Storyteller and Program Speaker - presentations tailored for the occasion! Storytelling for all ages!

Roswell, Georgia..... Magnolia StoryTeller....Southern Order of Storytellers.....National Storytelling Network....Lifetime member of Tejas Storytelling Association....Storytelling participant in the University of Oklahoma Outreach Storytelling Programs....Member and Teller with the Historic Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau

Member of Roswell Writer's Group......The Orchards at Crabapple Writers......Teacher and Coach Computer Classes with SeniorNet Learning Center at the Adult Recreation Center, Roswell, GA For fees and Booking: Contact Jo

Jo tells stories for all ages: Adults and Children love her stories and storytelling style. "I will make you laugh, bring back memories and carry you with me into the spirit of my stories".

Quotes from an article in the Marietta, GA Daily News, 10/19/04, A TALE TO TELL By Meredith Price Staff Writer

"Sit down. Relax. Close your eyes and take a deep breath as you prepare to embark on a journey to another world where anything is possible.

Your tour guide on this trip will be a professional storyteller whose goals could be to make you laugh or help you communicate better at work. Maybe they will want you to apply the moral to your life or give you a better understanding of a new culture. Whatever the reason for the story, many storytellers in Cobb County are weaving their tales with gusto and delight for a variety of audiences."..............................

Jo Sanders, who concentrates on making people feel good with her stories, enjoys the connections stories form between people, even across different cultures and languages.

"Storytelling means visually painting a story using words without a lot of props or reading. It provides a way for people to enjoy each other no matter where they are from, and it allows a group to share a good laugh together," says Ms. Sanders, a member of the Southern Order of Storytellers who has been sharing humor with her stories for over 18 years.

Ms. Sanders, a Roswell resident, began telling stories to entertain her grandchildren. She started making tapes of stories for each grandchild and fell in love with the art form. "I've always been theatrically inclined, and I also do a lot of writing," explains Ms. Sanders. "A librarian once told me about the profession and since then, I've been perfecting my art." ...........................................

"Some of the critical things we all work on are tone of voice, pitch, projection and gestures. A good delivery depends on a combination of everything," explains Ms. Sanders. Many storytellers participate in workshops where they practice their skills and then hear feedback about their performance.

"Everyone uses different methods to improve. Some practice in the mirror and some use video. Others just think it through and listen carefully to the way they are telling. In any case, you will never hear the exact same story twice," says Ms. Sanders.

So the next opportunity you have to hear a story woven by a professional storyteller, listen carefully. It will never be recounted in quite the same way again."

As a grandmother, I enjoy children and grownups of all ages. I have traveled with my husband to all fifty states and on six continents in search of stories and audiences. The connection to other cultures is a wonderful experience. With stories, I have been able to connect with audiences of all ages and create pictures with words for each listener.

I currently reside in Roswell, GA as a storyteller, writer, speaker and entertainer with stories.

Storytelling is a powerful tool to introduce children to imaginative creative writing, literature, history and to appreciate cultures from around the world. Reading, writing and listening create new ideas and introduce ways to communicate with others.

Adults enjoy the adventures of real life stories and the telling of foktales and fairytales. I try to find new ways to recreate traditional stories to capture the imagination of today's audiences.

My favorite times are when I look into the eyes of the audience and they are living the story with me. My favorite comment from listeners is when children or adults tell me that my smiling eyes are talking to them.

In the fall of 1997, my husband and I traveled alone, to the far reaches of Turkey to the small town of Yalikavik. There was little English spoken. We managed to learn a few words and smiled a lot. Smiles show friendship and that was our goal. We spent two weeks in that small village and visited with the school children almost every day. My husband showed the children how to whistle through their hands and they loved it. I told them stories with lots of animation and expression and more smiles. They enjoyed it so much and so did we. A few of the older ones could introduce themselves in English and that made them proud. We in turn would introduce ourselves to each one and try to repeat their name. That always brought a lot of giggles.

Often the children would bring their parents up to meet us when we saw them at the market or on the village playground or square. The children seemed so proud to know us and we were honored when they came up to us to speak. Each time the introductions were repeated. We tried very hard to show respect for their customs and to show love and caring for their land.

We certainly were happy to feel welcome in a place where there were no other Americans and we were traveling independently. We rode local buses and public transportation and somehow managed to make our way around. Sometimes it was a bit frightening.

Upon the first visit to the school, the headmaster invited us to "Che" or tea. He did not speak English but graciously invited us to visit the classrooms. While we drank the strong Turkish tea from the small, ornate cups, the headmaster showed us drawings and different pictures and charts of the school activities in his small office. Although we did not know what he was saying or exactly what he was showing us each time, we bowed and smiled and said thank you many times with our limited Turkish words.

The teacher who taught English was the only one in the school who could speak English and that was very, very limited. Every where we went, it was a struggle to communicate and we became quite proficient in sign language. Turkey was one of the many places we have traveled where we didn't know the language and often, we met very few who spoke understandable English. When staying in Old Istanbul, we stayed in a small local hotel and again, language was a challenge. That is the charm of a couple traveling alone. It is much more exciting and adventurous.