Storyteller Granny Sue: Stories from the Mountains and Beyond: This Weekend: Celtic Storytellers!

This Saturday!

The Celtic Storytellers

7:00pm

Trinity Performing Arts Center

711 Niagara Falls Blvd,

Amherst NY.

Susanna Connelly Holstein and Lorna MacDonald Czarnota present a concert of Scottish and Irish story, ballad, folk song, and music. Appalachian charm and Urban flair.

Lorna Czarnota is an award-winning storyteller and humanitarian, Lorna has been telling stories professionally since 1985. She performs and presents in schools, libraries, museums, festivals and conferences, runaway shelters, detention centers, residential treatment facilities, theaters and community venues, among others. Her performances include traditional and original stories, occasionally with music and songs for all ages.

Lorna specializes in mentoring at-risk youth and their families through story. She was nominated in 2004 for United Way and Univera Health Community Hero Award and named Hopevale Incorporated's Volunteer of the Year for 2005. Lorna holds a certificate in trauma counseling.

Her other specialties are identity building in communities following disaster and personal trauma, empowerment for abused women, imagination playtime, historical portrayals and role-play, and Scottish tales.

Lorna is a keynote speaker, workshop leader, artist, historian, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Creative Studies for Young Children, as well as a Masters in Special Education. Lorna is the founder and Executive Director of Crossroads Story Center, Inc, a not-for-profit reaching at-risk youth through storytelling.

She is a member of Spin-a-Storytellers, National Storytelling Network, National Network for Youth, Northlands Storytelling Network, League for the Advancement of New England Storytellers, Virginia Storytelling Association, Scottish Storytelling Center and the Healing Story Alliance.

The National Storytelling Network honored Lorna with the 2006 Oracle Award for exemplary leadership and service and significant contributions to community through storytelling.Award for exemplary leadership and service and significant contributions to community through storytelling.storytelling.

Susanna Holstein lives in Jackson County, West Virginia. As storyteller “Granny Sue” she performs across West Virginia and out of state, telling stories and singing Appalachian and British ballads.

A published writer, she is a frequent presenter of programs and workshops at conferences, festivals, schools and libraries. Holstein obtained her BS (Education summa cum laude) in 1991 from WV State College and Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina in 1995.

Susanna writes an online journal, Granny Sue’s News and Reviews, the poetry blog Mountain Poet and a monthly column for the central West Virginia publication Two Lane Livin’. Her work has appeared in four anthologies of Appalachian writers as well as in other print and online journals. Her poetry, nonfiction and fiction works have won numerous awards at the WV Writers Annual Conference.She is past president and a founding member of the WV Storytelling Guild, former WV State Liaison to the National Storytelling Network, and a member of several regional storytelling organizations.

Contact lczarnota@aol.com or susannaholstein@yahoo.com for more information.

What Others Say About Granny Sue

“Granny Sue’s programs were geared to their level so well that the children are still talking about the stories and telling them to friends and family.” Julie, librarian

“Your performance received high praise from the audience and other tellers alike.

"Granny Sue Holstein is fast becoming a favorite with Pittsburgh audiences.” Mary, festival organizer

“The interaction with the children made this program special.” Pamela, Children’s Librarian

“Granny Sue has been described as one of the few tellers that is equally effective with any age audience and her variety of material helps her present the right story for the right audience.” Bob, Storytelling Festival Director

“I never saw children sit so still and captured by stories.” Karen, library director

“The program was right on target. The presenter demonstrated how stories could be presented to encourage student involvement and present difficult themes in an accessible way. The program was just what we hoped for: relevant, informative, and entertaining.” Bill, conference director

“We liked the fact that you started to interact with the children before the program started which seems to set the mood and tone for the entire program.” Mary, librarian

“Granny Sue was wonderful! I laughed until I had tears in my eyes.” Amy, teacher

“My students sat spellbound listening to Granny Sue. She really connected to them. They did not want her to leave.” Cheryl, teacher

“The hit of the day was Susanna Holstein’s “Storytelling Without Stage Fright. One attendee made the comment that she enjoyed the program because she could participate instead of sitting and listening.” Library Association newsletter

“The way you connected with a group of teens with very different backgrounds and frame of reference was excellent.” Mark, Sales Director.

“Mrs. Holstein, thank you for telling ghost stories. I liked that better than anything!” Jamie, student

“You put into action a wonderful, quality program for our haunted house. Presentation was excellent!” Veronica, Bed and Breakfast operator

“Your commitment to fascinate and entertain our visitors with the tales and truths of Appalachia is unprecedented.” WVU Mountaineer Week

“Your wonderful storytelling and sparkling personality went a long way in making our celebration a success.” Nancy, festival organizer

“Spooky stories around the campfire really captured the audience’s attention.” Lynn, recreation director

“We were really excited to have an opportunity to expand the educational activities and it was with your help that it turned out so well.” Rosalie, festival director

“Granny Sue has the most hauntingly beautiful voice that went just right with her powerful story… She had the crowd in the palm of her hand. Just beautiful!” Karen, storyteller

"Granny Sue starts her tale by belting out the strains of a love song like a young Loretta Lynn… you must get her to tell you the tale of Rain and Snow, it's potent with emotion. Mel, storyteller

Storyteller Granny Sue: Stories from the Mountains and Beyond

Pages

This Weekend: Celtic Storytellers!

Stories and Folktales

Workshops

My Other Blog--Granny Sue's News and Reviews: Writing, Schedule, and much more about Granny Sue