Performing Members of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild
This is a list of Jonesborough Storytellers Guild currently available storytellers, with information about what, how, where, and to whom they like to tell. Click the name to see a performer’s biography and contact information. For revisions and updates, email Webmaster

Tennessee’s Oldest Town
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Samuel “Sam” Smith
Read more: Samuel “Sam” SmithIntroducing Samuel Smith, a fresh voice in the realm of Appalachian storytelling, hailing from the enchanting town of Mountain City, […]
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Kiesa Kay
Read more: Kiesa KayKiesa Kay, poet and playwright, learned the art of storytelling from her mother, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. She found fairy tales and […]
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Wallace Shealy
Read more: Wallace ShealyThe Storytelling Arts Center of the Southeast by jury declared Shealy – the Bold-Faced Liar Champion. With a twinkle in […]
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Jeff Stratton
Read more: Jeff StrattonOne of our favorite tellers and past presidents returning to the stage in 2026. Jeff Stratton retired from the Tucson […]
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Betty Ann Polaha
Read more: Betty Ann PolahaIn 2016 when Betty Ann Polaha signed up to audit a storytelling class, she never dreamed that three years later […]
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Edward “Jack” Smith aka Cackalacky Jack
Read more: Edward “Jack” Smith aka Cackalacky JackJack is from Dorchester SC where he serves as Poet Laureate of the county. He has been telling stories for […]
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Ellender Rose Webster
Read more: Ellender Rose WebsterEllender Rose Webster comes from a family of Southern Appalachian writers, musicians, and storytellers. As a child she assisted her […]
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Zacharias Smith
Read more: Zacharias SmithZacharias is from Morristown TN and is an East Tennessee State graduate, with a master’s in communication studies. Currently, he works […]
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Pamela Miller
Read more: Pamela Miller“Once upon a time,” my Grandfather would read to me, and I was totally enchanted. These fairy tales made perfect […]
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Emily Silkora Katt
Read more: Emily Silkora KattEmily finally realized what connects her various work in veterinary medicine, classroom teaching, and magazine publishing—it’s communication, and it’s storytelling. […]
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Sherrie Peters
Read more: Sherrie PetersSherrie grew up in Jonesborough with a large extended family hearing stories of farm life and old family values. Her […]
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Evelyn Edward
Read more: Evelyn EdwardAfter many years of teaching elementary school,Evelyn Edwards was retired and needed something to do. She made a phone call […]
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Travis Wolven
Read more: Travis WolvenTravis accidentally became a storyteller through his use of stories teaching languages across the multiverse of ages and cultures. He […]
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Judy Donley
Read more: Judy DonleyWith a twinkle in her eye, Judy Donley describes her stories as “practically true…at least in my mind!” She grew […]
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Cynthia Millhorn
Read more: Cynthia MillhornCynthia Millhorn is an accomplished storyteller who ignites imaginations and hearts with her thoughtful, intriguing tales of human nature, myth, […]
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Leticia Pizzino
Read more: Leticia PizzinoSince 1990, Leticia’s storytelling has enlivened audiences and educators across the U.S. in classrooms, libraries, and at festivals, fairs and […]
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Laurie Herlich
Read more: Laurie HerlichLaurie Herlich loves living in rural northeast Tennessee, where Story is everything. She writes flash fiction and cozy mysteries in […]
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Joy Salberg
Read more: Joy SalbergJoy is a graduate of ETSU’s Storytelling Certificate Program. Life has brought her from the tenements of Manhattan, to the 11th […]
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James “Jim” Priesmeyer
Read more: James “Jim” PriesmeyerJames (Jim) T Priesmeyer is a retired Builder. During the course of his career he built businesses and buildings. The […]
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Delanna Reed
Read more: Delanna ReedDelanna Reed is a storyteller, teacher, mentor, and scholar. She began her teaching career and discovered storytelling in 1985 as […]
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Judy “Butterfly” Farlow
Read more: Judy “Butterfly” FarlowSome folks say that Judy was just naturally born talking and has never quit. She inherited her love of words […]
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Catherine Yael Serota
Read more: Catherine Yael SerotaCatherine Yael Serota is an author and storyteller. She is a native of Asheville and spent much of her life […]
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Linda Poland
Read more: Linda PolandFounding Member Linda Poland, Jonesborough’s Resident Storyteller, also called “The Jonesborough Flame,” teaches storytelling at the John C. Campbell Folk […]
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Vianna Isbister
Read more: Vianna IsbisterVianna Isbister is a dynamic multi-hyphenate performer and academic with a B.A. in Theatre and an M.A. in Communication and Storytelling […]
