Doug is our featured teller at the March story swap. He says, “My young life started in Southern California, but I grew up in a small town in the Salt Lake Valley. I earned two undergraduate degrees from the University of Utah and a master’s degree at Westminster University. I’m sorry to have report, I worked in insurance claims management. My wife and I retired in June 2022 and moved to Sequim. My love for stories began before I learned to read. Starting in 2009, I was the mentor of a writing group at Salt Lake Community College’s Community Writing Center. In 2010, I joined Toastmasters International. The Writing Center and Toastmasters has given me many opportunities to stand in front of audiences to tell some of my stories. In 2019, without ever going to a liar’s contest, I auditioned for Utah’s Biggest Liar Contest and was one of six people to take the main stage to tell a true story. Did I win? Of course, I did.”

My story, which is in three parts, is about my dog Cinder. She’s a beagle, and she’s a bit roly-poly. Part One is about how my biggest mistake with Cinder started. One day I found out Cinder can send texts. Part Two is about how my problems multiply. Part Three is about how my problems, particularly with Cinder, push me to the edge of insanity. I do things, and I have feelings that I don’t understand.

Open Mic

The featured teller will be preceded by open mic storytelling. Audience members are welcome to share a story of up to 10 minutes length. Anyone interested in telling a story is strongly encouraged to develop it and practice it at the monthly Story Work session on Zoom — find more information on our Facebook page. Guidelines for storytellers can be found by clicking here.