Eclectic Author

May 13, 2009 began a three-day journey across the NC Mountains toward the Great Plains destination of Wall, South Dakota to visit my mother-in-law. I was pleased to find SD sprinkled with rolling green hills, spreading ranches with grazing cattle, and occasionally a wild animal or two. This state is sparsely populated with approximately 800,000 people. I’m pleased to say these fine folks were genuine and sincere as they welcomed travelers into their communities and towns. It was a wonderful place to be to get away from the crazy rat race back home and to find stories.

This blog will include one of the stories I gathered, so here goes.

My husband Jim, and I, accompanied by his mother, drove to a small town just 35 miles away from her home for lunch. While there I met a very interesting lady whom I shall call Donna.

Donna was very surprised and intrigued when I told her I was a freelance storyteller. Then she proceeded to tell me that she wrote a weekly article for her hometown newspaper. After listening to her conversation for a few minutes I realized that she too was a storyteller.

She told me about an eclectic author and storyteller that she knows who lives in Pennsylvania. It seems their way of crossing paths was quite extraordinary. Some years ago a book was written about Donna’s grandmother called Pioneer Woman, but unfortunately the book is out of print. The author is the lady from Pennsylvania. Each year she goes on an annual trek to help on an archaeological dig in southwestern South Dakota. While there she always tells the story of Donna’s grandmother, Pioneer Woman.

Donna told me that her family met this remarkable author/storyteller some years ago and got to know her. “Since that time we have grown very close to her.” I sensed that Donna regarded her as a member of her very own family. Donna saw her at last year’s ‘dig’ (Mammoth Hot Springs) and remarked, “We’ve been corresponding but I haven’t heard from her recently and I’m getting very concerned because she’s 88 years old. I’m going to see if I can get in touch with her by phone. I am so afraid that she won’t be able to come this year.

I didn’t get Donna’s email address so I don’t know if she has heard from her eclectic friend or not. But I returned home thinking, “Wow, what a wonderful story!” And I just happened to fall into it. So I urge you to keep your eyes and ears open and aware: stories are all around us.

For the Love of Story

Most storytellers that I know personally share their love of stories by sharing from their heart. Most of the storytellers I have met through the years shared their stories from the heart. Along the way I met a few who didn’t quite get it. Those few won’t go far. The audience can sense it when the teller isn’t reaching out to them – to meet them halfway.

When I share a story, it must come from somewhere within me, not just from the brain. It comes from deep down inside my heart and soul. If I select a folktale to share with my audience, I must search long and hard to find the right story that will touch me. If it doesn’t reach out to grab me, I certainly cannot share it with my audience because it isn’t a part of me. It isn’t a part of my heart and soul.

Recently I presented an Oral History program at the NC Outer Banks with a great group of eager listeners in the audience. It was a fun experience for all. By the way, it was an adult audience and I love opportunities to work with adults. Grownups become “children at heart” again when they are taken back in time with stories and memories. As a former children’s librarian I have presented programs to all age levels.

Next month I will be traveling near the Outer Banks to present several more programs. This time I will have the opportunity to speak to another adult audience as well as visit several groups of students. So my time is filling up with fine-tuning my upcoming programs to fit the right audience. It is very important for any public speaker or storyteller to know his or her audience.

Wildacres Fall Gathering

The Wildacres Conference Center, in Little Switzerland, NC is situated near the Blue Ridge Parkway. It sits atop the mountain; Pompey’s Knob, at 3300 feet elevation and is one of my favorite get-a-ways. While attending the Wildacres Fall Gathering at the end of October, I was greatly inspired by meeting and talking with various artists there– painters, potters, quilters, musicians, and writers, just to name a few. The mountain is constantly filled with lots of energy during this week. My goal was rewriting and learning several Appalachian legends for two upcoming programs I had booked. I also wrote a family story that was percolating in the back of my mind.

I can say that what I accomplished has certainly paid off in the past couple of weeks. These new stories were applied during several storytelling events. I anticipate that they will continue to be added to the list of my favorite stories to tell.

Winds blew in a big surprise the first evening and the next day at Wildacres – snow, beautiful snow. Brrrrh, but it was so cozy to sit before a huge glowing fire in the fireplace of the lodge. Though most of the snow blew further down the mountain, it was still snowing with a beautiful “dusting” on the ground, a delight to see the following morning.

Memories of Grandpa

I recently visited a man who lives in my hometown. We grew up on nearby farms. I could stand in my front yard and see his house. During this visit we were remembering old times when he told me a little story about my grandpa. As he told the story, it was as if I could see it happening.

After going to bed that night, I revisited his story.

So that you will understand the story more clearly, allow me to give a little more background. Grandpa was a retired farmer, still working on the farm. He had worked with animals all of his life, especially cows and horses. He was considered such an expert in his day that he was known as the local neighborhood veterinarian.

By the time I was born, he neither drove nor owned a car. There was a little country store exactly one mile from our house. This is where all the farmers gathered to talk about important matters and catch up on the neighborhood gossip. Grandpa usually walked to the store and back about once a day. (We always called it “The Store.”) When the day’s work was done, even more farmers tended to gather there after supper. So, often grandpa just had to go again to be sure he didn't miss anything. He’d have Daddy to take him.

Here’s where the rest of the story falls into place. Clint reminisced about the times that Grandpa would ride his horse to “The Store.” I had forgotten that he occasionally rode his horse, rather than walk.

He said, “I can remember your grandpa riding his horse, a sorrel (light reddish-brown), down to ‘The Store.’ When he got ready to go home, he came out the door where the horse was waiting. Your grandpa was probably close to 80 years old then. He'd walk over to the horse and tap him on the shoulder. The horse would kneel down beside him and wait patiently for him to get on. Then he’d get up and they’d head for home.”

I was totally blown by this little story. But - what else should I have expected from “the neighborhood veterinarian,” a man who knew all about horses!”

I have learned to keep my ears tuned in for stories. Anytime I hear little bits and pieces of a story, especially about older family members, I make a point to write them down. It’s added to my collection of story “quilt” pieces. I hope one day I will have just enough for a new story or two.

Busy Summer

I realize that I haven’t taken time to blog this summer. It has been a busy time for me – researching and developing a storytelling program I have booked this winter, keeping up with storytelling workshops and festivals, photographing nature in my own flower garden, and “working out” at the fitness center.

I attended Dianne Hackworth’s Wild Week at the Wildacres Conference Center during the first week in July. This was a fun week of meeting new storytellers, networking with one another, learning, working on our storytelling skills and videotaping. Leaders, Dianne and David Joe Miller led a fantastic workshop.

These past couple of weeks I have been busy gathering articles and calendar items for the Journal of Tar Heel Tellers. JTHT is the North Carolina Storytelling Guild’s official newsletter that I have been editor of for eight years. Editing and laying out the journal continues to be a learning process. Each issue is a new challenge. And I never know how it will look until it’s actually published.

I recently ran into six of my old high school classmates. Since visiting with them, bits and pieces of stories are jogging my memory. I hope that once my mind and fingers begin to work together, I’ll have another new story to tell.

What a Week for Storytelling!

Wow! Last week followed by this past weekend was filled with interesting storytelling adventure. April 21st was the day I had set aside to review my plans for a program I was scheduled to present in Jamestown, NC the following evening. Instead,I spent most of the morning away from home. I received a call from the Hickory Daily Record wanting to have an interview with me on this day. They were planning to write an article about a local storytelling festival in my area and wanted to interview one of the storytellers. Guess I got lucky, so of course, I said, "Yes."

It was, after all, fun talking about my "love of storytelling." We talked for over an hour. The article hasn't yet appeared and who knows what will actually end up in the newspaper. I was a bit nervous because the gracious reporter also wanted to video a short story. It's somewhat difficult for me to tell a story without having an audience in front of me, as the audience pulls on my adrenalin and helps to activate my animation.

The following evening I made my trip over to Jamestown and had a great time sharing my program; We Have Stories to Tell: Family and Personal Stories. I always look forward to hearing audience members talk about their stories; or the fact that they never realized that they were sharing stories as they interact with family, friends or co-workers. This sort of information always surfaces as my program comes to the discussion session. And often, little tidbits of wisdom and stories are shared after our discussion is "officially" over.

This past weekend (April 26-27th) was especially exciting. I spent the weekend at the Storytelling Festival of Carolina in Laurinburg, NC. This festival is in its second year and was well attended. Excitement was everywhere. Many folks came from out of town. I ran into friends from other parts of the state and even from South Carolina and Virginia. I had the occasion to serve as an Emcee. What an honor to introduce nationally traveled performers as well as regional tellers. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect audience! Even a falling tree and a downpour of hard rain couldn't have put a "damper" on the excitement of the listeners and participants!

Remember that each of us is filled with a treasure trunk of stories.

Signs of Spring

Signs of springtime are everywhere as I look outside. It’s very refreshing to see reviving fields, lawns and pastures. Even forests are alive with Bradford pear trees covered in white blossoms. The other day as I drove down the road, it appeared as though snow had selectively fallen on the pear trees alone. I found it quite breathtaking!

I am being inspired with new and fresh ideas to include in my storytelling repertoire. Last week new letters and fliers were mailed to promote my storytelling offerings. Just yesterday an idea for a new song came to mind as I reviewed plans for this year’s Summer Reading Programs. As you can see ideas are sprouting forth just like springtime.

You may go to the main page of my website, scroll down the “yellow text boxes” (left hand side of screen), and click on FREE CONSULTATION to contact me for booking your program. Once you include all pertinent information, you must go to the bottom of the page. Click on the gray “send” box in order for your message to reach me.