"The stories worth telling and retelling, the ones in which you may find the meaning of your life- are forever stalking the right teller.""

-- Robert Moss, Dreamgates

Telling Alabama's Stories

The spoken-word festival sponsored by the Alabama Center for the Book (ACFTB), will come to life on Sat., Sept. 25, 2004, at Kiwanis Park in Old Alabama Town, each story coming into its own from tellers not just from across the state of Alabama but from across the globe.

This year Irish, Australian, Mexican and Native American storytellers will help show Alabama 's rich and diverse heritage. Visiting mystery writers Ace Atkins, Tim Dorsey and Caroline Haines will kick off the festival with a book signing. Thereafter the tellers will spend the day spinning tales of suspense, drama and, of course, Alabama 's native myths and legends. Each storyteller will perform for 30 minutes; a schedule will be posted at www.alabamabookcenter.org as well as at the event. Puppeteer Robert Parsons will do two shows in the children's tent, one in the morning and another in the early afternoon. There will also be a brief awards ceremony beginning at 2:30 p.m. in Tent 1.

West Alabama printer Amos Kennedy will display his passion for printing and "all things book " along with featured artist Charlie Lucas. The 2004 tellers include Anne Dalton, Verna Gates, Juan Gomez, Sammye Hill, Dolores Hydock, Cynthia Jancaterino, Eve Kneeland, Charlie Lucas, Renee Morrison, Ruth Rambo, Bernadette Smith, Mark Stewart, Charles Tortorici, Joseph Trimble and Margayle Williams.

Now in its third year, Telling Alabama's Stories promotes family literacy, books, reading and this year. a little mystery. Telling Alabama 's Stories is sponsored by ACFTB with Old Alabama Town , the Alabama Public Library Service, the Alabama Writers' Forum, the Alabama State Council on the Arts and other local and state supporters.

Telling Alabama's Stories ' gates will open at 10 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 25 inside Kiwanis Park at Old Alabama Town in Montgomery . The book signing featuring Ace Atkins, Tim Dorsey and Carolyn Haines will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Admission is $2.00 per person or $5.00 per family and is open to the public. Books and merchandise will be on sale throughout the day. Refreshments will be available. For more information please contact the Alabama Center for the Book (334-844-4948) or check its website at www.alabamabookcenter.org .