“Frosted Glass” issue is out!

Click on the picture to jump to the Winter 2025 (Volume 4, Issue 4) or HERE for PDF or HERE for Magazine Style (through Calaméo).

Looking back, it has been a heck of year with many unpredictable changes, soaring joys, and crushing sorrows. As we approach the Holidays, what can we do for those around us, who may be experiencing a time of tears, fear, and despair? 

There is the old Norse legend of Baldur. Baldur was the first-born and most beloved son of Odin and Frigg. He was the personification of light itself, well-liked by the gods, and who brought joy and well-being to all he encountered. One day, he began dreaming of his own death. Unlike other gods, Norse gods could die. His mother, Frigg, got all the fish, trees, animals, metals, and stones to swear not to harm Baldur. They all agreed, and the gods took great sport in hurling objects at Baldur with none being able to harm him. Loki, the trickster, grew jealous of Baldur and discovered from Frigg that she had not asked Mistletoe to swear not to harm Baldur, as it was so young and inoffensive. Loki then used his magic to fashion an arrow from Mistletoe and got Hodur, Baldur’s blind twin brother, to shoot the Mistletoe arrow at Baldur. The arrow struck Baldur and killed him. 

The gods were dismayed and horrified. In some versions, Frigg wept over Baldur and her tears turned into the white berries of Mistletoe. She vowed that Mistletoe would never be neglected again and would henceforth become a symbol of love and peace. Moreover, whoever stood beneath this plant would be offered a kiss.

In this way, a poisonous plant. an instrument of death, became a symbol of goodness, love, and affection. Throughout the year, in times of despair, may we all become beacons of light and joy, love and affection to those around us.

The Story Beast is your quarterly e-Publication forum and is your place of community. Please share your creative works — poems, stories, artwork, or articles — with us and let your friends know about The Story Beast. Let us know what you think and send your contributed works to storybeasteditor@gmail.com .

The deadline for contributions for the next issue of The Story Beast is February 15 for the Spring 2025 issue. The Spring issue’s theme is Boisterous Blooms. Thanks for reading. May you all have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).

“Quirky Quandaries” issue is out!

Click on the picture to jump to the Fall 2025 (Volume 4, Issue 3) or HERE for PDF or HERE for Magazine Style (through Calaméo).

Autumn is here, but the twilight lingers, and it is still warm enough to take leisurely evening walks. Someone asked me recently why I became a storyteller. I wish that I had a snappy answer, but I had to think about this one. I turned it over in my mind during an evening stroll. It wasn’t for the money, although I am still tickled that folks pay me to tell stories. It wasn’t for the fame, as most folks look at me funny when I say that I am storyteller. Maybe it was a higher calling? I drank heavily and awaited divine inspiration, but nothing came to me, so that wasn’t it. Then like a Cosmic Dope Slap, it hit me. Sort of like when in a Roadrunner cartoon, Coyote steps on a hoe, it smacks him in the forehead, and he sees stars. It dawned on me that it might have something to do with connecting with others.

I believe that in our modern, busy electronic-filled lives, we do not experience a lot of 100% present human presence and connection. If you get five minutes of your spouse’s undivided attention a day, I feel that you may be blessed. (Some may not want that kind of attention, but that’s another story.) We are often too preoccupied with what to say next, or contemplating what to have for dinner, or wondering if it is garbage day, to stop and be fully present with someone.

I believe that it is a true need and that we all hunger for true connection. When I tell a story, I am 100% present and am in the story with the audience. When I perform in schools, kids may not be able to name it, but they feel that difference and they want more of it. We may not even be aware that we are longing for connection in our own way. When we truly connect with someone, even for a moment, it is like a soothing balm to our hectic lives, and we want more of it. When I open up and connect with the audience, we both get to experience the other, and we are all nurtured. Connection is why I tell stories. 

The Story Beast is your quarterly e-Publication forum and is your place of community. Please share your creative works –poems, stories, artwork, or articles with us and let your friends know about The Beast. Let us know what you think and send your contributed works to storybeasteditor@gmail.com.

The deadline for contributions for the next issue of The Story Beast is November 15 for the Winter 2025 issue. The Winter issue’s theme is Frosted Glass. Thanks for reading. Have a Spooktacular Fall!

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).

“Sizzling Splendor” issue is out!

Click on the picture to jump to the Summer 2025 (Volume 4, Issue 2) or HERE for PDF or HERE for Magazine Style (through Calaméo).

It is summer, and that means that it is time for the NSN National Conference, this year near Atlanta, GA. The annual conference is like the gathering of the tribe, the meeting of the storytelling clan. It is an opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. It can be an occasion to speak with folks you may have only seen online, and share a meal with colleagues, whom you rarely see in person. It is a chance to learn from masters of our craft, gain new insights from peers and panel discussions, and see curated performances from some of the best tellers in the country.

It can be a large commitment of time and expense to attend the conference. Nevertheless, there is a timely and affordable alternative. Virtual tickets are available and include an all-day live stream from the Stillwell Theater and highlights of conference programming. Events include the Georgia Storytelling Network’s regional storytellers’ concert, the national concert, the NSN general membership meeting, the ORACLE awards ceremony, and the ORACLE awards concert.

With your virtual ticket, you can interact with fellow virtual attendees, as well as the folks in the theater through the live chat. Got schedule conflicts? No worries. You can catch up on the four days of programming at your own pace and convenience with the recordings. The links for viewing the recordings will be active until the end of September 2025.

Whether you are in person or there virtually, take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to connect with other members of our storytelling tribe. Improve your craft, make new friends, and be inspired by your family of choice.

The Story Beast is your quarterly e-Publication forum and is your place of community. Please share your creative works — poems, stories, artwork, or articles — with us and let your friends know about The Story Beast. Let us know what you think and send your contributed works to storybeasteditor@gmail.com.

The deadline for contributions for the next issue of The Story Beast is August 15 for the Fall 2025 issue. The autumn issue’s theme is Quirky Quandaries. Thanks for reading. See you all at the Conference, and enjoy the summer. 

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).

“Growing Gab” issue is out!

Click on the picture to jump to the Spring 2025 (Volume 4, Issue 1) or HERE.

We made it to March, yay! Yet we appear to be in a whirlwind of perpetual perturbations, natural disasters, and man-made challenges.

It seems almost as if we are in that future predicted by W.B. Yeat’s poem, The Second Coming:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world….

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

What can we do as artists and storytellers? What is our obligation? According to Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo of Eth-Noh-Tec, our charge as artists is to help people open their hearts. We need to humanize the other and draw out compassion. Throughout history, storytellers and artist have been tellers of truth. This reminds me of the Jewish teaching story of Truth and Story:

In the beginning Truth walked among people unclothed and unadorned. Whoever saw Truth, turned away in shame or fear, and gave her no welcome. Truth wandered through the world rebuffed and unwanted. She noticed in her travels, that Story walked a similar path, but unlike Truth, Story was welcomed wherever she went, adorned in her brightly-coloured clothes, speaking her lyrical language, and flashing her smile to all.

One day, Story came across Truth, naked and cold, huddling in the doorway of a ruined house. Truth explained that her nakedness frightened people, that she was unwelcome and unwanted. Story gathered her up and took her home. She dressed Truth in fine clothes, warmed her, and fed her. And from that time on, Truth and Story have traveled hand in hand. When they knock on doors, they are readily welcomed in, invited to dine at the table, and warm themselves by the fire.

Story does not tell people what to do. It invites folks to come to their own conclusions. It is one of the most respectful ways to share knowledge, wisdom, and truth. What we can do is to do what we do best — tell the truth wrapped in story. Our actions do not have to be large or grandiose. It can simply be part of what we do every day — telling stories with intention and conviction. Facts do not change people’s minds. Feelings do. We can help folks feel more compassion for the other.

The Story Beast is your quarterly e-Publication forum and is a place of community. Please share your creative works — poems, stories, artwork, or articles —  with us and tell your friends about us. Let us know what you think and send your contributed works to storybeasteditor@gmail.com.

The deadline for contributions for the next issue of The Story Beast is May 15 for the Summer 2025 issue. The Summer issue’s theme is Sizzling Splendor. Thanks for reading and remember that truth wrapped in story is a beautiful thing, easy to accept, and love. 

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).

What are Beast Bites? Find out! Another Taste for you!

We are pleased to announce that we have our second Beast Bite out. These are single stories, articles, or resources to relish and delight in while you anticipate our quarterly e-publication. We will archive them as we get one “Bite” after another at https://storybeast.org/bites. Or you can click on the image above. Or scan the QR code. We made it easy to savor the flavors of these pieces.

To celebrate, we thank Jessica Piscitelli Robinson for some behind-the-scenes of the annual Women’s Storytelling Festival. You even have time to experience the next one kicking off March 20-23, 2025!

Keep in mind that around the corner, March 20, 2025, we will also have our “main course” with our quarterly e-publication and the full article (versus the one-page version) on the Women’s Storytelling Festival.

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).

“Whirling Winds” issue is out!

Click on the picture to jump to the Winter 2024 (Volume 3, Issue 4) or HERE.

It is that time of year when we all become children again. It is that chill in the air, the scent of cinnamon and nutmeg, the shimmering lights, and giddy excitement of the Holidays. There is that exquisite anticipation of opening presents and seeing relatives and old friends.   

In these divisive times, when it might not be so easy to bridge gaps and connect with folks, there is an even greater need for stories and storytellers. In traditional cultures, cultural wisdom and expectations were passed down through stories. These stories told people who they were, what they valued, and their relationship to each other and the world around them.  Today, there is so much information, so many stories coming at us, that it may be difficult to determine what is true and what to believe. Over time that which is true will persist, but what do we do in the meanwhile?

We can look to touchstone stories like Dickens’ Christmas Carol, which pluck at universal chords of human existence. Be kind and treat others with respect. There is something satisfying and reassuring in such stories, especially in midst of change. Truth is best accepted clothed in story. No one wants to see the naked truth or to be lectured. Story allows us to take in truth in a non-threatening way.

For those who do not like the truth that they perceive, there is also the story of King Solomon’s Ring. Folks noticed that whenever Solomon was very happy, he would look at the inscription in his ring and become somber. Whenever in despair, he would look at the inscription and find solace. When he died, folks looked at the inscription in the ring and it simply said, “This too shall pass.”

Do you ever notice that when little kids fight, they are direct, blunt, make up quickly, and go back to playing? They live in the present, the here and now. As grownups we live in the past nursing old wounds, holding grudges, or worrying about the future. We spend very little time in the present. Perhaps, in this festive season, we can consider going back to being little kids again, live in the here and now, and breathe.

The Story Beast is your quarterly e-Pub forum and is a place of community. Please share your creative works–poems, stories, artwork, or articles with us and tell your friends about us. Let us know what you think and sent your contributed works to storybeasteditor@gmail.com.

The deadline for contributions for the next issue of The Story Beast is February 15 for the Spring 2025 issue. The Spring issue’s theme is Growing Gab. Thanks for reading and remember that truth wrapped in story is a beautiful thing easy to accept and love. That’s the way it is and the way it will always be.

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).

Book Notes added – “Flavored Fright” issue is out!

While we already published the Fall 2024 issue, we are pleased to add Book Notes by Jo Radner featuring the following authors: Jim Brulé and Rebecca Claire Lemaire, Donald Davis, and Françoise-Marie Luzel. We also spotlight the following editors: Marek Bennett, Andy Kolovos, Teresa Mares, and Julia Grand Doucet.

Remember this from a recent blog posting–

Click on the picture to jump to the Fall 2024 (Volume 3, Issue 3) or HERE.

Welcome, Autumn! We have missed your cool, crisp mornings and your glorious colors. Sometimes when we tell stories there are the swirling colors of a costume, the precision of crisp, snappy gestures, or the anguish of heart-felt emotions. At other times, there is the nuanced twist of the head, the subtle shift of weight, or the simmering, unstated tension, which speak volumes.

When we tell a story, we bring all of who we are to the story. Not only do we bring our emotions, energy, and presence, but we also bring our languages, ancestries, and cultures. This is apparent when we share stories across cultures. The stories we tell are windows into who we are, what we value, and what is significant to us. Stories give color, texture, and meaning to our lives. They can provide glimpses into who we truly are and can become bridges between cultures.

Through the sharing of stories, we can become aware of our similarities and can appreciate our differences. Getting to know another culture through its stories (and foods) can eventually lead to understanding. I was taught that once you can laugh at another culture’s jokes, you are on the path to understanding.

To help bridge the gap between cultures, simple stories that strike a universal theme might be successful. Folktales work well, especially if you can use large gestures, a different voice, facial expressions, and physicality to help tell the story. Short stories can be helpful, as a story may need to be told twice, if your words need to be translated. Audiences may not have the historical knowledge or shared cultural experience upon which some stories depend. Stories that are greatly enjoyed in one culture may go over the heads of folks from another culture.

As storytellers, we are in a unique position to be able to build bridges between groups with stories. Stories create connection, curiosity, and can lead to tolerance and understanding. It is hard to harm someone whose story you know.

The Story Beast is your quarterly e-Pub forum and is a place of community. Would you like to share your creative works — poems, stories, artwork, or articles ? Please spread the word and tell your friends about us. Let us know what you think and send your contributed works to storybeasteditor@gmail.com.

The deadline for contributions for the next issue of The Story Beast is November 15 for the December 2024 issue. The Winter issue’s theme is Whirling Winds. Thanks for reading – and add some color, texture, and context to someone’s life today with a story.

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).

“Chaotic Creations” issue is out!

Click on the picture to jump to the Summer 2024 (Volume 3, Issue 2) or HERE.

Summertime! Will you be there? Are you going to the National Storytelling Network (NSN) in person Conference (storynet.org)? The conference will be held at the Dumas Bay Center in Federal Way south of Seattle, WA from July 11 – 14, 2024. Timing not right for you? Can’t make it in person? No worries. You can still be part of the fun. Many of the sessions are available virtually via Zoom.

We haven’t had an opportunity to get together in years. This is a great opportunity to meet old friends, say hello to those whom we have only seen on Zoom, and to make new ones. There will be tellers coming in from Korea, Thailand, Northern Ireland, and from all over the country. There will be workshops, swaps, fringes, and tons of hallway conversations and impromptu get togethers. Most of all, you will be able to spend time with folks who are just as passionate about storytelling as you.

Want something more exotic? The Federation of Asian Storytellers (FEAST) is having their 4th annual conference at the Suwon Convention Center, South Korea, about an hour from Seoul, September 5-8, 2024 (feast-story.org). There will be workshops, story swaps, and it will be held in conjunction with a Book Convention. Come over early or stay late. Join with other tellers to travel about, see the sights, and eat. I heard that they have pretty good Korean food over there.

Would you like to share your creative works — poems, stories, artwork, or articles with us? The Story Beast is your quarterly e-Pub forum and is a place of community. Please spread the word and tell your friends about us. Let us know what you think and send your contributed works to storybeasteditor@gmail.com.

The deadline for contributions for the Autumn issue of The Story Beast is August 15 for the September 2024 issue. The Autumn issue’s theme is Flavored Fright. Thanks for reading and may the living be easy.

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).

“Stepping Stones” issue is out!

Click on the picture to jump to the Spring 2024 (Volume 3, Issue 1) or HERE.

We are excited to introduce two new features in this issue.  In the “That’s Amazing” section, we will get an inside look as to how a renowned storyteller crafted an amazing performance piece.  In the “Surviving My Art” section, tellers will relate anecdotes of some of their more memorable Mayhem Moments they have experienced in the pursuit of their art.

Meanwhile, there is nothing like the rush of energy and the buzz of meeting and hanging out with a group of storytellers.  After years of COVID isolation, the National Storytelling Network (NSN) in-person Conference is back!  The Conference will be held at the Dumas Bay Center in Federal Way south of Seattle, WA from July 11 – 14, 2024. Can’t make it in-person?  You can also attend some of the sessions virtually via Zoom.         

This will be an opportunity to see friends you haven’t seen in years, meet people you have only met on Zoom, and make new friends and connections.  Where else can you learn and talk for hours on end with folks who love stories?  Where else can you see amazing storytelling and fringe performances, workshops, and interact with folks who are as passionate about stories and storytelling as you?

I get energized when I learn something new about storytelling or experience an incredible performance, and I love chatting with other tellers about their craft and their latest projects.  Attending the Conference is like reconnecting with your tribe. There is something electrifying about being with folks who just get you.

Would you like to share your creative works — poems, stories, artwork, or articles — with us?  The Story Beast is your quarterly e-pub forum and is a place of community.  Please spread the word and tell your friends about us.  Let us know what you think and send your contributed works to storybeasteditor@gmail.com.

The deadline for contributions for the next issue of The Story Beast is May 15 for the June 2024 issue.  The Summer issue’s theme is Chaotic Creations.  Thanks for reading and May the 4th be with you!

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).

What are Beast Bites? Find out!

https://storybeast.org/bites

We are pleased to announce that we have our first Beast Bite out. These are single stories, articles, or resources to relish and delight in while you anticipate our quarterly e-publication. We will archive them as we get one “Bite” after another at https://storybeast.org/bites. Or you can click on the image above. Or scan the QR code. We made it easy to savor the flavors of these pieces.

To celebrate, we thank Karen Chace for some wonderful links to explore St. Patrick’s Day type stories or surrounding culture.

Keep in mind that around the corner, March 18, 2024, we will also have our “main course” with our quarterly e-publication.

Remember that you can subscribe and/or follow the blog. See the green button below. 

Tell us…what did you sink your teeth into for this issue? Past issues?

Share your hunger for stories. Feel fee to email us at StoryBeastEditor@gmail.com.

The Story Beast is produced with the support of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST).