The Storytellers

The Storytellers Grace Sammon

My earliest childhood memories are of bedtime stories from “the big red book.” I can tell you with certainty that the book was huge, and heavy, and well-worn by the brothers that preceded me. I vividly remember my two year-old self almost tumbling down the stairs carrying this immense and weighty tome in anticipation of whatever story would unfold. The book was The Illustrated Treasury of Children’s Literature, five hundred and twelve pages of enchantment, wrapped in a book that, in truth, only measures 10” x 7” x 2” and weighs just over a pound.

I know because it sits on my bookshelf as I write this with all the poems, fables of Aesop, and the stories of “Aladdin,” “The Jungle Book,” and hundreds more waiting for me all in one place There was something magical about not only the story, but the power of the storytelling that I understood even as a child. I was aware that these were not the works of a single hand. The stories and poems had different nuances and rhythms, reflected different times, voices, and cultures. For better or worse, within the limitations of their times, the pages of that book opened my world to people different than me. “The Little Match Girl” exposed me to poverty. “Little Black Sambo” – who I thought very brave to engage with that tiger – was the first Black face I saw. “Amahl and the Night Visitor” showed me a handicapped boy.

These stories opened my world in a way life experiences did not. Unbeknownst to me, as I sat in the big red chair, snuggled close to my father reading from this magical book, seeds were being sown in this young storyteller.

In each of my jobs I have been the writer on staff. That was not my designation, but it emerged to be true that I was looked upon to write the brochures or newsletters, or design content. The Eves is my fourth book. My others are in the field of education. It was with the writing of my first book and a trip to New Mexico to work in a Bureau of Indian Affairs school in Wingate, however, that really laid the stage for the work I do today. On a quick dash into the Old Town Albuquerque plaza, I saw it. A small, very “storyteller” sculpture. This $5.00 figure of what appeared to be a woman with children climbing on her spoke to me and said, “You must write the stories.” To this day, she is one of my prize possessions. The storyteller figure originated in the Native American Cochiti tribe with a potter named Helen Cordero. Many other tribes have chosen to also make storytellers, as oral history is so much a part of the Native American culture. Lore has it that because Cordero wasn’t very good at making pots, she started making figures of her grandfather, the storyteller in her family. Her figures are amazing and feature her grandfather, long braid down his back, his mouth open, mid-story. There are always children climbing on the figure, engaged, excited, scared, agog. That is the feeling I wanted to capture in The Eves that the story not only engages us, but changes us. This author life is an interesting one, at least to me.

Even in a time of pandemic it opens doors, solidifies friendships and, of course, provides the foundation for new stories. Today’s author markets, creates mailing lists, and blogs, and writes newsletters, and podcasts, and posts, and then wakes up the next day and does it all again. Eighteen months ago, I had no social media presence, no “friends,” and thought this virtual world was a rather silly place. I still don’t have a mailing list or newsletter. Today, I have true friends and have learned an immense amount through the kindness of strangers. Last May I was interviewed by Dr. Gayle Carson, owner of the Spunky Old Broad Radio Network - a station and a woman very much about legacy. Gayle passed away in August but not before offering me my own radio show to share more stories. It was meant to be, but like most of my professional life, wholly unplanned. What emerged was my show, The Storytellers – dedicated to authors and others who leave their mark on the world through the art of story. I interview authors, reporters, photographers, and song writers who, for whatever the reason, have to tell stories. We air an episode weekly that runs in 145 countries and then lives on as a podcast. I try to bring the stories that will, like “the big read book” bring a series of voices, cultures, and experiences to listeners. As you know, there are many of us out here. Bloggers and podcasters and radio hosts that want to share the art of story. There are many people for me to continue to learn from, enjoy their blogs and their posts, and their amazing podcasts. We are all storytellers.

The stories matter, because, as I say in the tag line to The Eves, “when our stories are told, everything changes.” I invite you to listen to The Storyteller episodes on my website www.gracesammon.net and perhaps, tell your own.