Formed in a tradition stretching back from Africa to the American South. Irish ghost tales, southern haunts and rip-roaring true family stories are her staple. From Aesop's Fables to Jane Whitcomb Riley poems.

Email: shabazza@memphislibrary.org

Bill tells personal stories shaped from memories of his life and teaches children and adults how to create compelling stories.

Web Site: www.billjonesstoryteller.com, Email: lidabill@hotmail.com

Southern storytelling with a mountain flavor, playing major festivals, fairs, concerts, schools, colleges, and conventions in across the United States.  He has appeared on numerous TV & radio shows, including NBC’s Today Show, Hee Haw, and Prairie Home Companion. He offers workshops and classroom sessions on storytelling skills, traditional storytelling, humor, and imagination. His material is generally appropriate for ages 5 years and up. Awards include the National Storytelling Association's "Circle of Excellence," and "Lifetime Achievement." He is listed with the Tennessee Arts Commission. "Doc McConnell’s Old Medicine Show" offers an old time "pitch man," complete with a wagon, copper bracelets, and entertainment.

Web Site: www.tales-tonics.com, Email: docmcconnell@bellsouth.net

Storyteller, singer, workshop leader. Workshops include writing, journaling, oral interpretation and Three Sisters.

Email: donna_reagan@hotmail.com

Elizabeth Rose was introduced to the world of storytelling as grade-schooler on a field trip to the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough. Episodes of life growing up in the small southern town of Etowah, Tennessee are reflected in her stories that include a blend of traditional southern folklore, fairy tales, ghost stories, and folktales of many cultures. She is truly captivating in voice and presentation. Elizabeth taught elementary and middle school for 19 years, and is currently the Principal at Dyllis Elementary School in Roane County, TN. She has worked with children of all ages, teaching them to appreciate the art of storytelling and to make the art their own by telling the stories themselves. She has used the "Power of Storytelling" in her daily curriculum and conducts workshops for other educators on how to use storytelling in the classroom. Elizabeth graduated from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a BA in Early Childhood and Curriculum & Instruction. She also has a Master’s degree in Education and an Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) in Supervision and Administration.

Web Site: www.elizabethrose.biz, Email: elizabeth_rose@hotmail.com

Laughter...Legends...Lessons...Life 

A native Appalachian of Cherokee descent, Faye draws on a wide range of experiences from her own life when it comes to forging her storytelling philosophy. Raised as an "army brat," she boasts a colorful resume that includes stints as a teacher, banker, university administrator, soda jerk, bear trapper, consultant, pianist, secretary, herbalist, published author, and self-professed student of nature – human and otherwise. Over the past several years Faye has established herself as one of the region's premiere storytellers, performing as a featured teller at storytelling festivals as well as for school groups, churches, civic events, summer camps, bookstores, coffee houses, family gatherings, corporate meetings, senior citizen events and children's parties.

A nationally recognized public speaker since 1980, Faye has developed and conducted successful classes and workshops about various storytelling topics at storytelling festivals, schools, counseling and resource facilities, the John C. Campbell Folk School and the University of Tennessee. Wooden holds a master's degree in Story Arts from East Tennessee State University. She has also studied theater voice-over, comedic and dramatic performance techniques. In addition to the Tennessee Storytelling Association, Faye is a member of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild, the Southern Order of Storytellers and the National Storytelling Network.

"Faye Wooden is one of the most personable and dynamic speakers ever to work with us. Her presentations touch the very fabric of people’s lives—they really love her." Steven E. Beard, President, Professional Development Group

"Faye is extremely professional, always prepared, and hypnotic in quality. She uses musical instruments to enhance the musical qualities of her voice." Joseph Sobol, Ph.D., Coordinator, East Tennessee State University Storytelling Program

Web Site: www.fayewooden.com, Email: fayewooden@adelphia.net, Address: POB 6935, Maryville, TN 37802, Phone: (865) 856-0592

Speaker and Entertainer. "I put smiles on people's faces."

Web Site: www.graysonsmith.com, Email: ericsonrd@juno.com

In the area of Folk Music and Storytelling, Guerry has been listed for over 30 years with the Tennessee Arts Commission in the Performer and Artist in Residence categories, and is now listed with the Rose Center of Northeast Tennessee. She has also been featured with her husband, Doc McConnell, as a Storyteller in Residence at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee, as well as "supporting cast" for the Doc McConnell Old Medicine Show during the National Storytelling Festival. Guerry has performed and lead workshops for adults and children in schools, colleges, festivals, conferences, conventions and other venues across the United States, in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. She has conducted weeklong sessions at John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina, during the Tennessee Storytelling Conference and the Smoky Mountain Storytelling Festival. Her material covers folk tales, fairy tales, fables, family stories, as well as original material covering historical events and characters. She uses guitar accompaniment, folk songs and original songs as part of her story presentations. Guerry’s storytelling performance material is appropriate for pre-school, K-6 grades in general, selected 6-12 grade classes (drama, speech, history) and adults.

Web Site: www.tales-tonics.com, Email: guerrymcconnell@bellsouth.net

Joe Keenan is an actor, folksinger, and storyteller, and has been performing "almost forever." His tales and anecdotes are as varied as his life: funny and sad, personal and traditional, original inventions and carefully preserved heirlooms. And always there are songs with guitar or psaltery. Sample his holiday programs, when folks come together for love, laughter, and family fun. Listen to inspiring stories of courage, honor, kindness and struggle. Relive the old days of America in the '30s and '40s. Enjoy some foolishness and dern fool ditties. Joe's programs are great for young and old.

Email: nanjoe@bellsouth.net

I teach storytelling to youth, educators, foreign language and ESL, specializing in stories, school programs and scouting events. Email: katkins@utk.edu

Larry and Gayleen Kelley offer workshops, story discovery and development, humorous stories, personal stories, workshops for teachers, storytelling for humor, inspiration and adventure. Suitable for for all ages.

Email: storytell@adelphia.net

Marcia Donovan has been a professional storyteller since 1984, and Putnam County Library Storyteller since 1988. She has Tennessee K-3 certification, a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, and 15 years of pre-school and remedial teaching experience. Using the rhythm of words from many languages, the magic of details from other cultures, vocal, guitar and percussion musical expression, dance, pantomime, sign language, flannel board, and puppets, Marcia encourages her audiences to receive her stories according to their needs and abilities. Themes include: Becoming a Storyteller for Students or Adults, African, Cherokee, Celtic, Chinese, Japanese, other Native American, Holiday, Seasonal.

She is a member of the Tennessee Storytelling Association (TSA) and the National Storytelling Association (NSA). She has been a TN Arts Commission Roster Artist since 1993, and was Artist in Residence in Putnam County fourth grades 1993-99; she has been the Storytelling Artist in Residence with Pacesetters developmentally disabled adults since 2000. She presents storytelling workshops at TSA conferences, the Governor's Academy for Teachers of Writing and local teacher in-services.

Email: marcia@pclibrary.org

Retired minister, teller of traditional and tall tales for the pre-schoolers through the young at heart. He performs at schools, camps, libraries, senior centers and any other location.

Email: austew@aol.com

Women's gatherings, organizational storytelling workshops and keynote speaker.

Web Site: www.mollycatron.com, Email: mwc@yahoo.com

Sarah Malone offers traditional stories from Mt. Kilimanjaro to the southern states of Tennessee and Alabama, family and personal tales, folk tales from all the continents, stories, poems and sounds to touch all audiences. She is also a trainer for teachers and development of student storytelling.

Email: sarahtellstales@yahoo.com

Shelley Gotterer is an experienced storyteller who emphasizes the importance of storytelling in the classroom. She has been telling stories and leading workshops for a wide variety of audiences during the past twenty years. For ten of those years, she was an enrichment storytelling teacher at Currey Ingram Academy, a school for children with learning differences such as dyslexia. She tells folk stories for students, works with them on their own storytelling abilities, and collaborates with teachers on ways to integrate storytelling into the curricula. She offers workshops to encourage teachers to tell stories themselves by providing storytelling resources as well as demonstrating storytelling techniques and activities In addition, Shelley has given week residencies for schools such as Greenbrier Elementary, K-5, and Bradley Integrated Arts School in Murfreesboro, K-1. She is beginning her third year as storyteller for the Westminster Kindergarten multicultural series as well as for Old Center Elementary School’s Family Literacy Night. She also performs for libraries, schools, festivals, and churches. Shelley is a member and past president of the Tennessee Storytelling Association.

PROGRAM: Shelley has an engaging blend of personal recollections with traditional tales. Her successful storytelling program is a model for the use of storytelling in the classroom. Her workshops are designed to meet the specific needs of participants. Her goal is to show the value of storytelling as a way of teaching, and her offerings help teachers meet Tennessee Academic Standards. Shelley uses storytelling as a way to strengthen students’ listening and speaking skills, nurture their imaginations, and build confidence.

Email: tales@comcast.net

Storytelling and music for children and families.

Email: susramsay@att.net