About Your Host:
Born in Lenoir City at the foothills of the "Smokeys", this East Tennessee girl has traveled far and wide, having married a former engineer - thus becoming a gypsy of sorts--from South Carolina to Jonesborough to Oklahoma to Texas and finally back home. During that time Susan hooked up with guilds and even got a masters in storytelling and reading from East Tennessee State University to hone her skills for telling. She has performed in many a Tellabration, school, church, library, 'Skyline Screamers', nature preserve, zoo, business, liar's contest, Celtic tellings, and local festivals. Glad to be finally home, she uses storytelling to teach everything from reading to math and everything in-between. To pass on the love, Susan has taught students to tell and has had storytelling troupes of students. Susan has hosted and emceed previously with the Houston Guild.

Stories with Music

Hosted by Michael Reno Harrell

About Your Host:
Michael Reno Harrell has been performing full time as a singer/songwriter and storyteller for the past 12 years. In 2004 he recorded a live 2 CD set “Grit & Wit”, featuring his stories. In 2005 the Cleveland County Community College in Shelby, NC asked Michael to perform his songs and stories for their sociology department. This event was video taped and is now on a DVD called “Hey Y’all."

Michael has performed at the Toe River Storytelling Festival, sharing the stage with David Holt for part of his performance. He is honored to have been invited to be a “New Voices” Featured Teller at the 2008 National Storytelling Festival. Although this is Michael's debut as a story swap host, he has been a part of many songwriters’ rounds that include stories with the songs. He has also hosted/taught many songwriter seminars.

Folk and Fairy Tales

Andrew Lang compared these stories to stones that have been rounded in the telling. Come share a timeless look at many cultures.

Note: Stories must be able to be freely retold by others - no copyright restrictions.

Hosted by Lois Sprengnether Keel

About Your Host:
After roughly 35 years combining storytelling with librarianship, Lois Sprengnether Keel is now a full-time storyteller, but shows her joint roots in fostering folklore in tall tales, ghost stories and scary stories, folk and fairy tales. When it comes to tall tales, she not only has original lies, er tall tales, but has also sponsored annual contests for children &, eventually, adults (who seem to be a bit slower to recognize the concept!). Lois has hosted past swaps many times, including at the Chicago & Pittsburgh NSN national conferences.

Storytell Swap

The Storytell Listserv has cyber-tellers from around the world asking questions, giving advice and...telling stories. Come on over the Storytell Swap to meet and share stories...in the flesh!! Everyone is welcome.

Hosted by Marilyn Kinsella

About Your Host:
From the bluffs of the Mississippi, Marilyn Kinsella tells her tales as Taleypo the Storyteller. Come sit by her fire. You never know...maybe Coyote or Anansi will drop by for a visit. Marilyn is a Puppeteer, Workshop Leader, and Writer. She has served on the Northlands Board - Executive track; St. Louis Storytelling Festival Committee; and Riverwind board. Marilyn co-hosted a swap at the NSN National Conference in 2003.

A Walk in Other People's Shoes

Tellers are invited to share stories that give the teller and listeners the chance to see life situations from someone else's point of view, perhaps to
make connections with those whose background may be different from our own.

Hosted by Millie Sieber

About Your Host:
A storyteller since 1986, Millie Sieber grew up on the stories told by her dad, her aunts, and her uncles. Today she delights listeners of all ages with tales from Tennessee and around the world--Tales from History-Humor, Struggle, and Insight; HEroes, SHEroes, and Peacebuilders; Personal and Family stories.

Sieber also offers workshops for teachers, students, parents, Care Givers and others on topics such as "Making Stories Come Alive;" "Storytelling: A Terrific Teaching Tool;" "Teaching Children to Tell Stories;" and "Oral History:Mining the Treasure,Sharing the Gold."

For the past three years Millie has hosted or co-hosted Storytelling Swaps for the Smoky Mountain Storytelling Festival in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Lightning Round Swap

Do you have short stories? Here’s your chance to sharpen them up. We’ll continue last year’s tradition and award the Susan B Anthony Dollar to the teller with the shortest time

Hosted by Rivka Willick

About Your Host:
Rivka Willick is NJ NSN Liaison and chair of the 2008 NJ Storytelling Festival, and Story Chair of the Folk Project. This summer she will perform at the Orlando Fringe Festival and the Capitol Fringe in LABOR DAZE, stories about birth from around the world and through the centuries. July 4th look for Rivka at The Morven as MC and featured teller in celebration of that brief moment when Princeton, NJ was the US Capitol. In April Rivka facilitated two workshops at VASA, Virginia Gathering. She is also an active member of The Story Weavers, who perform throughout NJ. Look for her new CD, "Show and Tell" this spring.

Rivka hosted the “3 minutes or less” swap last year. Many folks have mentioned that they intend to return and win the coveted Susan B. Anthony silver dollar. Eric Wolf is returning to defend his title. The great thing about the swap last year is everyone interacted and got close. And tellers got a chance to do several stories with 5 or 6 rounds. New participants are very welcome!