I had the distinct pleasure to tell a tale and speak for a few minutes to over 300 people tonight at the New Hanover County PTA Awards Banquet. There was my name in the program listed as the Keynote Speaker. That was a first. My thanks to Stephanie Kraybill for inviting me and to all those in attendance for greeting me so warmly. I had a great time and the dinner was good. Especially the chocolate pecan pie. Hope to hear from some of you schools soon. Thanks again.

I just got back from the winter workshop presented by the North Carolina Storytelling Guild. 3 days of workshops presented by Nancy Donoval of Minneapolis, MN.

If I had any doubts about myself as a teller, they were tossed aside this weekend. My thanks to Diane Hackworth and Terry Rollins for putting the weekend together and to all the wonderful tellers (not to mention sweet, kind people) I met. People like Ron Jones,

Joan Leotta, Ray and Ann Mendenhall, Janice Davin, Charlotte Hamlin.Ph.D, Charlotte Ross, Sylvia Payne and Bill and Kristin Morris. Please click on there names to learn more about them.

The workshop presented, From You to Universal, dealt mainly with using personal stories to give permission to the listener to hear their own stories. Nancy Donaval’s fast paced, funny yet touching use of her own stories to educate, encouraged us all. One thing about a classroom of storytellers, there is never a moment of silence. It was a very animated weekend and I took away many things, but most importantly, I made some new friends.

I am going into schools this spring to share my stories and to build my repertoire. If you would like an opportunity to get me for a smile (free) to tell in your school, email me or call me 910-297-5067. This opportunity is for a limited time only.

More to follow.

A powerful agent is the right word. Whenever we come upon one of those intensely right words, the resulting effect is physical as well. – Mark Twain