Jill Johnson tells fascinating Washington State History and World Folk Tales

Jill Johnson, featured teller for the April 8, 2014 story swap. Jill will tell folk tales from countries she has lived in, and will tell an excerpt from her local history of the family who settled Whidbey Island.

Jill Johnson’s powerful storytelling will rivet you in rapt attention. Jill will present a “tiny slice” from her epic story of local history, “Rebecca.” She will also share folk tales from countries she has lived and worked in. “Rebecca” explores the pioneer history of Washington state by re-creating Rebecca Ebey’s trek west from Missouri and the family’s early settlement on Whidbey Island (where Jill Johnson now makes her home). The family’s home site is now Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

Ebey’s Landing, the settlement site of the family of Rebecca Ebey. Jill Johnson will fascinate you with her story of Rebecca’s historical journey from Missouri in the 1800s.

Jill’s CD of her one-woman show, “Rebecca – the story of Rebecca Ebey” has received a 2014 “Winners” Award from the annual national competition sponsored by Storytelling World magazine!

Jill began her storytelling career seventeen years ago when she moved to Jonesborough, Tennessee, the site – each October – of the National Storytelling Festival. “For five years, I sat at the feet of the best in the business… listening and learning…what an incredible opportunity that was!” Returning to the Pacific Northwest, she first explored the maritime history of this region through the life of Berte Olson. Jill created a one-woman show “Little, But OH My! The story of Berte Olson” which also received an award from this same competition in 2006.

In her former lives, Jill was a teacher, trainer and international program consultant. “I’ve taught everything from creative dramatics for 6-7 year olds to adult ESL,” Jill says, “in five states and overseas.” As a trainer, she worked for organizations like Peace Corps, Save the Children, and the United Nations Development Program in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific. “All of these experiences are grist for the mill in storytelling,” Jill says. “When I conjure up a magician in the desert, I remember the old gardener in my Peace Corps training program in Morocco. Storytelling is a WONDERFUL way to use life experience.”

See our Story Swap page for more information about format and location of the story swap.

Check out Jill’s website for more information and to follow Jill’s blog.