Flying Forward with the Premiere Logo

So far most things are coming along for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere, but I still do not have a logo for it.

I did not even have anyone lined up to create it. . .until today.

Wendy Gourley, a storytelling friend, recommended Dawn Bloxham to create my logo. Dawn was the same lady who developed the "Mockingbird Fly" posters and fliers for Wendy. I liked them because they were crisp, clean, and professional.



Wendy gave her telephone number and so the journey started.

I explained my project and how it was connected to "My Finest Hour" assigned by Elizabeth Ellis through the Advanced Storytelling class of the East Tennessee State University Storytelling Masters program.

Then I asked if there was a student rate.

She said her usual rate was $75.00/hour, though she could give me a student rate of $50.00/hour. She expected the project to take from 3-4 hours as I requested her to create the posters and postcards.

At the end of the logo creation process, she would supply the files with the original artwork and layered so I could adjust any images for other needs such as a program or to tweak the poster for touring as by then it would no longer be called "premiere".

She promised that she would would send some concept ideas as long as I gave her required information for the poster and postcard as well as any other information that would be useful.

I am anxious to see what develops. How about you?

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Julie Barnson: Buddy for "Forsaken Brother"

Three stories are part of the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" and I wanted a different buddy per story.

I scheduled every Tuesday from 1o:00am to Noon to be "Forsaken Brother" Day with story buddy Julie Barnson. (Yet this time went to almost 1:00pm.)

As was done with story buddy Holly Robison for "The Gardener's Wife", Julie read the "Forsaken Brother" story aloud. Again, this allowed me to reflect on the images in the story so that our session would be more productive.

We came up with questions that may or may not be answered during the actual performance. If I am familiar with these questions and have answers, then it is enough to come across in the telling.

I brought my whiteboard and here were some results:

• What is it like for the sister to run the household, which is usually thought of as the mother's role?
• Why is the lodge so far away? Symbolic reasons? Farther from water? Illness to to keep away from the village, especially as the father and mother eventually die?
• Was the illness due to the Europeans/White Man settling in the area with such things as cholera or tuberculosis?
• What kind of illness does the youngest brother have as he was not completely helpless to go after food in the middle of the woods during winter? Polio? Small pox? (Leaves some people crippled but not helpless)
• What is the Ojibwa perception of werewolves, as this does come up in Native American lore? What of the transformation from human to animal how is it perceived?
• Why was the sister not there when the transformation of the youngest brother occurred?
• Why do I love to have the brother's eyes remind the sister of the father's eyes? Is it because it represents family and when she no longer sees anything, she is wanting a family of her own?
• Is leaving the lodge to search for her brother an excuse to leave the sickly brother?
• What personal stories do I have that reflect promises broken? Transformation among my brother or sister?

The image below is the original outline for "Forsaken Brother":





















This is only the beginning of a wondrous journey for "Forsaken Brother". Feel free to follow the process.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

On the Web Officially: Covey Center for the Arts

The Grand Theater was reserved two weeks ago, though description for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere went up today on the Covey Center for the Arts website.


At first I was promised the information would be posted by Wednesday, November 26th but I did not send the description until that day so it was understandable that it was not up until December 1st.

Instead of saying "I have the Covey Center for the Arts", I can say "Go to the Covey Center for the Arts site"!

People are able to reserve their seats online as well as by telephone and at the ticket booth.

This is what I submitted and can be found on Covey Center for the Arts website:

"I'd rather do this than watch 'American Idol'. I laughed, I cried, it moved me!"
--Amanda, Teenager from UT

"Spellbinding for everyone attending."
--Marilyn R. Lawrence, Davis County, UT


Join the world premiere narrative production recorded live starring professional storyteller Rachel Hedman, guest emcee/national storyteller Elizabeth Ellis as well as singer Holly Robison and accompanist/guitarist Joshua Payne.

Family life can starve when fed abuse and abandonment with stories that gnaw at the stomach. Then Rachel shares the feast of patience, humor and unconditional love through multicultural tales mixed with song and personal reflection. You are welcome to the table.

Minimum age: 8.

Light refreshments to follow.

You may follow the story development journey at the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" blog at http://familyfamine.blogspot.com and join the support group on Facebook.

DVDs of the live show can be pre-ordered at a special rate of $15.00 (Normal $20.00). Contact Rachel Hedman at info@rachelhedman.com for more details.


About Rachel Hedman: As a recipient of the J.J. Reneaux Mentorship Grant given to one person a year on a national level, she has tapped into the techniques as taught by national storyteller Don Doyle while exploring her own style through sharing stories of family relationships within the lives of historical, mythical, and personal heroes. She pursues her Storytelling Masters from East Tennessee State University, though her involvment in the art started in 1994 as a sophomore high school student and on to her founding of the still active BYU Storytelling Club in 1997. Discover more at her website (www.rachelhedman.com), Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or the Professional Storyteller social network site.


Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Road Trip for a Book: The Storyteller's Sourcebook

I explore several libraries with my most regular stops with the Salt Lake County Libraries and the Davis County Libraries.

Living in Layton, the Central Branch of Davis County is the closest one to me at about 10 minutes from my home whereas I tend to find the best selection at the Whitmore Branch of the Salt Lake County Library system after a 45-minute drive.

I assumed that the Central Branch would have a copy of the coveted book "The Storyteller's Sourcebook: A Subject, Title, and Motif Index to Folklore Collections for Children 1983-1999" edited by Margaret Read MacDonald and Brian W. Sturm.

There were some pages I needed to continue my research on possible opening stories for my premiere. I aimed for the Reference Juvenile Literature section as that was where I found it at the Weber County Library on November 19th. It was not there. I checked the computer to be sure. There was not a copy at any of the seven branches of the Davis County Library system!

I glanced at my watch. It was 5:35pm. The Weber County Library closed at 6:00pm on Saturdays.

I ran to my car and drove as fast as I could knowing it would take from 20-25 minutes to drive depending on traffic.

I forgot about the Christmas parade.

The road that headed east and usually taken to the library was closed due to the parade.

I headed more north, looking to east at every intersection to see if this part of the street was open. No luck. I wondered aloud, "How long is this parade?!"

By this time it was 5:53pm.

Finally, I saw where the parade ended and zoomed until I saw the blessed building: Weber County Library.

I did not care that I parked crooked. I was here. I bolted for the doors. I knew exactly where this book was and grabbed it from the shelf.

Then the copier had to be. . .temperamental (to put it nicely).

After a few battles and asking for a librarian's help, I made the copies of the pages in the book that listed all the motif codes in connection to family and folklore.

If you read a previous post, you may wonder I did not make copies of these pages as the book was in my hands on November 19th. My response would be "Why do we do or not do things?" Sometimes there is not a clear answer.

Yet I had the copies now and felt more prepared to find the opening story for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Holly Robison: Buddy for "The Gardener's Wife"

With so much time dedicated to the marketing of "Family Famine: Hunger for Love", I had to focus on story development.

As simple as blocking the time on my planner, I scheduled every Friday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm to be "The Gardener's Wife" Day with story buddy Holly Robison. (Yet this time was to almost 4:00pm.)

As there are one or two songs I would like her to sing duet in this story, then it made sense to choose her. The other fact is that she is fun and inspirational.

For perspective on the story, I asked Holly to read the version in "Latin American Folktales: stories from Hispanic and Indian traditions" edited by John Bierhorst and published by Pantheon Books. The way Holly would interpret what was happening through her tone of voice or pauses was enough for me to dwell in the story and create images in my mind.

Afterward the reading, Holly asked me questions. For some I did not have answers but they were great to consider.

Out came the whiteboard and here were some of the results:

• Does the Garden reflect the barrenness of the Gardner's Wife?
• With the image of the squash at the end, how can that image be threaded throughout?
• What are the meanings behind the symbols of the bird that speaks, the orange tree that dances, and the water that jumps and leaps?
• What if everything seemed to blossom around the Gardner's Wife except for having children?
• Would the Gardener's Wife have a favorite plant or tree? Would it be referred to in the story?
• What importance, if any, is there for the titles to be Gardener and the Gardener's Wife versus Farmer and the Farmer's Wife? Has this any Colombian connection? Does this mean that the Gardener and his Wife live within the palace?
• What draws the Queen to the garden? Was there a rumor that the King overhears and shares with her?
• Why would the King need a night patrol to overhear conversations? What kind of unrest is in the kingdom? What problems does the King fear that people may talk about?
• When reviewing the Hero's Journey (Joseph Campbell), is the threshold when the Girl goes up the mountain and then down to the plain?
• What is the Gardener's Wife response when each of her Adopted Children go on the quest?
• Why does the Queen not sense the presence of her own Children when with the Gardener's Wife? Or does she?

Finally, a rough outline of the story was drawn as I wanted the Gardener's Wife to be the focus whereas the original focuses on three sisters and who they want to marry first.

Besides whiteboards, I am a believer in scrap paper. The image below is the original outline and some of the print from the other side can be seen:






















This is only the beginning of a fantastic journey for "The Gardener's Wife". Feel free to follow the process.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Joshua Payne: Future Guitarist for the Teller

Thanks to the Daniel Day Trio for granting permission to post their picture.
(Left to right: Dave Bowen, Joshua Payne, and Daniel Day.)




Two months ago I talked with Clive Romney about the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production and how I imagined a musician, perhaps a guitarist, to accompany me during the story "Forsaken Brother", an Ojibwa tale.

He asked for an impromptu telling of tale, which I did, and then gave his recommendation: Joshua Payne.

The whole Payne family is musically inclined with Marvin Payne, the father, being the most famous as folksinger and actor. Marvin had been nicknamed "The Troubadour" with all his masterpieces.

His sons quickly turned to rhythm and cadence.

One of his sons, Sam Payne, performed at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival with guitar at the knee and later collaborated with Clive Romney, Nancy Hanson, and Tammy Robinson for the performing arts show that combined song, storytelling, dance and even quilting in "The Ghosts of Gardner Village".

Another of Marvin's sons, Joshua Payne, who has also played at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, joined his guitar talents with Daniel Day on drums and Dave Bowen on bass as part of the Daniel Day Trio. This group specializes in 80s, Contemporary, Jazz, and Neu-Jazz and original pieces upon request.

I called Joshua and left a message on his voice mail. I noticed that the Daniel Day Trio would perform at a restaurant about 20 minutes away from where I lived. Luckily, Joshua called back so I could let him know my plans to hear his group play and to introduce myself at the end.

I invited my neighbor, Teresa Cutler, to join me to hear the Daniel Day Trio as well as to enjoy some Japanese cuisine at the Tona Sushi.

Though I was able to hear some clips of music online from them, nothing replaces going in-person. The three musicians swung to the rhythms and grooves so that I found myself tapping my feet and nodding my head.

Afterward, I gave Joshua a copy of the "Forsaken Brother" story so he could see if it would be a story he would be inspired to create sound effects and songs. The printed version would not be the presented piece on stage. At least Joshua had somewhere to start.

Joshua expressed, "I am extremely interested. Rarely do I get a chance for creative pieces and that is what I love the most."

He even suggested that a friend of his may also be interested in the project and asked if I would be open to that thought.

I was thrilled by the idea and have yet to hear if his friend truly would like to participate.

In the meantime, I am pleased that it is likely that Joshua Payne will be joining my venture with the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production.

I called Clive Romney to thank him for the recommendation of Joshua Payne. Clive needed to know that I did remember though it had been two months to act upon it.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Lullaby of Love: Song of the Gardener's Wife

Songs and lullabies rushed to my mind after choosing "The Gardener's Wife" story for the grand finale piece of the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love".

In a matter of moments, I could envision the gardener's wife rocking a baby in her arms. This image quickly switched to me caressing a baby. As my husband and I do not have children yet, such an image stirred emotions of great excitement.

The words came out of my mouth and I could see them sung to my future children.

In the story, a baby is sent to the gardener and his wife by the river. Water is also an essential part to birth.

So the words that came to me:
Oh my child, my precious child
The waters sent you here
Oh my child, my precious child
To have you close and near

This lullaby is short though such a song of love is often that way.

I called my storytelling friend, Holly Robison, and told her my discovery. I sung the lullaby to her and asked if she could sing it as a duet for a certain part of the story. We have told tandem tales before where we harmonized.

She said yes.

I explained that when the song is first sung, I would sing it. Then Holly would harmonize with me for the second time. She would "oooo" the tune while I narrated that throughout the village other mothers and fathers sung the song. This would be a hint to the audience to join in. As they would have heard the words twice and there are four lines with two lines repeating, then it would be simple enough. The words--though few--would also be in the program.

I may have an ASL interpreter so we would have the song in sign language.

Something happens when everyone sings together.

As the adopted children of the gardener and his wife grow up in the story, then the song will be sung again though not in such a dramatic way as the first time. However, the audience would be familiar with the tune and the words and could join in each time.

As the gardener and his wife wanted children for a long time, it seemed natural that the wife would have another song--a grieving song--while waiting for that moment.

The words and tune have yet to come to me.

There is a line that I feel must be part of it:
There's a hunger in my soul. I yearn for more.

As I explore the story more, then more inspiration will come.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller