Empower Storytelling for Stronger Communities

I want to change lives by harnessing the magic and power of storytelling.

Like many writers, I wrote a lot as a child, and those stories are quite entertaining.

It wasn’t until 2002 that I began to write to survive. At 29 weeks pregnant with my oldest child, I developed a rare pregnancy disease related to eclampsia. The only “cure” for this disease was to deliver my baby, and even then, chances were good that one of us might not make it.

My baby and I both lived. I felt shell-shocked. The only way I could process those events was to write about them.

Once I began writing about my traumatic experiences, I could not stop. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by my father, I had a lot to say about hope, perseverance, and resilience, along with knowledge and wisdom, from the perspective of a survivor who was determined to overcome her circumstances.

I realized that trauma and grief never go away; we simply cycle around and bump against them when encountering new experiences. I took that theory and my stories and wrote an award-winning book called Caskets From Costco.

I have long been able to write a good story. Now I want to learn how to develop my raw talent and weave a story into something magical.

I have three primary reasons for wanting to hone my craft at the 2025 Paris Storytelling Workshop: improve my raw storytelling skills, build community, and engage with the future.

The first is that I want to learn how to transfer the magic of the written word into storytelling, learning new skills, including pacing, tone, structure, and the elements of storytelling that I don’t even know are missing. While I see my authenticity, emotional resonance, and humor, I would love the opportunity to refine these raw talents in both my writing and storytelling.

The second reason is to build community. Trauma and grief need a witness. In these chaotic and uncertain times, community has become more essential than ever. The more communities, the better, from our neighborhoods to our towns, cities, states, and the world. As a writer who facilitates trauma and grief writing groups, I know that nothing can heal, connect, and build relationships like sharing tough stories. Trauma and grief experiences make up the bulk of stories that we need to share, and these stories can change the world.

This leads me to my third reason, which is to use the skills, knowledge, and wisdom that I learn at this workshop to help clients and community members tell their own stories for greater peace, healthier relationships, and stronger communities.

I am raising a total of $5,500 for the cost of the workshop ($3,500), the roundtrip flight ($1,200 to $1,500), and the cost of meals (around $500).

Go here for more info about this workshop.