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Well, StoryFUSION is officially over and it was a BIG SMASHING success.   You weren't there.  At least, I didn't see you.  I just want to let you know that you can't miss this again.  Never again.  You MUST be there next year.  It was amazing.   And it WILL be amazing next year, too.

But suddenly, I feel like I have NOT read enough middle grade fiction.  The Kutztown University Children's Literature Conference is only 3 weeks away.  I will have to visit three libraries in quick succession starting tomorrow and gather together as many amazing middle grade books as I possibly can.  I haven't read Young Fredle by Cynthia Voight, nor have I finished Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce.

So, panic set in.  It set in as the Master Class that Elizabeth Ellis offered this afternoon was drawing to a close.  All those unread middle grade books crept into my mind and taunted me.  It's fortunate that there are reviewers like Betsy Bird and Kate Coombs out there to keep me on topic.

More on all this tomorrow when we find out who wins the Battle of the Kids Books.  My eyes and fingers are crossed.  I will probably faint from holding my breath.  This Battle has been a more exciting than being a wing walker. 

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With StoryFUSION just around the corner - met up with Susan Petrole at NCC today to talk workshop plans.  So much fun! - ANYWAY, with this festival of storytelling awesomeness speeding towards us, it only makes sense that Her Own Self, Elizabeth Ellis, be the featured teller on Storytelling Thursday.  Even if I have featured her before - have I? - she deserves more exposure and recognition.

You can read all about her storytelling activities at her website.  Go to this page on the StoryFUSION site to listen to a story and interview.

Elizabeth is a fount of storytelling wisdom.  Her down home, laid back telling style is deceptively simple.  She uses her voice in powerful ways and her performances NEED to be experienced.

Zeus Radio interviewed Elizabeth last Fall.  Listen to that interview here.

A librarian, a mother, an author, a professor, and the member of a family with stories galore - all these roles inform Elizabeth's telling.  All of the hats she wears make her stories relevant, funny, touching and perceptive.

There are still tickets available for her Keynote address on HOPE: Storytelling in Financial Hard Times on Friday evening, March 30th AND for her Storytelling Performance on March 31st.

Elizabeth's workshop for teachers, librarians and performers on Saturday March 31st also has a few spaces left.  Please click here to register for any or all of these events.

These events and more take place at Northampton Community College - at StoryFUSION - in Bethlehem, PA.

I hope to see you there.

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Readergirlz and Figment are planning a Rock the Drop event on April 12, 2012.  It works like this.  Get a book.  Put the bookplate, below, in the book.  Drop the book somewhere that someone might find it.  It's like International Book Giving Day but more subversive.

So do it.  Easy enough to share a good read with an unknown "friend".

Battle of the Books:  Daughter of Smoke and Bone won its first round - as I predicted.  I am buffing my chipped nails on my lapel as you read this.  Don't forget to read the commentaries after Sara Zarr's thoughtful judging. 
One of the comments to BoB's post mentioned the artwork for today.  I like the little bomb shelter sign that Dead End in Norvelt so ineffectively uses as a shield.  Thanks to RB for drawing attention to these graphics.  So read EVERYTHING on the Battle's page; the decision, the commentaries and the comments.  All fun, all worthwhile.

Monday's match.  Hmmm.  I haven't read The Grand Plan to Fix Everything.   It's hard to imagine that it is better than Allen Say's Drawing from Memory.  So I'm going with Drawing as Monday's winner.  HOWEVER, I might change my mind.

So what happens next?  Come on March 31st to see!

I still have two passes to the Elizabeth Ellis performance on March 31st at Northampton Community College.  Listen to the interview and story at the link above.  Honestly, she is so good we should charge TWICE as much as we are charging.  Try something new. 

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It's Whatever Wednesday here and I have so much on my mind that if I did not control my flailing fingers - Wow!  Be grateful for my reticence.

 I uploaded a story fragment on Scribd.  Take a look and let me know what you think.  There is a story behind the names in this story.    Someday, I might share the story-behind.

And now to the main event!

  I have a giveaway.  TWO FREE PASSES to StoryFUSION's  Saturday Evening Elizabeth Ellis performance on March 31st at Northampton Community College's Lipkin Theater.  This is an awesome giveaway made possible by the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild.

Here is how you enter.  Comment on this blog.  Add your town and state.  For example, if your user name is watergirl and you live in Cranston Ohio, just put that in.  I am guessing that local people are more likely to enter.

You have until next Wednesday, March 14th,  to enter.   I will put all the entries into the Chobani Cup of Oracleness; pull out the winner; and announce that winner here on Thursday, March 13th, as part of Storytelling Thursday.  You will then email me at an address to be disclosed at that time and tell me where to send the passes.

You get another entry if you share this post on your Facebook page and come back and comment SHARED here.  Thanks so much.  StoryFUSION is - I need a new word that indicates an level of excellence that is rarely achieved by local arts festivals - artawesome? Fantasabulous?  Tale-errific?  Help me out here.

Get yet another entry if your comment includes a new word that describes a truly excellent art festival experience.

That's THREE possible entries for each of you.  Put on those thinking caps.  Share this post with everyone and get them to comment, too.

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Storytelling Thursday, here!

StoryFUSION!!  STORY - fusion.  A fusion of all the ways story can be told.  Well, maybe not all the ways. But a whole SLEW of ways.  The whole thing happens at Northampton Community College, one of my alma maters.  And it happens from March 29th through April 1st, 2012.  That's THIS month.  Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild is a MAJOR contributor to this event - as in we make it happen.

So I promised you I'd give you the low-down on this event.  But there is really too much to tell.  Here's a link to the schedule.  

Elizabeth Ellis is the featured teller.  She is intelligent and mesmerizing as a performer.  She sweeps people up into her stories.  She is a fantastic educator.  I <3 Elizabeth Ellis - could you tell?

So many other people are involved.  The workshops alone are amazing - and that's NOT just because I am co-leading one of them.  Here is a nice description of all the workshops.

The student performances promise to be wonderful.  I saw a minute or two of the multi-media project. I am in love! 

So here is YOUR cost analysis (smirk) of this event:

Free events:
Thursday afternoon and evening - all FREE! 
Friday's "Dear Mr. Lincoln" Reader's Theater event at 10 am and 1 pm - FREE (10 am is pretty full, though.)
Saturday afternoon - Film shorts, Story Jam - Free but donations are gratefully accepted.
Sunday - Sacred Stories - Free

Admission events:
Friday night - Keynote Address - $10
Saturday workshops - $35 each
Meals -$12 for lunch and $18 for dinner.  Nice menus, I promise!
Saturday afternoon Children's show - $5!  A bargain!
Saturday evening performance - $10
Sunday afternoon:  Elizabeth Ellis workshop for performers - $50

Pick THIS to save money:
ALL FESTIVAL PASS  - $60
This includes all performances on Friday and Saturday, 1 workshop and both meals.  This does NOT include Sunday afternoon' workshop.

Register HERE.

Comment if you want to sign up for a Thursday workshop.  Since there is no cost, there is no online way to register in advance.

See you there.

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