When you hear the audiobook for HEY, KIDDO, you’ll hear the voices of my family. In most cases, they voice themselves. Lynn and Holly, those two aunts who became my sisters, came into the recording studio to read from their lines in the book. As did Stephen, our older brother. And some family members are strategically placed as Easter eggs.
I was trying to figure out how to incorporate our son into the HEY, KIDDO audiobook, but he is a very active, sometimes uncooperative, kid about to turn three. Then I remembered—when he was born, I recorded audio of his newborn sounds for posterity. So listen for him on pages 38-39.
And in this photo, you might notice a black mass behind us. That’s Frank the Pug sitting on my shoulder, who was trying to sort out where his place was in the world once XJK was born...
Our middle kid isn’t into performing in front of an audience but got super into voice acting for the HEY, KIDDO audiobook, bringing my youngest relatives in the book to life.
🎵I get by with a little help my friends.🎵
My buddies Pat and Mike came into the recording studio to record some lines for the HEY, KIDDO audiobook.
Never in a million years did I think we’d be recreating these stupid skits and reliving these misadventures for an audiobook.
When casting the role of Pat, my best friend and confidant, for the HEY, KIDDO audiobook, we knew we needed a young actor who was both big-hearted and a little sporty. We found the perfect kid—Pat’s son.
I had so many amazing teachers during my academic career but there are three who came at a pivotal time and made a monumental difference in my life, helping send me right to where I am today. They are in Hey, Kiddo and THEIR voices will be in the audiobook.
Mrs. Casey brought me on as the school newspaper’s cartoonist and always offered a sympathetic ear, Mark Lynch pushed me to develop my own style and forget everything I learned from a drawing book, and Mr. Shilale taught me an artist foundation and his art classroom offered me solace.
The Worcester record for the HEY, KIDDO audiobook was filled with many profound moments. But I don’t know that any any were more poignant than my father coming in to read lines—and that letter he first wrote me when I was 16.
We had many conversations while I was writing this graphic memoir. I sent him early drafts to read—I wanted him to know this book wasn’t an indictment. I initially offered to create a pseudonym. But Rich wanted to use his real name, he was adamant I do so—telling me that he was proud to be my father and didn’t want anyone thinking otherwise.
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