Azalea Storytelling Festival

 We have just finished the 28th Azalea Storytelling Festival in LaGrange, Georgia, along with Regi Carpenter, Paul Strickland, and Bil Lepp.

Bil and I arrived early in the week so that we could do a variety of school and community events before the actual Festival weekend started.

Here I got to spend time with all the second graders at Hillcrest Elementary School.

When Friday evening arrived, we were joined by Paul and Regi while the crowd was welcomed to Callaway Auditorium on the LaGrange College Campus by College President, Susanna Baxter.

Susanna and our son Doug mostly grew up together and it is a real joy to reconnect with her here as she hosts the Azalea Festival.

As is true with most Festivals, this one has cultivated its own faithful audience over the years and we know that we will see many of the same story lovers when we come here each year.   It is one of those times when we remember why we keep on doing this!

In addition, this Festival was very special to me this year as it was the first launch of my new book, How They Linger, seventeen stories about unforgettable people who ought to be remembered. It was a good place for its coming out!

We will be back in LaGrange in July where I conduct a week-long workshop each year.