Thanks for the stories
After taking a break from publishing The Storyteller and the Listener Online for about four months, I've decided not to get back to publishing it after all, at least for the time being. I'm grateful for all the wonderful essays contributed to it over its two-and-a-half year run by men and women around the world who are passionate about the role of story and narrative in creating positive social change. This newsletter was the first of its kind to invite both storytellers and story-listeners to the table to exchange ideas and information about how story and narrative can be used in peacemaking, healing, bridge building and reconciliation. I've received letters, poems, emails, phone calls and visits from many of my essayists and readers. What an amazing thing the Internet can be, for me to make such good friends with little more than a keyboard and a DSL connection as my tools!
My health continues to enable me to live a connected and active lifestyle; I'm just wanting to pursue some other interests closer to home, especially a couple of genealogical projects and involvements with my faith community, New Garden Friends Meeting in Greensboro. And, to be honest, the idea of relaunching the newsletter after such a full break seems daunting! It was at least a part-time job for me, what with constantly searching the Web for news of storytellers and story-listeners applying their talents for positive social change and then actively recruiting them and working with them toward the eventual publication of polished essays. I considered changing to a different format, more of a newsletter in which I would simply report on what others are doing, which would take less time than publishing content written by others, but that is not where my heart has been. The first-person "I discovered this" nature of our essays is what has drawn so many thousands of readers to these pages month after month.
But the essays are banked permanently at my Lulu site, in those cases where the essayist has given permission for this use. (Most did.) I hope you will bookmark it and visit often!
For the love of story,
Holly Stevens
I I have really appreciated your hard work and all the informative essays
you have published. I understand your decision but I will miss The
Storyteller and Listener Online. I have saved many of the essays to refer
to and re-read and I have shared them with my colleagues, students and
friends. It is always quite wonderful and important to see what
storytellers are up to. Thanks. Janet
Thanks Holly for all your hard work. It has been much appreciated and will
be missed. I wish you well in your endeavours.
Peace and Light,
Thank you, Holly, for the this fabulous website and its inspiring content!
Thank you for sharing your passion and your understanding of the importance
of storytelling on this blog in such a generous and creative way! You have
inspired me and many, many others.
Thank you, Holly!
Elisabeth