Storyteller Directory - North Carolina Storytelling Guild

Bartlett, Lona

Lona Bartlett is a professional storyteller, puppeteer and educator who has delighted audiences throughout the U.S. and internationally for over 30 years. Degrees in education and a small-town upbringing in the Catskill Mountains provide inspiration … Continue

Behm, Janel

Janel Behm is a graduate of Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) and has a bachelor’s degree in allied health. For 23 years, she worked as a physical therapist. Although born and raised in Northwest Ohio, … Continue

Black, Donny

I am currently a construction safety training manager traveling around the world educating construction workers how to do their jobs without killing themselves or their co-workers. As a Navy brat, former Marine, over the road … Continue

Brachman, Fred

I tell stories to high school and college students. Raleigh, NC 919.270.3911 fbrachman@gmail.com http://fbrachman@gmail.com

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Brigham, Willa

Welcome to the wonderful wacky world of storyteller, inspirational speaker, performing artist, writer and Two Time Emmy Award Winner; Willa Brigham. This busy artist has five award winning CDs of stories songs and poems. Her … Continue

Brown, Cynthia

Cynthia Moore Brown has been an acclaimed performer and educator for over three decades in North Carolina, the South, and Europe. She has a degree in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education in Early … Continue

Buck, E. Gale

E. Gale Buck began writing short stories in December, 1983 when he had a problem with Christmas. “A Birthday Story” blossomed into a tradition of writing that has spanned over 27 years and produced over … Continue

Burch, Milbre

Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Milbre Burch is a GRAMMY-nominated spoken word recording artist and an internationally known, award-winning storyteller. Her work as a theatre artist was honed at the Celebration Barn in South Paris, … Continue

Cole, Marvin

The main purpose of portraying Mark Twain is to satirize human cruelty to other humans in the hope of realizing the need to respect all people. A second purpose is to bring the physical, mental, … Continue

Cunningham, Alice

“Miss Alice” has been entertaining folks for over twenty years. She does “dress up” tea parties for girls and ladies at her business location. She loves dressing up so much that she wears fancy things … Continue

Cunningham, Jane

Jane Owen Cunningham is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and a memory to your heart! Her enduring sense of humor and irresistible Southern charm make her “Miss Jane Stories” an enchanting experience … Continue

Davin, Janice

Storytelling saved Janice Davin’s career as a teacher and maybe her life. During 35 years in the classroom, she used stories to calm savage beasts, subdue mutinies, and make learning memorable. In 2005, Janice began … Continue

Dixon, Mima

A retired librarian, Mima loves to delight the young and young at heart with stories to stretch the imagination. Mima’s stories strive to take you on a storytelling adventure as well as to entertain and … Continue

Eaglin, Sylvia

You may want to hear about the seven Eaglin children’s hilarious adventures growing up in Tennessee and Arkansas, as told for thirty-eight years in the classroom and now for audiences of all ages at after-dinner … Continue

Edwards, Jonathan

Born and raised in North Carolina, I have a love and a passion for our state’s history and the rarer art of storytelling and oral tradition. I am the owner of the Beaufort Ghost Walk … Continue

Eister, Lisa

Lisa Eister is a native of South Carolina with roots in the Appalachian Mountains. A certified educator, Lisa performs before school, festival and community audiences of all ages. Her concerts feature folktales, traditional Appalachian tales, … Continue

Ellis, Kim

I tell stories that are brought to life from cultural background of the characters I use from my improvisation days. These characters that I retained are part of the modern-day women at the well like … Continue

Evans, Evette

Evette Evans is an author, poet, and weaver of dreams. Her love of storytelling was born as a toddler, listening to her grandmother spin improbable yarns of her childhood, and recount family narratives of bravery, … Continue

Fink, Chuck

In retirement Chuck Fink dove into the art of storytelling by taking an OLLI class on Storytelling at age 62, in 2012. He couldn’t keep a lid on it from there. He has appeared in … Continue

Fowler, Johnny

Johnny Thomas Fowler, mountain-heritage storyteller, award winning musician and author is from the foothills of upcountry South Carolina. His work is featured on South Carolina Public TV where he has co-produced a number of documentaries … Continue

Freeman, Kyra

In a world of screens and social media videos, the face-to-face, real-time connection between teller and audience is rare and powerful. Kyra Freeman has been fascinated by storytelling since childhood. A former school library media … Continue

Gaudet, PapaJoe

PapaJoe is the one of those characters you expect to find wandering through the pages of an old children’s picture book. And when you see him telling a tale, long beard wagging, the explosion of … Continue

Gordon, Kathy

I was raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina by parents who told stories of growing up in the mountains. I delight in retelling these stories and ones of my own childhood. I was … Continue

Gorham, Linda

For the past 30 years Linda Gorham has engaged audiences internationally with poignant and humorous family stories; interactive folktales; notably twisted fairy tales; and riveting, well-researched historical stories. Each performance is infused with Linda’s unconventional … Continue

Gudger, Sandra

Appalachian stories, poems, and personal stories. Sandra brings seven generations of Scottish and Appalachian heritage to storytelling. She says her Daddy told stories at family gatherings and she didn’t know that storytelling was an art … Continue

Hackworth, Dianne

Dianne Hackworth has been telling stories professionally since obtaining a Masters in Storytelling in 1990. (An unprofessional teller all her life.) She has been titled a “Storyteller Enabler” due to the numerous events, workshops, and … Continue

Hagebak, Pepper

Pepper was raised by a family full of beautiful, crazy southern women. She listened to them tell family stories on Sunday afternoons from her favorite place, beneath her Grandmaw’s big old mahogany kitchen table. It … Continue

Harrell, Michael Reno

Michael Reno Harrell is an award-winning songwriter, a published author, a nationally known storyteller and a visual artist. And he’s from the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina where all those things are as much … Continue

Hoal, Alan

Alan is a highly energetic and animated storyteller who has taken home numerous storytelling awards. He travels throughout the United States telling stories at festivals and retreats as well as at colleges, secondary schools and … Continue

Ingalls, Terri

Having worked as a flight attendant, travel agent, media buyer, theater manager, actor, director, secretary and writer, Terri Ingalls has a wide range of experiences and people from which to draw stories and characters. She … Continue

Jones, Ron

I am a retired librarian and library consultant with 30 years’ experience as a professional storyteller for audiences of all ages. My series of original stories entitled STORIES FROM DOWN HOME focus on memories and … Continue

Kirchoff, Bruce

Dr. Bruce Kirchoff is a scientist, storyteller, and improviser. He loves telling stories and working with groups to help them develop the group mind that is necessary to work together effectively. He is committed to … Continue

Kitson, Robin

Robin Kitson has been telling stories that Polish Your Heart for over 20 yrs. She is known for her personal tall tales, civil rights and women’s historical stories, Cajun folktales, motivational stories, STEM, and international … Continue

LedBetter, Gwenda

Gwenda LedBetter began her fifty years of storytelling in Asheville, North Carolina, becoming the Storylady at the libraries, and on Tales from the Red Rocker on WlOS-TV. Her first telling at the National Festival in … Continue

Ledford, Brenda Kay

A retired educator. Published writer. Author. Blogger. Award-winning poet/writer. 828.389.6262 ledfordbrenda@hotmail.com http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.com

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Leotta, Joan

Award winning story performer and author, Joan Leotta, gives shows based on folklore or personal stories and performs women from history for audiences of all ages. Her one-woman shows include “Hurricane of Independence” about an … Continue

Lovett, Sherry

Sherry Lovett has been a middle school teacher, elementary media specialist, homeschooler, educational cooperative leader, teaching artist for Penland School of Crafts, workshop facilitator, and, through it all, a storyteller. Through mystical Celtic stories, haunting … Continue

MacKenzie, Catherine

An avid collector of tales, Catherine MacKenzie fell in love with storytelling in the bayous of Louisiana, and is always thrilled to find a new story to share. With a MLIS and extensive experience as … Continue

Markov-Newman

Alicia Markov-Newan was born in Illinois, and is blooming where she has been planted: North Carolina. She began her career in healthcare as an RN with a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Education. From working … Continue

McPhail, Jeannie

Jeannie McPhail is a former library director from Kansas, who loves the North Carolina mountains. She is the author of three books, Dawn of Day, a middle-grade historical fiction novel; Trinity Tales of Tresia: A … Continue

Mendenhall, Ann

Ann Causey Mendenhall has heard and shared stories all her life, just ask her older brother. By the time Ann was in third grade she knew that teaching was her calling. Youth Services Specialist for … Continue

Mendenhall, Ray

“Here comes the Jolly man … he’ll tell you a story or two.” Jolly man stories is the experience of Amazing Songs and Whimsical Stories shared through the art and antics of Ray Mendenhall. Ray … Continue

Miller, Elena

Enthusiastic, quick witted, energetic, humorous performer, Elena Diana Miller, creates happy faces for children and adults with her programs of folk music and creative stories from Aesop, Grimm and Jack Tales. Her storytelling and folk … Continue

Morgan, Cyndi

Cyndi Morgan Cary, NC 919.327.8369 baileymorgan1952@gmail.com http://www.baileymorgan.com

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Moss, Marva

I began storytelling, by telling stories to my own children. Today my storytelling appeals to adults and children alike. I have used storytelling in the classroom to enhance the literary experience of my students. My … Continue

Newcomb, Cora

Cora lives in the old and charming town of Greer, South Carolina. She first began to spun tales to her daughter and then to youngsters, oldsters, and those between, weaving magic with enchanting yarns. She … Continue

O’Connell, Rebekah

Rebekah is a North Carolina native. She made her career in the nonprofit world as a financial educator teaching hundreds of classes throughout the Carolinas. Today, she enjoys the lighter side of life as a … Continue

Pace, Doyle

For most of my life I have been interested in collecting, preserving and telling stories. The main focus of my interest are the stories of the life, love, lore and legends of the people of … Continue

Payne, Sylvia

Sylvia Payne grew up listening to her mother tell family stories. Through her animated style Sylvia’s stories captivate young and old alike, sometimes stretching deep into the soul. A former children’s librarian, she has been … Continue

Pearlman, Larry

Combined a successful 30-year career in sales, sales training and public speaking with teaching spiritual classes and serving as a Minister. Host of two radio shows and author of two books encouraging people to discover … Continue

Pearsall, Sam

I am a retired ecologist with 35 years of experience planning and implementing land conservation and environmental protection in Maine, Tennessee, Hawaii, Samoa, and North Carolina. Since retirement, I have become a professional storyteller whose … Continue

Perry, Michael

As a lifelong learner with an M.S.Ed from Duquesne University. Mike’s broad and adventurous career experience has taken him from the circus to the Census Bureau, from major motion pictures to maintenance man. He has … Continue

Plasters, Charles

Born in Mayodan, NC on 11-22-1940. Lived first two years in a mill company house with neither running water nor electricity. Family moved to Elizabeth City County, VA. In 1942 when his dad took a … Continue

Ramsey, Claire

Claire Vera Ramsey (though she didn’t know it) was a storyteller before she could write. Claire would take recycled scrap paper and draw stories in picture after picture. In 2007, she turned the part-time storytelling … Continue

Rarey, Kanute

Kanute is a story lover and storyteller. He writes and performs his stories from his heart. That work is a product of his life experiences and imagination. His goal to engage actively his audience and … Continue

Raxter, Cynthia

“We are born with a love of stories inside us. We literally spend our lives waiting and listening for the next story.” Cynthia lives in the former mill village of Bynum, NC with 4 cats, … Continue

Reeder, Nancy

Nancy loves adventure along with her three passions: Telling and writing stories, Backpacking, and Working with teachers to enhance their own storytelling in the classroom. Her stories range from fairy tales to folk tales, myths … Continue

Regan-Blake, Connie

With playful elegance, Connie Regan-Blake transforms an audience into an intimate circle of friends. From old-timey mountain tales to surprising, heroic adventures of everyday living, her school assemblies, family, and adult performances are flavored with … Continue

Rollins, Terry

With his mercurial and mischievous energy, and his friendly down home style, Terry Rollins is one of North Carolina’s favorite tellers of ghost stories, pirate legends, and NC folk tales. Terry is also the guide … Continue

Russell, Andy

Andy Russell was born into a family and a culture rich with stories and storytellers. Every family gathering was filled with stories of history and hard times, simple pleasures and heartfelt emotions. Andy grew up … Continue

St. Clair, Charlie

I have been telling stories to family and friends all my life. All my stories are true…some of them actually happened. Some of my stories are humorous, some will make you think. All of them … Continue

Stone, Becky

Becky was born and raised in Philadelphia. She earned her undergraduate degree at Vassar College in Drama with a minor in French. Her M.A. is in Elementary Educational Counseling from Villanova University. Becky worked seven … Continue

Sturm, Brian

Dr. Brian Sturm has been a professional folktale storyteller and storytelling scholar for over 30 years. His research focuses on immersion, the state of being completely engrossed in whatever you are doing, whether that’s reading, … Continue

Sundell, Jon

Through five decades as a professional storyteller and folksinger Jon Sundell has proven himself to be an outstanding interpreter of folk tradition. In nearly half of the United States, as well as several countries of … Continue

Tarowsky, Judi

Judi Tarowsky was a newspaper reporter and editor for more than 25 years and told other people’s stories. Now, as a storyteller, she gets to tell her own. Judi is a native of Latrobe, PA, … Continue

Tate, Steve

Steve’s stories are about farmers and farm life. His tales often include animals and outside adventures. And they tell about universal experiences like fear, failure, bravery, and love. They are guaranteed to entertain, educate, and … Continue

Todd, Donna Marie

Donna Marie Todd is a professional storyteller, TEDx speaker, recording artist, singer, writer, teaching artist and retreat leader. She is a multi-faceted artist who delivers perfectly-crafted performances that combine her talents as a speaker, writer, … Continue

Town, Vicky

Vicky Town is an interactive storyteller, writer, and teaching artist who has been delighting audiences with her unique blend of physical comedy and love of language since 1988. From the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia … Continue

Upchurch, Angela

I organized Milton Renaissance Foundation in order to display and archive the history of the 1796 town of Milton, NC, located at the Virginia border on the Dan River. The unique history of the area … Continue

Vezza, Vincent

The first-born son of a career military officer, I grew up on U.S. Army bases around the world. I received a BA degree in Political Science and MS degree in Education. Following graduate studies, I … Continue

Vogel, Henry

Former comic book writer Henry Vogel is a regionally renowned storyteller with a lively and energetic delivery. Henry tells original stories as well as traditional folk tales. He has a fondness for “noodlehead” stories, funny … Continue

Washington, Donna

Donna Washington has been a professional storyteller for over twenty years. She uses an expressive face and vocal pyrotechnics to bring stories to life. She has been featured at national festivals around the country. Donna … Continue

Wheeler, Anne

Anne first encountered the storytelling community in the early 2000s, when she produced Norton Dill’s award-winning documentary, Kathryn: The Story of a Teller, a long-time favorite at the Shoals. A storyteller herself now, Anne has … Continue

Whitt, Greg

Greg Whitt has received three competitive Regional Artist Project Grants in the field of folkloric music. With a graduate certificate in Transformative Leadership & Social Change from the Maryland University of Integrative Health, he shares … Continue