The difference between storytelling and drama is that the audience actually exists. The actor engages with the audience, can hear the audience, see the audience and speak to the audience.And what a wonderful experience my first storytelling experience was!Burd Ellen makes the mistake of going widdershins; Childe Rowland rescues her. We don't have Childe Rowland to rescue us, so what's the moral of the story? Don't go widdershins around a church!What an outdated story it sounds like, but Nell Phoenix made every moment come alive. Working with (or against) adults with huge inhibitions and children who did not know how to behave, she told the story with music, drama, dance and singing coming together in a delightful storytelling performance. Hsss! went the hissing rocks. Dhup! fell the heads that were cut off. Haaaah! sighed the golden gate. Murmurmurmurmur ... went the … [Read more...]
Day Three – Reading is Fun!
I always tremble when I talk about my book. But somehow, today was just perfect. For once, I felt that the children simply loved the story and were still eager for more!Today was a grand day.I bit my lip controlling my laughter as a child read a little excerpt he had written about writing letters.About how he would write a letter. His mother would write a letter. His father would write a letter. His friends would write letters too. He ended the letter-writing spree with 'I love Geronimo Stilton'. I didn't quite understand the link, somehow.The children are wonderfully enthusiastic about everything I do with them! I made them write, make comics, listen, draw, colour... They were excited about everything!The library wants me to conduct the workshop again during the holidays. I'm not yet looking forward to it - right now, I'm looking forward to two more sessions … [Read more...]
Working, Working, Workshop!
Reading is Fun! Day OneDay TwoAnd now, I'm excited about the next one, coming soon ... … [Read more...]
13 registrations done!
Thirteen children will be part of my reading workshop that starts on Sunday! Seven seats left . . . … [Read more...]
Reading Workshop
I spoke to Ms Sugandhi from the British Library last Sunday, and she said that 11 children had already registered! There are just 20 seats in all; now is the time! … [Read more...]
Available worldwide!
Just discovered that The Story-Catcher is not available just in India and the US! It's available in the UK too! (And perhaps elsewhere in the world that I have not discovered yet!) … [Read more...]
Stories on a Postcard Challenge
I found this such a charming idea that I felt compelled to share it!I have so many memories of postcards! My father used to send postcards like this to me when I was on vacation in Bangalore with my grandparents. Somehow, I remember one postcard very clearly.'Did you hear the one about the two holes in the ground? Well, well.'I remember finding it inordinately funny. I still have the postcard!Needless to say, I will take part in this! … [Read more...]
Surprise Interview
I never have call waiting turned on. Yesterday, somehow I did. An unknown number was calling me as I spoke to a very dear friend - a landline number. At first, I ignored it. I got another call. I was puzzled. And another. So I took it."Varsha Seshan!" said the voice at the other end. "Ye-es...?"And it was MJ Shubhra from Radio One. I spoke to her, just like that, out of the blue.Did you listen in? … [Read more...]
I can’t quite believe this . . .
The Story-Catcher has been long listed for the Crossword Book Awards!So what if the long list is loooong?If it needs votes, I'm banking on lots of people! … [Read more...]