'Tis the holiday season and whatever holiday you celebrate, there are stories to help that celebration really ring!  Storytelling has been around since man has been and the tales of your culture are essential to pass on to the next generation.  Parties are more festive when a bit of story is involved; children learn about their families and traditions with story; important information about your faith and beliefs can be passed along with story.  Don't be afraid to discuss your important tales with others.  Hire a professional teller to help your celebration to be more festive!  Include things that need to be passed along the generations.  And don't forget, this chilly time of year was when ghost stories were traditionally told. Sit down by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and a story.   Happy holidays!

The "ghostly season" is officially over, but I enjoy telling (and hearing) ghost stories year round.  Maybe some of you do, too.  I enjoyed sharing the tales and history of haunted Ogden, Utah last month and also telling Halloween stories to a couple of family-friendly groups at schools and libraries.  There is something about the chill and surprise endings of so many ghost tales that really appeals to me.  Now is the season of Thanksgiving and this is the perfect time to share family tales around the dinner table or at any family gathering.  One year I had all my children and grandchildren share their favorite family tale after the big meal on Thanksgiving Day and it was fun to hear what they enjoyed and especially fun for them to hear stories they may not have already known about their parents as children.  That is one of my best memories of the day.  Try sharing these stories and see how many memories you can make this holiday season.  Happy Thanksgiving!

The ghostly season is here and Ogden and Salt Lake City Ghost Tours are up and running!  It's so exciting to meet with people and tell them the history and paranormal activity of these two cities.  Check out the website at www.storytours.com and enjoy a family-friendly but spooky Halloween activity.  This month I will also be storytelling at the Morgan Library on October 21st and at Bonneville Elementary School on October 28th. Check out the upcoming events page for more information. October is the best time to tell tales, so get with your family, turn down the lights, put on the hot chocolate and enjoy some chilling time together.

September is here and that means that fall (and ghost story season!) is just around the corner.  Ogden and Salt Lake City Ghost Tours are excited and ready to entertain you at any time with the paranormal experiences and history of these two interesting cities. We have multiple tours in both locations, so check out the website. I also had the privilege of telling railroad stories at the Pioneer Village in Provo, Utah last month and the audience and I had a great time with the stories, the history and the tall tales that go along with that.  (Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!) What a pleasant way to spend a summer evening!  

Summertime is a great time to tell stories: around the campfire, during a walk in the woods, at a picnic or family reunion, at a festival or celebration.  Share your past with your children.  Share the folk tales of your culture (or another culture).  Add storytellers to your next celebratory activity.  Stories are what make us human, teach us how to interact with others and help the rising generation understand what is expected of them.  Don't let this time of year pass without sharing with those you love!

Yesterday I had the experience of attending a "Patriot Camp" and telling some stories about American history.  I did a "first-person" account of Sybil Ludington, a young girl who made a midnight ride to collect militia for an important Revolutionary War battle and also told a bit about Deborah Sampson:  a female who managed to enlist in the army during that war.  It was exciting to be able to educate some young people about exciting events in the history of the United States and let them know that even teens can make a big difference! What power there is in storytelling.

Summer is here and with it a fantastic season for storytelling!  Camping trips, picnics in the park, fairs and festivals, road trips....wherever you are and whatever you're doing, stories can make it better!  I have just finished telling for the Story Crossroads Festival in Salt Lake City and am looking forward to performances at the Gallivan Center and Pioneer Park in Provo, Utah during the summer months.  Ghost Tours are going year-round and there are many opportunities to tell, and listen, to stories.  Watch for opportunities to catch a professional teller at an outdoor festival and make sure you share family stories with those you love.  Make memories this summer with stories.

On May 10th we are celebrating the sesquicentennial of the "wedding of the rails" here in northern Utah--the time when this large country was finally connected from east to west, from "sea to shining sea", by the transcontinental railroad.  That event changed our way of travel and our lifestyle forever.  Many events are being scheduled to celebrate this and museum exhibits, concerts, songs and stories are being used to bring this to life for a new generation.  Check out the storytelling opportunities in the area this summer and enjoy a bit of history with your stories!

Storytelling events are happening in Utah and it's great to be a part of them!  I participated in the Weber State Storytelling Festival this past February and it is always a pleasure to perform in front of such gracious audiences and on the same stage with the national storytellers.  This past week I was able to watch Bil Lepp perform and that is a treat.  Next month will be the Story Crossroads Festival and I will be participating on May 15.  Good stories, good times!