Hello, Friends. I have been doing a lot of reading and getting through some of the things to be filed and "to do's", as I call them, that have piled up around my desk. I'm beginning to feel a little clutter free. Okay, so I have a long way to go, but I'm excited that it has begun. Here is my other recent book review on "East of the Sun, West of the Moon".
Before I go there, this is what I've learned about Storytelling - we need to a) share our personal stories - this keeps "us" and our families alive for generations; b) share historical stories - for this keeps even the small things of history alive and shared and we can gain so much encouragement and learning from them; and, c) share old stories - fairytales, moral stories, folktales, cultural stories - because they explain how it used to be, they give us dreams, they teach us and are universal in their story, oh, and d) share "new" stories that we have developed, because that charges our creativity, innovation and imagination and brings relevance to people.
I think we are doing "a" and "b" pretty well, however, the old stories are getting so lost - we need to go back to old stories and remember and learn them. That means old books, like "East of the Sun, West of the Moon." We also need to develop more "new" stories, not just personal, but fun and great fiction stories that are relevant to people today and encourage them in the world of storytelling. Okay, so I've lectured a bit. Now here's the book review. Peace and belief, and Happy Thanksgiving!
East of the Sun and West of the Moon:
Old Tales from the North
Written by Peter Christen Asbjornsen & Jorgen Engebretsen Moe. Illustrated by Kay Nielsen
Published 1976 by Hodder & Stoughton Children’s Books, London, England
Published 1977 by Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, NY
ISBN: 0-385-13213-1
LCCN: 77-74791
My Thoughts
This is a classic in the world of storytelling and stories, which I know only because the book keeps coming up in bibliographies done by storytellers. If you ever heard that storytellers also use the number 3 in stories, i.e., The Three Pigs, The Three Bears, etc., then these stories are the true testament to the use of 3. Also, with the use of repetition. It was one of those times I never wanted anything repeated again. The pictures are pre-anime (Japanese) and I would love to see some of them in large posters, however, the stories, are mostly so-so, with little glimmers of light, and lots of bright spotlight on other fairy tales that are better written with the same general plot.
Preface
“Another theme is the maturing of love through a hazardous search such as in East of the Sun and West of the Moon in which we recognize a version of the Greek legend of Cupid and Psyche.”
Kay Neilsen
“A school mistress at Emerson relates how a small Mexican boy used to come often to the studio to watch him paint “The Canticle”. One day the boy said he would like the mural better if there was a cat in it. Did he have a cat? Yes, so Kay told him to bring it to the studio and he’d paint it into the mural. Later Kay confessed he would have wished for a more photogenic cat but had not wanted to disappoint his young friend. And there it sits, an all-white puss on a red brick paving.”
Stories
East of the Sun and West of the Moon – I like this story. However, I just read Edith Pattou’s book, East. She does a great job of taking this story and developing characters and location – it was truly magical! (See yesterday's post)
The Blue Belt – a variation of “Simon and Susannah”, Negro love story and folk-tale found in The Last Tales of Uncle Remus by Julius Lester.
Lassie and the Godmother – the moral is “you reap what you sow”, and really powerfully done. This one is going to be included in my list of stories. P. 53-60.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A Quickie
Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I am posting my latest book review. It is the book "East" by Edith Pattou. I hope you'll pick up this book even over this holiday and enjoy a great adventure. Peace, Sheila.
East
By Edith Pattou
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (September 1, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0152045635
ISBN-13: 978-0152045630
My ThoughtsI LOVED THIS BOOK!! What a great read and I will never forget my trip with Rose and the White Bear. I learned about mapmaking and cartography (never read a book where that was an active part of the story ) I read the fairytale, “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” AFTER I read “East” and, wow!, what a great job Ms. Pattou did in enhancing the lives of the fairy tale characters. However, she was also so very, very true to the original story. I would like to learn to write AND tell a story like this, particularly expanding a fairy tale without losing the essence of the story.
If you have some SciFi readers – send them this way. I do believe your girls will be the ones most appreciative of this book – the romance and the fairy tale are a girls’ dream. Understand, though, Rose is no “wimp” or “prissy” or “milktoast” young lady – she is grit, determination, smart, adventurous and amazing. I think it will be a while until I read a young adult science fiction story that makes me fall in love and want to read it again and again and again and again and…
Author Informationhttp://edithpattou.com
I love to hear from readers and read every single letter and email I receive, but the truth is that in general I am worse than pathetic at responding. I am trying to turn over a new leaf, but sincerely hope that ninety-nine percent of your questions will be answered in the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website. On the off chance that they are not, I will do my best to respond, or will make sure your question is added to my FAQ's section.
Send your emails to: info@edithpattou.com. You can also join me on Facebook.
I do a limited number of school visits per year so if you are a teacher or librarian, email me at the above address and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
If you prefer snail mail, my address is:
Edith Pattou (author)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
If you have a book that you would like me to autograph, the very nice folks at Cover to Cover Bookstore in Columbus, Ohio will be happy to arrange for me to come in and sign, and then send it along to you.
Review From School Library JournalGrade 6 Up-A compelling novelization of the folktale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon." Rose's story-from her birth as a replacement for a dead sister to her eventual happy marriage to Charles VI's fifth child-is recounted from the kaleidoscopic viewpoints of her father, her brother, the troll queen who bewitched the Dauphin, the White Bear whom the Dauphin became until Rose's rescue, and Rose herself. Each character's unique perspective and voice adds texture and tension to the plot, which is imbued with Nordic mythology and unfolds in a unique story line. Numerous interpersonal tensions are examined, including those between a comparatively "modern" man and his superstitious wife, between the bewitched bear and the women who want to claim him as a mate, and between Rose and the neighbors she meets in each of her worlds. Pattou's writing pitches readers gracefully between myth and fantasy, inviting those unaccustomed to either genre to explore the frozen world of questing that she has so vividly created.
Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
East
By Edith Pattou
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (September 1, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0152045635
ISBN-13: 978-0152045630
My ThoughtsI LOVED THIS BOOK!! What a great read and I will never forget my trip with Rose and the White Bear. I learned about mapmaking and cartography (never read a book where that was an active part of the story ) I read the fairytale, “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” AFTER I read “East” and, wow!, what a great job Ms. Pattou did in enhancing the lives of the fairy tale characters. However, she was also so very, very true to the original story. I would like to learn to write AND tell a story like this, particularly expanding a fairy tale without losing the essence of the story.
If you have some SciFi readers – send them this way. I do believe your girls will be the ones most appreciative of this book – the romance and the fairy tale are a girls’ dream. Understand, though, Rose is no “wimp” or “prissy” or “milktoast” young lady – she is grit, determination, smart, adventurous and amazing. I think it will be a while until I read a young adult science fiction story that makes me fall in love and want to read it again and again and again and again and…
Author Informationhttp://edithpattou.com
I love to hear from readers and read every single letter and email I receive, but the truth is that in general I am worse than pathetic at responding. I am trying to turn over a new leaf, but sincerely hope that ninety-nine percent of your questions will be answered in the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website. On the off chance that they are not, I will do my best to respond, or will make sure your question is added to my FAQ's section.
Send your emails to: info@edithpattou.com. You can also join me on Facebook.
I do a limited number of school visits per year so if you are a teacher or librarian, email me at the above address and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
If you prefer snail mail, my address is:
Edith Pattou (author)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
If you have a book that you would like me to autograph, the very nice folks at Cover to Cover Bookstore in Columbus, Ohio will be happy to arrange for me to come in and sign, and then send it along to you.
Review From School Library JournalGrade 6 Up-A compelling novelization of the folktale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon." Rose's story-from her birth as a replacement for a dead sister to her eventual happy marriage to Charles VI's fifth child-is recounted from the kaleidoscopic viewpoints of her father, her brother, the troll queen who bewitched the Dauphin, the White Bear whom the Dauphin became until Rose's rescue, and Rose herself. Each character's unique perspective and voice adds texture and tension to the plot, which is imbued with Nordic mythology and unfolds in a unique story line. Numerous interpersonal tensions are examined, including those between a comparatively "modern" man and his superstitious wife, between the bewitched bear and the women who want to claim him as a mate, and between Rose and the neighbors she meets in each of her worlds. Pattou's writing pitches readers gracefully between myth and fantasy, inviting those unaccustomed to either genre to explore the frozen world of questing that she has so vividly created.
Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Charnel Ship
Okay, we're trying a video again. Here's my version of "Charnel Ship" which I just finished writing so I can review before programming. Oh, fyi, that's usually what I do. I try - now at least - to read over whatever stories I'm going to present. Doesn't mean I actually perform them just like that, but I do get a good sense of what to remember. Peace, Sheila. (p.s. My upload didn't work and my beautiful formatting of the story was lost as well. - any suggestions?)
The Charnel Ship
As told by Sheila Arnold
The waters of Virginia can sometimes be bitter cold and there are many reasons for that. While working at the tavern, I met men that come from all sorts of walks of life, and there was Jack, he was a sailing man, he actually worked on whaling ships. He would often come into the tavern on cold evens and he would tell the story, the story of Captain Webb. Captain Webb was a kindly captain, but he was a captain that was caught with a curiosity. He told of how Captain Webb loved to travel and visit and see new places. Although, he was the Captain of a whaling ship, he loved to go to places where others had not gone before. One day he decided to sail north and he sailed further north than he had sailed before. And he soon found himself, he and his men, surrounded by icebergs. Now I have never seen an iceberg, but I have heard they are as tall as a mountain and underneath the water, as long as the very whales they seek, and cold, a cold that would make the dead shiver. There was naught they could do but sit and wait. There was an old sailor, and there not be many of these, and he told stories about how the icebergs would surround a ship and crush it, crashing it in the water, making a watery grave for supplies and men together. Yeah, there was naught they could do except sit, wait…and pray. Jack was called to look out through the even, high above in the sails. Come morning, Captain Webb rose and his eyes were as red as if he had not slept a thousand years. And then Captain Webb heard Jack yell, “Open route, sir, open route for sea, sir.” Now Captain Webb called all hands on deck, the sails were raised and they made their way to the open route with great haste and they passed from the iceberg just as it closed. As the sailed to slightly warmer waters, the sun rose in the sky. When the sun rose straight above them, Captain Webb looked onto the horizon and thought he had seen a ship. But his eyes were bleary, and he called to Jack. “Do you see a ship, Jack?” “Yes, sir.” “Bring me the glass.” And Jack handed the Captain the spyglass and looking through the Captain did see a ship and it was in seemed in sore disrepair. He called for the ship to come close to the one on the horizon. As they came close they saw the ship was in great disrepair. The sails were tattered and in rags. The rigging was rusted and mildewed, torn and strewn about. The hull was worn and looked like it should have floated on the water. Then Captain Webb’s “cat ways” took the best of him and he called for Jack and some of the sailors to join him in the long boat, the very boat they use to chase and kill the whales, and they sailed to the other ship. They came abreast of the ship and Captain Webb stood and shouted the greeting, “Ahoy there.” There was no answer. “Ahoy there.” Again, nothing. “Ahoy there.” And they were greeted only with silence. Then Jack looked into the porthole and saw, “Sir, there’s someone sitting at a desk.” Captain Webb called for the longboat to come close and he, and the sailor climbed aboard. Then went below stairs and walked the corridor looking for the room of the porthole. When they found it, Captain Webb saw the main, he put out his hand to shake and…….. …he stopped. The man before him was covered with a dark, green mold. A slickness covered the mold dripping ever so lightly. The man’s was holding a pen and his hand was raised. His flesh hung in tatters off the arm. The men backed out of the room in fear, but the Captain could not resist but to read the man’s last words. There is no more food. There is no more warmth. The iceberg still hems us in. We have no…. And with the pen raised the hope of the man froze. “Captain, Captain”, yelled his sailors, and the Captain picked up the log book and went into the hall. The sailors stood in front of room. Captain Webb looked and there he saw a beautiful woman. A woman, sleeping. A woman, pale and at peace, looking as if she only wanted a man to ask for her hand to dance. And as the Captain bent over her to smile….he saw that the only dance she would ever have would be the dance of the dead. Then over in the corner, they saw a young man with flint and steel in hand. The young man looked as if he was striking for warmth, but…the…ice…stopped…him…. Captain and sailors, along with Jack backed out of the room, and as they did they saw appearing before them more and more bodies. All of the covered with the same green mold. All of them with the slick slime of puss. All of them with same scent of death. And then they heard it – grinding, crashing, moving – the iceberg. The Captain and the sailors ran above deck towards the long boat, and all climbed in, but Jack was last. And Jack said that he turned a moment, and when he did he looked under the gang plank and he could see…..the cabin boy. The cabin boy sat with knees to chin and arms around knees and Jack swore, yes, he swore, he could feel the cabin boy….shiver…in death! “Jack, come aboard.” And the grinding came again and they looked as the iceberg came closer and faster. Jack hopped into the longboat and they rowed quickly back to their ship, watching as the iceberg surrounded the one in disrepair. But the iceberg did not take the ship, surround it and crash it into the ocean….no, it seemed to surround the ship and hold onto it like was a treasure to be possessed. When the crew had returned to England’s shores, Captain Webb took the log book and searched for answers. And he found it. That ship has sailed some 15 years before into cold waters and had never been heard of again. And Jack would say, if you were near our waters and they were bitterly cold – if you looked toward the horizon you could see a ship – filled with the meat of flesh. And Jack would say, yes, he would even swear, that if you looked close enough you could even see the….shiver….of the cabin boy. Written September 2010
The Charnel Ship
As told by Sheila Arnold
The waters of Virginia can sometimes be bitter cold and there are many reasons for that. While working at the tavern, I met men that come from all sorts of walks of life, and there was Jack, he was a sailing man, he actually worked on whaling ships. He would often come into the tavern on cold evens and he would tell the story, the story of Captain Webb. Captain Webb was a kindly captain, but he was a captain that was caught with a curiosity. He told of how Captain Webb loved to travel and visit and see new places. Although, he was the Captain of a whaling ship, he loved to go to places where others had not gone before. One day he decided to sail north and he sailed further north than he had sailed before. And he soon found himself, he and his men, surrounded by icebergs. Now I have never seen an iceberg, but I have heard they are as tall as a mountain and underneath the water, as long as the very whales they seek, and cold, a cold that would make the dead shiver. There was naught they could do but sit and wait. There was an old sailor, and there not be many of these, and he told stories about how the icebergs would surround a ship and crush it, crashing it in the water, making a watery grave for supplies and men together. Yeah, there was naught they could do except sit, wait…and pray. Jack was called to look out through the even, high above in the sails. Come morning, Captain Webb rose and his eyes were as red as if he had not slept a thousand years. And then Captain Webb heard Jack yell, “Open route, sir, open route for sea, sir.” Now Captain Webb called all hands on deck, the sails were raised and they made their way to the open route with great haste and they passed from the iceberg just as it closed. As the sailed to slightly warmer waters, the sun rose in the sky. When the sun rose straight above them, Captain Webb looked onto the horizon and thought he had seen a ship. But his eyes were bleary, and he called to Jack. “Do you see a ship, Jack?” “Yes, sir.” “Bring me the glass.” And Jack handed the Captain the spyglass and looking through the Captain did see a ship and it was in seemed in sore disrepair. He called for the ship to come close to the one on the horizon. As they came close they saw the ship was in great disrepair. The sails were tattered and in rags. The rigging was rusted and mildewed, torn and strewn about. The hull was worn and looked like it should have floated on the water. Then Captain Webb’s “cat ways” took the best of him and he called for Jack and some of the sailors to join him in the long boat, the very boat they use to chase and kill the whales, and they sailed to the other ship. They came abreast of the ship and Captain Webb stood and shouted the greeting, “Ahoy there.” There was no answer. “Ahoy there.” Again, nothing. “Ahoy there.” And they were greeted only with silence. Then Jack looked into the porthole and saw, “Sir, there’s someone sitting at a desk.” Captain Webb called for the longboat to come close and he, and the sailor climbed aboard. Then went below stairs and walked the corridor looking for the room of the porthole. When they found it, Captain Webb saw the main, he put out his hand to shake and…….. …he stopped. The man before him was covered with a dark, green mold. A slickness covered the mold dripping ever so lightly. The man’s was holding a pen and his hand was raised. His flesh hung in tatters off the arm. The men backed out of the room in fear, but the Captain could not resist but to read the man’s last words. There is no more food. There is no more warmth. The iceberg still hems us in. We have no…. And with the pen raised the hope of the man froze. “Captain, Captain”, yelled his sailors, and the Captain picked up the log book and went into the hall. The sailors stood in front of room. Captain Webb looked and there he saw a beautiful woman. A woman, sleeping. A woman, pale and at peace, looking as if she only wanted a man to ask for her hand to dance. And as the Captain bent over her to smile….he saw that the only dance she would ever have would be the dance of the dead. Then over in the corner, they saw a young man with flint and steel in hand. The young man looked as if he was striking for warmth, but…the…ice…stopped…him…. Captain and sailors, along with Jack backed out of the room, and as they did they saw appearing before them more and more bodies. All of the covered with the same green mold. All of them with the slick slime of puss. All of them with same scent of death. And then they heard it – grinding, crashing, moving – the iceberg. The Captain and the sailors ran above deck towards the long boat, and all climbed in, but Jack was last. And Jack said that he turned a moment, and when he did he looked under the gang plank and he could see…..the cabin boy. The cabin boy sat with knees to chin and arms around knees and Jack swore, yes, he swore, he could feel the cabin boy….shiver…in death! “Jack, come aboard.” And the grinding came again and they looked as the iceberg came closer and faster. Jack hopped into the longboat and they rowed quickly back to their ship, watching as the iceberg surrounded the one in disrepair. But the iceberg did not take the ship, surround it and crash it into the ocean….no, it seemed to surround the ship and hold onto it like was a treasure to be possessed. When the crew had returned to England’s shores, Captain Webb took the log book and searched for answers. And he found it. That ship has sailed some 15 years before into cold waters and had never been heard of again. And Jack would say, if you were near our waters and they were bitterly cold – if you looked toward the horizon you could see a ship – filled with the meat of flesh. And Jack would say, yes, he would even swear, that if you looked close enough you could even see the….shiver….of the cabin boy. Written September 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Scary Tales
So tonight I will be doing Scary Tales at Crowne Plaza, Williamsburg, VA, 8:30 - 9:30 pm. This is a program done as a trade. Quick sidenote for business: Sometimes trade is good. You and whom you trade with get exposure from audiences you may not regularly meet. Meeting an new audience has great marketing potential. Trade also means saving money for both sides. Make sure your trade has a real market value. For instance, I am trading the cost of the meeting room for the cost of my performance. They actually get the better deal, however, keeping extra money in my pocket is great as well.
Telling Scary Stories is not my thing. I don't really like doing it and it doesn't feel comfortable to me. I get too carried away trying to make the "effect" of the story happen, rather than telling the story. This is actually a crazy thought, since I really don't like movies that focus more on the "effects" and "gore" than on the substance of the story, which, if done well, makes you think it "could" happen.
Tonight I'll be telling "Little Johnny Eight" (see Virginia Hamiliton's "And the People Could Fly"), "The Potato Story, or Voices in the Graveyard (see Zora Neale Hurston's "Mules and Men"), "Mr. Fox" (I have forgotten who wrote that, but I think it's Grimms) and "The Charnel Ship" (which I learned years ago at Colonial Williamsburg and although it was approved for telling, I still can't find documentation of it being told in the 18th-century.)
What are your favorite scary stories to tell? and to hear?
Telling Scary Stories is not my thing. I don't really like doing it and it doesn't feel comfortable to me. I get too carried away trying to make the "effect" of the story happen, rather than telling the story. This is actually a crazy thought, since I really don't like movies that focus more on the "effects" and "gore" than on the substance of the story, which, if done well, makes you think it "could" happen.
Tonight I'll be telling "Little Johnny Eight" (see Virginia Hamiliton's "And the People Could Fly"), "The Potato Story, or Voices in the Graveyard (see Zora Neale Hurston's "Mules and Men"), "Mr. Fox" (I have forgotten who wrote that, but I think it's Grimms) and "The Charnel Ship" (which I learned years ago at Colonial Williamsburg and although it was approved for telling, I still can't find documentation of it being told in the 18th-century.)
What are your favorite scary stories to tell? and to hear?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Ol' Bess
Tonight I do another performance of "Ol' Bess Speaks at a Gathering" for a Worldstrides, Inc. student group. It is my most popular program for the incoming school groups and I love being Ol' Bess. She is still the most requested of all the Persons of the Past that I portry. But who is Ol' Bess and where did she come from?
In 1999, while working at Colonial Williamsburg, I was asked by Diane Elliott (oh, how I miss her) to be a part of a new program, "Dueling: Point of Honor." It was to be a program with three 20-minute sections, ending with a Duel at the end. I was to be section one to portray Ol' Bess (a fictional slave that worked at the Raleigh Tavern, where our program took place) who relates the documented tale of a couple of men who blustered about having a duel but their times were crossed so it never happened. I was excited about the role, but couldn't quite wrap my head around how to present it. Diane Elliott, a great Director, gave me specific instructions, while helped make Ol' Bess very real.
Well, I must have been good. People fell in love with Ol' Bess. Soon people began to stay after my presentation time and ask Ol' Bess questions about her family. "Do you have a husband?" Because I was in costume and character I couldn't say, "Hey, this is a made up person.", so I said, "Yes." Then "What's his name?" "Caesar." And so my husband was born. People seem satisfied. Later people asked if Ol' Bess had children. So I made up children. I was alredy using the name "Julius" as a son in another program, because that was the way I included my son. I had told him whenever I refer to "Julius" that is really you. So Ol'Bess had a Julius (who always ages at the same rate as my real son, Kriss) and other children. Then people began to come back to the Raleigh Tavern in the day and ask our Mr. Southall about Ol' Bess. Aw, comes the confusion!
That was when it became advantageous to learn about the real slaves that were in the Raleigh Tavern. So, Ol' Bess incorporated some of their lives into her stories. Once the program ended, I started using the Ol' Bess moniker in my Storytelling performances with "Legends."
When I started my own business, Ol' Bess came along with me, because the "Dueling" program had become defunk and because she had grown to be a part of me. I have learned far more about taverns, about the lives of slaves and indentured servants, and about the Revolutionary War since that time in 1999 and it all comes into play.
So where is Ol' Bess in life now? Well, she's about 50 years old (5 years older than my real age); married to Caesar, the gardener for Master Wythe; has 4 living children - Julius, 24 (who has run off to fight with Dunmore), Roma, 21 (who is married to Paul who is at Carter's Grove and watches Mistress Southall's children), Nera, 20 (who was most recently sold at the Raleigh Tavern auction to a man in Fredericksburg) and Mary, 10 - 14 (her age changes dependent on the the audience I have). Finally, I have the daughter who died, between Nera and Mary - her naem was Claudia and she lived 3 days and is buried on the floor of the Raleigh Tavern Kitchen (no, not for real).
So when you see Ol' Bess know that she is a wise woman, with great dignity, who has accepted her role as a slave as she is called, but is not enslaved in her mind. Peace.
In 1999, while working at Colonial Williamsburg, I was asked by Diane Elliott (oh, how I miss her) to be a part of a new program, "Dueling: Point of Honor." It was to be a program with three 20-minute sections, ending with a Duel at the end. I was to be section one to portray Ol' Bess (a fictional slave that worked at the Raleigh Tavern, where our program took place) who relates the documented tale of a couple of men who blustered about having a duel but their times were crossed so it never happened. I was excited about the role, but couldn't quite wrap my head around how to present it. Diane Elliott, a great Director, gave me specific instructions, while helped make Ol' Bess very real.
Well, I must have been good. People fell in love with Ol' Bess. Soon people began to stay after my presentation time and ask Ol' Bess questions about her family. "Do you have a husband?" Because I was in costume and character I couldn't say, "Hey, this is a made up person.", so I said, "Yes." Then "What's his name?" "Caesar." And so my husband was born. People seem satisfied. Later people asked if Ol' Bess had children. So I made up children. I was alredy using the name "Julius" as a son in another program, because that was the way I included my son. I had told him whenever I refer to "Julius" that is really you. So Ol'Bess had a Julius (who always ages at the same rate as my real son, Kriss) and other children. Then people began to come back to the Raleigh Tavern in the day and ask our Mr. Southall about Ol' Bess. Aw, comes the confusion!
That was when it became advantageous to learn about the real slaves that were in the Raleigh Tavern. So, Ol' Bess incorporated some of their lives into her stories. Once the program ended, I started using the Ol' Bess moniker in my Storytelling performances with "Legends."
When I started my own business, Ol' Bess came along with me, because the "Dueling" program had become defunk and because she had grown to be a part of me. I have learned far more about taverns, about the lives of slaves and indentured servants, and about the Revolutionary War since that time in 1999 and it all comes into play.
So where is Ol' Bess in life now? Well, she's about 50 years old (5 years older than my real age); married to Caesar, the gardener for Master Wythe; has 4 living children - Julius, 24 (who has run off to fight with Dunmore), Roma, 21 (who is married to Paul who is at Carter's Grove and watches Mistress Southall's children), Nera, 20 (who was most recently sold at the Raleigh Tavern auction to a man in Fredericksburg) and Mary, 10 - 14 (her age changes dependent on the the audience I have). Finally, I have the daughter who died, between Nera and Mary - her naem was Claudia and she lived 3 days and is buried on the floor of the Raleigh Tavern Kitchen (no, not for real).
So when you see Ol' Bess know that she is a wise woman, with great dignity, who has accepted her role as a slave as she is called, but is not enslaved in her mind. Peace.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Elaina's Birthday Dance - How it Came to Be
I received the evaluations from the Moonshell Storytelling Festival 2010. The feedback was very positive for my performances and I'm thrilled to see what worked, and deduce what I can improve on. Many people liked the story, "Elaina's Birthday Dance" and the way it was presented. Here are the comments:
Sheila's story of Elaina Dancing - Sheila's actions
Elana – Because Sheila incorporated music and dance
Dancing Elena – fun and poignant
Dancing Elena – very much part of life
Elaina’s birthday party – Shows mother’s love and girl’s dream
Elena – Sheila Arnold – Song and Dance and Story!!
Little girl who danced – because it was fun and had a lot of expression
This story is also on my CD, "Hands Wide Open", and I have surprised and delighted about how many adults have spoken so highly of this story, along with kids. I think the comment above, "shows mother's love and girl's dream" is a common thread I have heard from people.
This is an original story and I'd like to share how it came to be. I was performing in the public schools of Zuni, New Mexico. My contact person had planned an evening program for parents where I would speak about storytelling. She had a large cake, soft drinks, cookies, the works and only 2 parents and 5 kids came. I never worry about turnout because I truly believe that God has those come who need to be there, and my job is to serve and love them. The parents, contact person and I sat and I shared a story or two, but then we talked about how they could share stories with their kids. One of the parents asked me how she could make up a story for her child. I said, "well, you can start with her name. What's her name?" "Elaina." "What does she like to do?" "Dance." "Well, you could start with something about Elaina loving to dance and..." - And the Story JUST CAME! I gave that story to the Mom to share with her daughter, having noted that the daughter was entranced.
I didn't present that story for almost 2 years. Then as I was preparing stories to tell at Chrysler Museum (Norfolk, VA) "Tickle My Ear" Pre-School Storytelling Series, I realized I needed another story with the theme, and "Elaina's Birthday Dance" came to mind. I knew this was a longer story for the little ones, but I thought I'd give it a try. I was stunned to see the little ones, and their parents, completely entranced. The children didn't move. So, the story became a staple - with many changes, additions and deletions to make it a stronger story and presentation along the way.
Now, it's your turn. Take the name and description of a person, combine it with something they like (or maybe don't like) and see what fictional story you can come up with. I hope you'll share it with me, sheilaarnold39@aol.com. Peace and belief,
Sheila's story of Elaina Dancing - Sheila's actions
Elana – Because Sheila incorporated music and dance
Dancing Elena – fun and poignant
Dancing Elena – very much part of life
Elaina’s birthday party – Shows mother’s love and girl’s dream
Elena – Sheila Arnold – Song and Dance and Story!!
Little girl who danced – because it was fun and had a lot of expression
This story is also on my CD, "Hands Wide Open", and I have surprised and delighted about how many adults have spoken so highly of this story, along with kids. I think the comment above, "shows mother's love and girl's dream" is a common thread I have heard from people.
This is an original story and I'd like to share how it came to be. I was performing in the public schools of Zuni, New Mexico. My contact person had planned an evening program for parents where I would speak about storytelling. She had a large cake, soft drinks, cookies, the works and only 2 parents and 5 kids came. I never worry about turnout because I truly believe that God has those come who need to be there, and my job is to serve and love them. The parents, contact person and I sat and I shared a story or two, but then we talked about how they could share stories with their kids. One of the parents asked me how she could make up a story for her child. I said, "well, you can start with her name. What's her name?" "Elaina." "What does she like to do?" "Dance." "Well, you could start with something about Elaina loving to dance and..." - And the Story JUST CAME! I gave that story to the Mom to share with her daughter, having noted that the daughter was entranced.
I didn't present that story for almost 2 years. Then as I was preparing stories to tell at Chrysler Museum (Norfolk, VA) "Tickle My Ear" Pre-School Storytelling Series, I realized I needed another story with the theme, and "Elaina's Birthday Dance" came to mind. I knew this was a longer story for the little ones, but I thought I'd give it a try. I was stunned to see the little ones, and their parents, completely entranced. The children didn't move. So, the story became a staple - with many changes, additions and deletions to make it a stronger story and presentation along the way.
Now, it's your turn. Take the name and description of a person, combine it with something they like (or maybe don't like) and see what fictional story you can come up with. I hope you'll share it with me, sheilaarnold39@aol.com. Peace and belief,
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Colonial Williamsburg Storytelling Festival 2010
Today is the Colonial Williamsburg Storytelling Festival. Actually it started last night with Dovie Thompson. She's amazing and so incredibly kind and sweet. Today we have an afternoon program which includes her, Donald Davis, Shel Browder (?) and Megan Hicks. Looking forward to meeting Megan. Then in the evening is Donald Davis - I think by himself - we'll see.
This morning the Williamsburg Storytelling Collaborative is having a Storytelling Concert at the Kimball Theatre. Myself, Sharon Rogers, Anthony Boucher and Gillian Dawson are performing. It should be fun. The money raised this morning will go to National Storytelling Network. This is a wonderful organization which has the focus to help preserve and disseminate the art of storytelling. Check out the website. Well, I have to go and press my caftan - yes, another one. :)
This morning the Williamsburg Storytelling Collaborative is having a Storytelling Concert at the Kimball Theatre. Myself, Sharon Rogers, Anthony Boucher and Gillian Dawson are performing. It should be fun. The money raised this morning will go to National Storytelling Network. This is a wonderful organization which has the focus to help preserve and disseminate the art of storytelling. Check out the website. Well, I have to go and press my caftan - yes, another one. :)
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