and just spend eight hours reading it?” [Kirby] asked AudioFile Magazine. “I get paid to do that!” -- LDS Living Magazine interview with Kirby. Written by Jake Healey.

Kirby Heyborne, an actor best known among LDS audiences for starring in The R.M., Saints and Soldiers, and The Best Two Years, has also been achieving prominence in another performance field—audiobook narration.

Heyborne, who has narrated over 300 titles (including Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, Stephen King’s The Long Walk, and many works by fellow Latter-day Saint Orson Scott Card), was recently honored with Booklist’s 2015 Voice of Choice award. “This is a huge honor,” said Heyborne. “I love my job and am amazed that I get to keep doing it.” Read full article at LDSLiving.com.

"I'm honored to be named 2015 Voice of Choice by Booklist. I love my job." Kirby

Why Kirby Heyborne? You need only check out the YouTube videos of the 2012 and 2014 Odyssey Awards presentations to understand the connection between rock-star narrator Heyborne and librarians. (Heyborne won both years for his narration of Daniel Kraus’ YA novels, Rotters and Scowler, published on audio by Listening Library.) At both ceremonies, he sang hilarious, original songs praising librarians. In many ways, these videos and this mutual affection speak to who Heyborne is: a multitalented performer with a great sense of humor who has the skills to connect with listeners even when reading disturbing, sometimes horrific, stories. Continue reading full article...

Following the recent announcements at the ALA Midwinter Conference in Chicago, Kirby has four Audiobook performances seclected for awards.

The Madman of Piney Woods was named an ALSC Notable Children’s Recording. In the words of the ALSC committee: “J.D. Jackson and Kirby Heyborne superbly tell the story of two boys, one the descendant of slaves and the other of Irish immigrants, in this companion book to Elijah of Buxton.” You can read more about the ALSC Notable Awards here.

Three recordings were chosen as a YALSA Amazing Audiobook –

Skink was named a YALSA Amazing Audiobook AND it was in the “Top Ten” selection. "Terrific!" In the words of the YALSA committee: “Heyborne narrates this audiobook flawlessly, coupling a wide range of character voices with an appropriate amount of intensity and humor.”

Hollow City – "Heyborne’s superb narration captures the children’s terror and determination as they continue their quest, despite the monstrous creatures that pursue them."

Noggin – "The standout of this narration is how Heyborne excels at conveying the quiet, tender moments of Travis’ story."

Read more about the YALSA Amazing Audiobook for Young Adults Awards here.

See the full list of Listening Library’s ALA Award Winners here.

I love my job as an audiobook narrator. During an open house for Penguin Random House, I was interviewed by a real NPR reporter! It's a quick 4 minutes. Take a listen!
[ http://www.npr.org/2014/12/25/373038445/demand-for-audio-books-keeps-penguin-random-house-busy]

November 2014 - Audiofile Magazine announces their prestigious list of "Best Voices of 2014". Kirby Heyborne is named along with several other of the most talented narrators of the year. Congratulations to all!

By John Florian, VoiceOverXtra, Story and Event Photos - 11/10/2014
(New York) - Ever evolving, the voice over industry reached a significant milestone here Sunday night with presentations of the 1st Annual Voice Arts™ Awards, honoring and celebrating best work and achievements in voice over talent, production and other aspects of the voice over business.

AND THE WINNERS ARE ...
OUTSTANDING AUDIO BOOK NARRATION – TEENS
Scowler by Daniel Kraus (Listening Library)
Artist’s Name: Kirby Heyborne
Producer: Kelly Gildea

Read more....

Join Disney Dudes host, Kevin Rast, as he learns more about Kirby, his connection with Disney, and why he loves Disney!

"Tantrum" —

"'Ain’t Nobody Change the World Like a Librarian,' will surely go down in ALA Annual history as one of the best surprise moments experienced by a crowd of librarians...." Read full article and watch the FULL VIDEO on the Books on Tape website.

If you're looking for the lyrics, this is your lucky day! Click this link (LYRICS, CLICK HERE) and you shall have them!

Kirby has been invited to MC and perform as a solo artist at the 1st Annual Santa Clarita Valley Americana Folk Fest July 5, 2014.

Music by 4 Fantastic Bands:
Wumbloozo
Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements
John Zipperer & Friends
Modal Tease String Band
MC & Solo Artist: - Actor & Musician: Kirby Heyborne
For more information please see the Americana FolkFest event page on facebook.

The event, known as "Mormon Night," is the longest-running community event held by the Dodgers, and has gone on for more than 25 years. As part of the game's opening ceremony was beloved LDS actor Kirby Heyborne, who sang the national anthem with Eric Christiansen.

"Today I’m very pleased to welcome one of my favorite audiobook narrators to The Reading Date! Kirby Heyborne is an award-winning narrator of over 200 audiobooks, and chances are you’ve listened to at least one of them. He took time out of the recording booth to answer some questions about his very interesting job....." Follow this link to read the Q&A and enter to win a Kirby Heyborne-narrated audiobook:  Audio Month Q&A and Giveaway with Narrator Kirby Heyborne