I love to listen to people tell stories. That could be because I’ve been called a storyteller, but I usually tell my stories with my fingers on a keyboard. My stories are generally printed in books and sometimes read aloud by a narrator on audio books. These Healing Hills has just been released on audio books. I talked to the narrator before she recorded the book and since have heard a sample of her narration. She changes voices for the various characters and I may just have to listen to the whole book. I’m thinking Emily did a fabulous job of narrating the book for those who like audio books. Here’s the Amazon link if you’re interested. You can listen to a sample of Emily’s work there.
But sometimes I like to listen to those storytellers who don’t just write their stories to be printed for readers on computer or paper, but those who stand up in front of a crowd and tell their stories out loud. Cave Run Storytelling Festival at Cave Run Lake near Morehead celebrated their 20th year of storytelling this last weekend. I love going to listen to the different professional storytellers as they entertain with the spoken word. Some tell stories about their lives. Some tell legends and folk stories. Some make up stories with perhaps enough truth in them to make them hit home with the audience. Some do a little singing in the midst of the storytelling. But they don’t have backup music. Maybe a guitar or a banjo. The storytellers just stand up there with a microphone and a story.
My sister and my son and his family went with me. One of their favorite tellers is Bill Lepp. Actually Bill Lepp is a favorite of any storytelling fan. That’s because he has some great family friendly and very funny stories. The storytelling tent is full of laughter when he is on stage. He wears jeans, a festival t-shirt and a baseball cap. And most of the time he has his hands in his back pockets. He doesn’t even gesture while he’s talking. He might rock back and forth on his feet a little, but he grabs the audience with his spoken words. I can only hope I can grab readers as effectively with my written words.
My granddaughter thought her dad should sign up for the amateur storytelling time. He has been telling her great bedtime stories all her life and she was ready for him to share some with everybody else. Then when he didn’t seem ready to try his storytelling skills, she was thinking maybe next year, she’d tell a story herself. So who knows? Maybe she will, because for sure, I’m already marking the date on my calendar for next year to see. I love storytelling!
And the Winners Are–
Of course, I hope you love storytelling too. At least my kind of storytelling in book form. I recently sent out a newsletter to celebrate my birthday by giving away a few books. And so, I’ve picked my ten winners and sent them all e-mails. Well, actually I picked a couple of extra winners. I picked the first e-mail I received from a newsletter reader. Seems like number one never comes up in the random number drawing and I thought number one should win at least once. So Bonnie M from Washington was that lucky number one. Then I picked a “just because” winner. Tana’s e-mail message touched me. She is a caretaker for her husband who had a stroke. She says she reads to him and his 92 year old sister every day. Reading helps her relax. Tana says, “Christian fiction has been a guide in my life for over 25 years in how to unconditionally love and witness to others and in how to keep focused on God.” So Tana is my “just because” winner.
The other winners chosen by random number drawing are: Kris B, Annette, Trixi, Linda F, Connie S from Nebraska, Edna R, Emma J, Joan S, April P., and one I only have an e-mail and no first name.
After I get the books sent out to these winners, I’ll have a blog giveaway here for those of you who maybe missed seeing the newsletter to enter my birthday giveaway fun. You can sign up to get my next newsletter in the margins here on my website. Love sharing my books with all of you.
Comments 1
When will you be in Hopkinsville, Ky. for your book signing? I hope it’s not this weekend! We are having a Royalty family get together with our aunt, uncle and cousins and their families. My Dad only has one sister left and a brother. His brother, believe it or not, is only six years older than I am! His sister is in her late 70’s (I think). I want to come to your book signing and to meet you, so, I am hoping it is later in the month!