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

Bolton, J.A.

I was raised in Richmond County, North Carolina, along the banks of the Pee Dee River. I find that telling stories is a good stress reliever for me and my listeners. Around these parts I … Continue

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

Catton-Johnson, Donna

Born in Colorado, Donna Catton-Johnson lived in 10 different states and 2 foreign countries as an “Air Force brat”. She holds an Interdisciplinary B.A. in Visual Arts and Theatre (and was certified to teach both), … Continue

Clarke, Sharon

For more than 25 years Sharon Clarke has warmed the hearts of her audiences with storytelling and folk music. She weaves together song with story, imagery with imagination to delight and captivate the listener. Her … 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

Dial-Stanley, Ryan

Ryan Dial-Stanley is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and has severed as a cultural educator for most of his life. For years Ryan has traveled across the state to various venues … 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

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-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

Ellis, Kim

My name is Kim Ellis. I tell stories from my own life and from the perspectives of different women from the Bible and there are tons of stories there. These are called women at the … 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

Chuck Fink dove into the art of storytelling at age 64, in 2014. He has appeared in numerous shows throughout the Asheville area and Jonesborough TN, telling personal stories filled with angst, drama and a … 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

Goodman, Linda

Linda Goodman, a Virginia Appalachian Mountain native of Melungeon descent, learned the art of storytelling from her father, a former coal miner who was himself a master yarnspinner. She began writing her own stories while … 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

Linda Gorham’s performances are filled with surprising twists and unconventional humor. For the past 25 years, Linda has engaged audiences with interactive folktales, distinctive myths, notably twisted fairy tales, riveting well-researched historical stories, and humorously … Continue

Gregory, James

Jim bills himself as a teller of Mountain Stories and Tall Tales, but his stories stretch from the “Fast Bull” Stories about his family and neighbors in the Appalachian Mountains to “Blind Dog Willie” in … 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

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

Kitson, Robin

Robin’s trips of the mind are like those she heard as a child in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans where stories roll down the river clothed in fog. Robin’s dynamic, funny mind weaves a … 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

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

Lightbody, Arthur

Arthur Lightbody was a Bible translator in the Philippines, and also served in support roles for Wycliffe and the related SIL and JAARS organizations. Now retired from Wycliffe after more than 40 years, Arthur’s primary … 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

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

Mellin, Jane

I’m a retired technologist who has written several novels (and some short stories now and again). Though basically shy, I enjoy telling stories and use my visual and atmospheric talents without overwhelming the audience. Back … 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

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

Mount, Denise

I was born and raised in Western New York and came to Georgia via Oklahoma and Texas. Presently I am a board member of Southern Order of Storytellers and co-founder with my husband, Mike, of … Continue

Newcomb, Cora

Cora lives in the old and charming seaside village of Beaufort, South Carolina. She first began to spun tales to her daughter and then to youngsters, oldsters, and those between, weaving magic with enchanting yarns. … 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 acting as a Minister for Emissary Ministry. Author of two books encouraging people to discover and express … 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

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 is an educator, storyteller, and writer. She taught elementary school for 23 years where her passion for storytelling developed. Her stories range from myths and legends to folk tales and fairy tales, with her … 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

Shealy, Wallace

“It is no surprise to me he has been telling tales since he could talk and I often had to warm his rear for it.” — Wallace’s Dad Wallace was born in Aiken, SC but … Continue

Simmons, Annette

Annette Simmons is a writer, trainer and consultant. She is the author of four books: The Story Factor (Basic Books, 3rd ed 2019) named as one of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time … 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 Stone, a native Philadelphian, has lived in Fairview, NC for the last 38 years where she and her husband raised their four children and publish a garden quarterly called “GreenPrints” (greenprints.com). She has a … Continue

Sturm, Brian

Dr. Brian Sturm has been a professional folktale storyteller and storytelling scholar for over 25 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

Vezza, Vincent

The first-born son of a career militant 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

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