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Come Listen to a Tale!

Who is Granny Sue?

Susanna “ Granny Sue” Holstein is a West Virginia storyteller. She tells and sings stories in the old-time front-porch style.

From mountain tall tales to poignant family stories to ghostly tales and beautiful ballads, Granny Sue's storytelling will entertain and engage listeners of all ages, cultural backgrounds and interests.

Storytelling takes us back to a time when stories were part of the fabric of every day, when parents told children tales from their past and children shared daily adventures. Stories remind us of who we are, where we came from, and why it is important to remember our heritage. Stories share values and moral lessons, and give us a blueprint for the future.

Why storytelling?
People everywhere are rediscovering the joy of simply listening to a story and joining in on a song. It's an ageless way of connecting with others in the magic of a tale well-told.

Who likes stories?
It's not just children who enjoy a story! Adults want to hear stories of their heritage and history. Storytelling reminds us that we all share similar joys and heartaches, that we all make mistakes and learn from them, and that we need each other to survive.

What kinds of stories does Granny Sue tell?

Granny Sue's repertoire includes:

Ballads

Ghost stories

Family stories

Traditional mountain and world folktales

Tall tales and "lies"

West Virginia historical stories

Humor

Audience participation tales

What kinds of events hire a storyteller?

Granny Sue has been a featured performer at events from Bellingham, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts. She has told stories for education groups, retired teachers, daycare programs, festivals, fairs, conferences, libraries, schools, campfires and whitewater rafting groups.

Publications:
Granny’s Ghost Stories: a collection of original, traditional and local ghost stories
Homeplace Poems from the Mountains: a collection of her poems
Tell It Together! Participation Stories for Family Audiences: a collection of stories to tell to children
Lives Unheralded: Poems
Mountain Story, Mountain Song: A CD collection of Granny Sue's favorite stories and ballads.
Beyond the Grave: Ghost Stories from the Mountains. CD collection of ghost stories from West Virginia, along with three Appalachian ballads of the supernatural.
Telling Stories with Puppets in Telling Stories to Children by NSN Press
Two stories in the anthology Zinnia Tales, a collection of stories about strong Appalachian women.
Story (Yellow Roses) included in the anthology Self-Rising Flowers by Mountain Girl Press
Online daily journal Granny Sue's News and Reviews

How can I contact Granny Sue?
Granny Sue: Stories from the Mountains and Beyond
866-643-1353 toll-free
susannaholstein@yahoo.com

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2011 Schedule:

January 22: Picture Book Writing Workshop, Taylor Books, Charleston, WV. As a student :); maybe I'll do something with all the ones I've written.

March 4-6: WV Storytelling Guild Retreat, Sistersville, WV

March 18-20: VASA Gathering, Harrisonburg, VA. Teaching my workshop Sung Tale to Told Tale. See http://www.vastory.org/ for details.

April 9: Teaching a writing workshop in Princeton, WV. Details TBA

April 28: Presentation for retired teachers, Cedar Lakes. Private event.

May 14: Migration Celebration. Storytelling and crafts, Little Beaver State Park, Beckley, WV

May 28: Vandalia, WV State Capitol grounds. Onstage performance and working at the WV Storytelling Guild tent.

June 10-12: West Virginia Writers Conference, Cedar Lakes Conference Center, Ripley, WV. Details TBA

June 11: Princeton, WV Street Fair! Storytelling on the street. Time TBA

June 14: Jackson County Library, Ripley, WV-Around the World With Granny Sue 10am. Call 304-372-5343 for details.

June 15: Jackson County Library, Ravenswood, WV-Around the World With Granny Sue, 1pm. Call 304-273-5343 for details.
June 16: Moundsville-Marshall Library- Around the World With Granny Sue, Moundsville, WV Summer Reading Kickoff, 11:00am.

June 16: Benwood-McMechen Public Library- Around the World With Granny Sue, Benwood, WV, 1:00pm

June 18: West Virginia Folk State Folk Festival, Glenville, WV. Oral Traditions Tent. See http://www.wvfolkfestival.org/ for more information.

June 27: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling, WV: Storytelling in the Park. 7:00pm

June 28: Paden City Public Library- Around the World with Granny Sue, 11:00am

July 7: Meigs County Public Library, Pomeroy, OH- Around the World With Granny Sue; time TBA

July 7: Athens County Public Library, Athens, OH-Around the World With Granny Sue, time TBA

July 11: Sistersville Public Library- Around the World with Granny Sue. 12 noon.

July 11: Pleasants County Public Library, St. Mary's, WV- Around the World With Granny Sue, time TBA

July 13: Gilmer County Public Library, Glenville, WV-Around the World With Granny Sue

July 15: Jackson County Public Library, Ripley: Asian Adventure, 10am

July 15: Jackson County Public Library, Ravenswood: asian Adventure, 1pm

July 16: Tygart Lake State Park, storytelling in the park. 7:00pm. Call 304-265-6149 for information.

July 18: Cameron Public Library, Cameron, WV-Around the World With Granny Sue, 1:00pm

July 18: Mannington Public Library, Mannington, WV: Around the World With Granny Sue, 7pm

July 20: School Librarians Conference, Barbour County, WV: Storytelling in Schools

July 21: Morgan County Public Library, Berkeley springs, WV: Asian Adventure, 10am

July 25: Princeton Public Library, Princeton, WV: Around the World with Granny Sue. Time TBA.

July 29: Gaslight Theatre, Sistersville.

October 22: Ghost Stories in the Park. Tygart Lake State Park, 6:00pm. Call 304-265-6149 for details.

November 19: Tellabration! Middleport, OH

2010 Schedule:

January 27: Sistersville Library, Sistersville, WV. 12 noon. All about ghost stories! for adult book group.

May 15-16: Family reunion at Lost River State Park. How many Connellys will be there this year?

May 28: New Manchester, WV: storytelling for school "rewards" program. Private event.

May 29-30: Vandalia! I'll be storytelling and judging the Liar's Contest at West Virginia's cultural heritage festival that features old-time music and dance contests, storytelling, arts and crafts and much more. On the Capitol Grounds in Charleston, WV. Public event.

June 5: Romney, WV: Sheriff's Kids Kamp; ghost stories for a private event.

June 11: Ripley, WV: WV Writers Conference. Storytelling as part of an evening chautauqua with other writers and artists. This is going to be fun! Evening performance.

June 18-19: Glenville, WV: West Virginia State Folk Festival. Oral Traditions Tent will present writers, storytellers and poets. Public event.

June 23: Marlinton, WV: Allegheny Echoes Workshops Creative Writing Master. Presenting an afternoon writing workshop and evening performance of my writing. Evening is a public event.

June 26: Charleston, WV: Clay Center's Walker Theatre. Second presentation of the chautauqua performance from the WV Writer's Conference as part of FestivALL. Public event.

July 2: Ripley (10:00am) and Ravenswood (1:oopm), WV: Library Summer Reading presentations as part of the Stories at the River's Edge Series. Public events. Call 304-372-5343 for information.

July 19: Sistersville (noon) and St. Mary's (2:00pm), WV: Library Summer Reading presentations as part of the Stories at the River's Edge Series. Public events.

July 22: West Union (10:00 am) and Center Point (1:00pm): Lubrary Summer Reading program storytelling and craft programs. Public events.

July 25-29: Elkins, WV: Augusta Heritage Center Irish Week: learning about Irish ballad-singing and more. Can't wait for this!

August 6-7: Pittsburgh, PA: Three Rivers Storytelling Festival. I've been invited back as a featured teller for the 2010 festival. Public event.

October 2: Ripley, WV: Library ghost stories program for older kids, 7pm. Call 304-372-5343 for infomation. Public event.

October 4: Elderhostel storytelling, Cedar Lakes conference Center, Ripley, WV. Private event.

October 13-14: West Virginia Storytelling Festival, Jackson's Mill, Weston, WV. Event open to participating schools only.

October 16-17: Charleston, WV: WV Book Festival! Used book sale, storytelling, friends, authors--what's not to like? Public event. Call 304-343-4646 for details.

October 22: Tygart Lake State Park, Grafton, WV. Haunted Hayrides and Ghost Stories. Call 304-265-6148 for more information.

October 23: Ripley, WV: Haunting in the Hills-West Virginia Ghost Stories at the Alpine Theatre with three WV storytellers. 7:00pm. Public event.

October 28: Ghost Stories for children at Ravenswood (WV)Library. Call 304-273-5343 for more information. Public event.

October 30: Ripley (WV) Library, ghost stories and announcement of writing contest winners. 11:00 am Call 304-372-5343 for information. Public event.

November 6: Morgantown, WV: Tellabration! at the Gluck Theatre in te MountainLair. WV storytellers doing what they do best, telling great stories. 5-6:30 pm. Public event.

November 12-14: Kentucky Storytelling Conference, presenting my ballads workshop. Go to http://www.ksa.org/ for information.

November 18: Salem Elementary School, Salem, WV. All-day school event.

November 20: Tellabration! Tamarack Arts Center, Beckley, WV. 2pm. Free admission. Public event.

November 30: Poetry Reading, Princeton Public Library, Princeton, WV. 6:00pm. Public event.

December 11: Ripley, WV: Stories for the Season. Ripley Library. Details TBA.

December 16: Stories for the Season, Ripley, WV: Private event.

2009 Storytelling Events:

January 21: Columbus Speakeasy, SOCOTellers, 6-9pm. Featured teller.

February 28: Gallipolis, OH, storytelling at the Ariel theatre.

March 11-April 8: Puppet troupe training for Jackson County Library, Ripley, WV

April 3-5: Mountain State Storytelling Institute, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV; workshops on blogging for storytellers

April 29: Book discussion group at Sistersville Library, Sistersville, WV 11:00 am

May 1-3: OOPS Storytelling Conference, Ohio: ballad workshop

May 9: Migration Celebration. Storytelling and crafts for children. Little Beaver State Park, Beaver, WV.

May 23: Vandalia Festival Storytelling Tent and Performance, Charleston, WV.

May 28: North Elementary Schoool, Elkins. Evening performance for Appalachian heritage program.

June 12-14: WV Writers Conference

June 19: Summer Reading Kickoff for Jackson County (WV) libraries Ripley and Ravenswood.

June 20: West Virginia State Folk Festival, Glenville, WV. Oral Traditions Tent organizer and presenter.

June 24: WV Ghost stories, Wood County (WV) Public Library, Parkersburg, WV

July 6: Summer Reading Program storytelling at Sistersville Library, Sistersville, WV

July 11: Tygart Lake State Park. Storytelling in the park.

July 22: Puppet-making workshop at Wood County Public Library, Parkersburg, WV

July 23: Puppet-making workshops and storytelling at Doddridge County (WV) Library and Center Point Library.

August 1st: Clifftop Appalachian String Band Festival, Clifftop, WV

August 5th: Summer FUNdamentals Camp for WV Rehabilitation Services.

August 12: Camp Believe Special Needs Camp

August 24: Elderhostel, Cedar Lakes Conference Center

August 26: Book Group presentation, New Martinsville Library

September 19: Appalachian Festival, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Md. 1:30pm to 3:00pm. Featured performer: Jean Ritchie. Telling with Ellouise Schoettler and Katie Ross.

October 3-4: National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough, TN to watch Bob McWhorter receive his award and work in the NSN tent.

October 6: Fairview Public Library, Fairview WV; storytime for toddlers and school event afternoon.

October 8: Hawk’s Nest State Park, presentation for tour group

October 10-11: WV Book Festival, Charleston, WV http://www.wvbookfestival.org/
Storytelling concert at 12 noon featuring ghost stories.

October 17: Hundred Library, Hundred, WV: Ghost Stories by the Campfire.

October 20-21: WV Storytelling Festival

October 24: Tygart Lake State Park, Grafton, WV: Scary Stories after Dark.

October 30: Athens (Alabama) Storytelling Festival Ghost Stories Concert featured teller. http://www.athensstorytellingfestival.com/

November 14: Tellabration! WVU Mountaineer Week, Morgantown, WV.

November 19-20: storytelling at Salem and Wilsonburg elementary schools for Appalachian Heritage studies

November 21: Tellabration! Middleport, Ohio

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2008 Performance History

January 16: SOCO Speakeasy, Columbus OH

February 27: Long Drain Elementary School, Hundred WV. (I'm the reward for good attendance)

March 21: Heritage Day, Scott Teays Elementary, Winfield, WV (private event)

April 4-6: Storytelling Institute, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV. Presenting a session on Appalachian Ballads.

April 18: Baldwin Elementary, Manassas, VA. School program

April 19: Shepherdstown Library, Shepherdstown, WV 10:30am.

April 21: The Country Day School, Kearneysville, WV. School program.

April 22: Greenbrier Elementary, Lewisburg, WV. School program.

April 26: Appalachian Wordsmiths Writing Workshop, Ripley, WV: presenting a workshop on writing poetry

May 4: History in Review, Rowlesburg, WV. Public program.

May 10: Migration Celebration, Little Beaver State Park, Beckley, WV

May 16-17: My Family Reunion at Lost River State Park--fun!

May 19: Elderhostel, Cedar Lakes Conference Center, Ripley, WV

June 9-10: Storytelling for 4-H Camps in Hampshire, Pocahontas, and Pendleton counties in WV

June 13-15: WV Writers Conference, Ripley, WV. Just attending, not performing.

June 19-21: WV Folk Festival, Glenville, WV, emceeing and performing at the Oral Traditions tent and the singing tent.

June 22-27: Allegheny Echoes Workshops, Marlinton, WV

June 28: Tygart Lake State Park, Grafton, WV

June 30: Paden City and Middlebourne (WV) Library programs for Summer Reading

July 15: Sistersville Public Library, Sistersville, WV for summer reading program

July 23: Stories at the River's Edge. Featured teller for this year's festival. 10am at Middleport, OH and 1:30pm at Mason, WV. Call me for more information.

August 5: Summer Fun Camp. WV Rehabilitation Services, Camp Virgil Tate, WV. Private event.

August 7-10: National Storytelling Conference, Gatlinburg, TN--just attending, not presenting!

August 26: Elderhostel storytelling performance at Cedar Lakes, Ripley, WV

September 4-6: Southern Ohio Storytelling Festival, Chillicothe, OH, as a featured teller

September 13: Marion County Library, VA: Sherwood Anderson writing contest speaker; private event.

October 6: West Virginia University at Parkersburg Heritage Day storytelling presentation, Parkersburg, WV.

October 11-12: WV Book Festival, storytelling concert for children and panel discussion on storytelling for children.

October 11: Ghost Stories At the Alpine Theatre, Ripley, WV. Storytelling and music --what a great combination. 8pm. Tickets $5 children, students and seniors, $10 adults.

October 13: Elderhostel, Cedar Lakes conference Center, Ripley, WV. Storytelling for Elderhostel guests.

October 17: Storytelling at Slanesville and Augusta Elementary schools, Hampshire County, WV.

October 18: Capon Bridge Founders Day Celebration, Capon Bridge, WV. 11:00am--storytelling and finger puppet craft for children. Open to the public.

October 27: Ripley Public Library, Ripley WV.. Ghost stories for public program, 6pm.

October 27: Elderhostel, Cedar Lakes Conference Center, Ripley, WV. Storytelling for Elderhostel guests.

November 15: WVU Family Fun Day in Morgantown, WV.

November 15: Tellabration! in Morgantown, WV. 7pm, Mountainlair, WVU.

November 21-23: Tygart Lake State Park, attending a writing workshop with Colleen Anderson.

December 5: Storytelling for private school, Kearneysville, WV

January 21: Columbus Speakeasy, SOCOTellers, 6-9pm. Featured teller!

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Some of Granny Sue's Past Performances 2007-2008:
September 8: Ripley, WV: Family Storytelling with Adele Browne at the Alpine Theatre
October 3-4: Weston, WV: West Virginia State Storytelling Festival, Jackson's Mill Conference Center
October 12: Charleston, WV: WV Reading Association Conference performance
October 13: WV Poetry Society Conference speaker
October 13-14: Charleston, WV: WV Book Festival
October 21: private event in Martinsburg, WV
November 3: Mountaineer Week Family Fun Day, Morgantown, WV
November 17: Fauquier County Public Library, John Barton Payne Building, 10:30am (rescheduled July program)
November 17: Bealeton Library, Bealeton, VA
March 21: Scott Teays Elementary School , private event
April 4-6: WV Storytelling Institute, Fairmont State College, Fairmont WV
May 10: Migration Celebration at Little Beaver State Park, Beckley, WV. All day event

Storyteller Granny Sue: Stories from the Mountains and Beyond