The “What Next” of Storytelling

Yesterday, April 27th, was National Tell a Story Day. Don’t ask me how you get something named a National Day because I don’t know. But every day has a few national somethings. Sometime last week it was World Book Day. Then there was Speak like Shakespeare Day. Naturally, we all just pay attention to those days that catch our interest the most. National Tell a Story was one of those for me.

I love storytelling. When somebody calls me a storyteller, it makes me happy. But I mostly write down my stories for people to read. But I do like to listen to people tell stories orally too. Way before there was paper and pen, stories were passed down through the generations. Aesop’s Fables are said to have first started being told around 500 B.C. Now you can find those stories in print or out here on the internet. I find that amazing. We still know these stories that were first told thousands of years ago.

Jesus told stories too. In the Bible, they’re called parables. The Lord knew how to catch the interest of those He was teaching about God and how to live. Those stories like the Prodigal Son or the woman searching for her lost coin still grab our interest today. We remember stories.

Now in our modern world, we can share stories in many ways, both in spoken words or written words. We can have picture stories that first started on cave walls and now we take with the cameras on the phones many of us have in their pockets. We can sing a story. I found some of those passed down through the years when I was researching my Appalachian stories where the people have always had a strong storytelling heritage.

In my book These Healing Hills, I used some of those old folksongs. I came up with a new verse for “Froggie Goes a Courtin’.” First time I ever wrote a song. Well, a little verse of a song, but I suppose that’s how folk songs got written. A verse made up and then maybe added to by others as time goes on.

When researching for my packhorse library story, Along a Storied Trail, I came across “Jack” stories that had a strong oral tradition. So I had fun making a new one up for Aunt Perdie to tell. That book has so much about storytelling in it with the book women carrying stories up to people in the mountains.

Now, I have a new story releasing in a few days. When the Meadow Blooms isn’t about storytelling, but each of the characters has a story to share. The graphic with this post promises story when Calla steps out into her what next. That’s what keeps us reading or listening to stories. The what next.

The hopefulness and buoyancy of the children, the strength of the mother, and the deep love and protectiveness of the uncle all shine together in one big beautiful light. The characters have so much depth, and their stories are so adroitly woven together, that you
will find yourself yearning to know what happens next. (From an early review of When the Meadow Blooms)

I hope you will want to know what happens next when you get a chance to read When the Meadow Blooms. 

I sent out a newsletter Monday with some prize chances. If you didn’t get one and think you’re signed up on my email list, check your spam folder. If you’re not signed up, but would like to read it, just let me know, and I’ll send one out to you. Next week to celebrate the release of When the Meadow Blooms on May 3rd, I’ll start a book giveaway here. I can’t wait for you to see what happens next in my story.

Do you like stories that keep you wanting to know what happens next?