With just a week to go, here’s the final blog post to whet your whistle for the Women’s Storytelling Festival, running over the weekend of March 24th to 26th, in Fairfax, VA and streaming on the ol’ World Wide Web!
We’re trying something new for this year’s festival. After many requests, we will be holding a competition! Saturday afternoon will see the People’s Choice Storytelling Contest.
Seven tellers, each with seven minutes to tell her tale. The theme? Perseverance. The judges? Our audience – plus Sheila Arnold and Noa Baum! (Full contest details here.)
Don’t forget – YOU MUST HAVE A FESTIVAL TICKET TO VOTE. TICKETS Here.
The tellers vying to claim the top spot? Lona Bartlett, Julie Bradshaw, Bette Lou Higgins, Robin Kitson, Teri Lott, Gwendolyn Napier, and Stacy Parish!
In the spirit of competition, I asked our contestants this question…
How will you celebrate if you win the People’s Choice Storytelling Contest?
And their answers are…
Lona Bartlett: Celebrating? I would want to spend some time with all of the ladies at the festival. I am honored to be on stage with all of the the wonderful women who are part of this contest. We are all working hard to tell a good story. Let’s break out the chocolate. Then when I get home, Celebration Doughnuts with my husband.
__________________________________________________________________
Julie Bradshaw: If I win, I plan to celebrate in the best way possible…with a little bit of an adult beverage and a chocolate dessert! I will also connect with family and friends to give them the good news and to thank them for their votes.
Bette Lou Higgins: Well, first off, I’d celebrate with a good dinner with my friends and family who will be at the festival with me. Then I’d be doing posts and e-blasts to thank everyone who voted for me. Unlike Superbowl winners, however, I don’t think I’ll be able to go to Disney World to celebrate — though that would DEFINITELY be a great idea. Maybe a little walk on the Appalachian Trail!
Robin Kitson: I would call all the friends who voted for me and tell them. I’d tell all of my Storytelling Guilds (I belong to 3), and see if any would like me to write something for their newsletter about the experience.
Teri Lott: I’m sure I’ll cry out, probably saying something like, “Oh my gosh” or “Woo-hoo!”, and I’ll hug anyone and everyone within reach (so consider this your warning). Then I’ll text my hubby and my daughter. Later, after the day’s events are over, I’ll be texting, emailing, posting on FB and messaging family and friends to tell them I won and thanking them for their support. Once I’m home, I’ll let my local storytelling group (Storytellers of Central Ohio) as well as WRAPPS of NE Ohio, The WV Storytelling Guild, and The KY Storytelling Association know that I won and thank them for their support as well.
Gwendolyn Napier: If I win the People’s Choice Storytelling Contest, I would Celebrate and Share the Winning Circle Stage when announced with the additional 6 Storytellers in the Contest. I know most of the Storytellers in the Festival, and feel deeply in my ‘Heart” that we are already “Winners” just sharing different Stories.
Stacy Parish: With a slice of carrot cake, a new notebook and a few new Uniball Signo pens!
So that’s the card for our title bout. Who will emerge with the victory? There’s only one way to find out – join us for the festival. You can come on down to the Old Town Hall in historic Fairfax, VA, or tune in to our online stream of the event! You can vote either way!
The landing page for the festival is right here!
