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Elizabeth Ellis
Elizabeth Ellis
Elizabeth Ellis
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Elizabeth Ellis (born 1943) is an American storyteller and author known for her live performances of traditional tales, literature, Texas and Appalachian history and folklore, and personal memoir.[1] She was awarded the Circle of Excellence in 1997 by the National Storytelling Network after being recognized by her peers as a master storyteller. She is a regular performer at the National Storytelling Festival. She was selected as a "Listener's Choice" at the 30th Anniversary National Storytelling Festival and a Storyteller-In-Residence at the International Storytelling Center. She was the first John Henry Faulk Award recipient from the Tejas Storytelling Association.

Background and early career

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Born in Winchester, Kentucky, in 1943,[1] Ellis grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee. Ellis credits her interest in stories to a storytelling family; she grew up hearing stories from her mother's parents and siblings.[2]

Ellis went to library school and in the fall of 1969 became a children's librarian at the Dallas Public Library.[3] When Ellis attended gigs of her musician friends, they would invite her on stage to tell stories between sets.[2]

Festivals

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American Storytelling Festivals performed at include the National Storytelling Festival, the Bay Area Storytelling Festival, the Corn Island Storytelling Festival, the Flying Leap Festival, Haunting In The Hills, the L.A.U.G.H.S. Festival, the Mariposa Storytelling Festival, the Mesa Storytelling Festival, the Taos Storytelling Festival, the Southern Ohio Storytelling Festival, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and the Texas Storytelling Festival.

Bibliography

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Discography

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[4]

  • Like Meat Loves Salt and other tales, 1984
  • I Will Not Talk in Class: Stories for Children, 1989
  • Mothers and Daughters: Recorded Live At The National Storytelling Festival, 2001
  • Meddling In Wal-Mart ®: Recorded Live At The Mariposa Storytelling Festival, 2002
  • One Size Fits Some: Recorded Live At The National Storytelling Festival, 2008
  • Wading In The Jordan: Recorded Live At The National Storytelling Festival, 2008

Awards

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  • Anne Izard Storyteller's Choice Award[5]
    • 2013, From Plot to Narrative
    • 2014, Every Day a Holiday: A Storyteller's Memoir
  • Oracle Award, National Storytelling Network
    • 1997 - Circle of Excellence[6]
    • 2004 - South Central Region Service and Leadership[7]
    • 2013 - Lifetime Achievement Award[8]
  • Storytelling World Special Storytelling Resources
    • 2002: Inviting the Wolf In[9]
    • 2013: From Plot to Narrative[10]
  • Tejas Storytelling Association 1986: John Henry Faulk Award[11]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Elizabeth Ellis

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Elizabeth Ellis (born 1943) is an American storyteller and author known for her masterful live performances blending traditional tales, Appalachian heritage, and poignant personal narratives, as well as her influential contributions to the craft through teaching, coaching, and award-winning books. Born in Winchester, Kentucky, Ellis grew up in the Appalachian Mountains in a family rich with storytelling traditions. She was shaped by her grandfather, a circuit-riding preacher who shared mountain stories and created original tales, and her aunt, who preserved old fairytales from an Irish immigrant grandmother. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and History from Milligan College and a Master’s degree in Education specializing in Librarianship to disadvantaged children from East Tennessee State University. After relocating to Texas and working for a decade as a Children’s Librarian and Community Services Librarian at the Dallas Public Library, she developed a strong foundation in engaging young audiences with stories. Her professional storytelling career gained momentum in 1978 after attending the National Storytelling Festival, where she formed the duo The Twelve Moons Storytellers with Gayle Ross before transitioning to a successful solo career. She has since performed widely, earning repeat-favorite status at the National Storytelling Festival, serving as a Storyteller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center, and presenting in diverse settings ranging from festivals in New Zealand to non-traditional venues such as military hospitals and public defenders’ offices. Over a more than 45-year career, she has reached over one million children and countless adults through her performances and is recognized for her southern style and “buttermilk accent” that infuses stories with humor, honesty, and wisdom. Ellis has received significant honors from the National Storytelling Network, including the Circle of Excellence Award in 1997 for her artistry, mastery, and long-term commitment to the field, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. She is the author of From Plot to Narrative, an award-winning handbook for crafting stronger stories, and co-author with Loren Niemi of Inviting the Wolf In: Thinking About Difficult Stories, which explores handling challenging material in performance. She also wrote Every Day a Holiday: A Storyteller’s Memoir and continues to teach workshops, master classes, and intensives for those incorporating storytelling into their work. Ellis remains active on touring rosters for the Texas Commission on the Arts and MidAmerica Arts Alliance.

Early life and education

Elizabeth Ellis grew up in the Appalachian Mountains in a family rich with storytelling traditions. Her grandfather, a circuit-riding preacher, shared mountain stories collected during his travels and created original tales to entertain his grandchildren. Her aunt preserved old fairytales learned from her Irish immigrant grandmother. As a child, Elizabeth's closest friends were imaginary. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and History from Milligan College and a Master’s degree in Education specializing in Librarianship to disadvantaged children from East Tennessee State University. After her education, she relocated to Texas and worked for a decade at the Dallas Public Library, first as a Children’s Librarian and later as a Community Services Librarian. This experience built a strong foundation for engaging young audiences through storytelling.

Career

Elizabeth Ellis began her professional career in librarianship after earning her degrees. She relocated to Texas and worked for a decade at the Dallas Public Library, first as a Children's Librarian and later as a Community Services Librarian, where she honed her skills in engaging young audiences through stories. Her storytelling career gained momentum in 1978 after attending the National Storytelling Festival. There, she formed the duo The Twelve Moons Storytellers with Gayle Ross. The partnership lasted four years before both transitioned to solo careers. As a solo performer, Ellis has appeared extensively across the United States and internationally, earning repeat-favorite status at the National Storytelling Festival. She has served as a Storyteller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center and performed in diverse venues, including festivals in New Zealand and non-traditional settings such as military hospitals and programs for public defenders. Ellis has been honored by the National Storytelling Network with the Circle of Excellence Award in 1997 for her artistry and commitment, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award. She is the author of From Plot to Narrative (2012), an award-winning handbook on crafting stories; co-author with Loren Niemi of Inviting the Wolf In: Thinking About Difficult Stories (2006); and author of Every Day a Holiday: A Storyteller’s Memoir (2014). She continues to teach workshops, master classes, and intensives, and remains active on touring rosters for the Texas Commission on the Arts and MidAmerica Arts Alliance. No television appearances are documented for Elizabeth Ellis in reliable sources. The previous content in this section appears to confuse her with a different individual and should be disregarded.

Known personal details

Physical description

No specific physical description (such as height, hair color, or build) is publicly detailed in reliable sources about Elizabeth Ellis the storyteller, as her profiles and biographies focus on her professional career and Appalachian heritage.

Other attributes

Elizabeth Ellis is a mother and grandmother. She resides in Dallas, Texas, with her dog Woof. As of a 2023 interview, she is 80 years old. No further personal attributes, such as piercings or tattoos, are mentioned in sources related to her.
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