Barbara Schiffman

Do you have a story to tell? We're seeking more stories for our Fall Story Concert on 9/17 at Sacred Waters Brewing in Kalispell. Read our submission guidelines at our website -- www.FlatheadStoryConcerts.wootick.com.We are also now offering personalized Tellable Story Coaching sessons via Zoom -- get info at our website or contact us to chat about your story. Questions? Email us at story23fvcc@gmail.com -- or leave a message at 747-238-0038 (with your full name, phone and email).We are eager to hear your stories!Barbara &amp; Glenn Schiffmancurators &amp; hosts: Flathead Story Concerts

Call for Stories for Fall 2024 Story Concert!

Wow -- We've had several great articles about our Story Concerts published in the Daily Inter Lake!&nbsp;Read them here: 5/16/24 in This Week in the Flathead <a target="_blank" href="https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2024/may/16/flathead-story-concerts-return-with-inspiring-stories-told-live/" alt="https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2024/may/16/flathead-story-concerts-return-with-inspiring-stories-told-live/">https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2024/may/16/flathead-story-concerts-return-with-inspiring-stories-told-live/</a> 3/7/24 in Daily Interlake (online) <a target="_blank" href="https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2024/mar/07/workshops-help-prepare-for-story-concert-submission/" alt="https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2024/mar/07/workshops-help-prepare-for-story-concert-submission/">https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2024/mar/07/workshops-help-prepare-for-story-concert-submission/</a> 8/13/23 - Peaks &amp; Valleys column by Margaret Davis​<a target="_blank" href="https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2023/aug/13/everyones-got-story-share/">https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2023/aug/13/everyones-got-story-share/</a>​ 8/10/23 - in This Week in the Flathead <a target="_blank" href="https://flatheadstoryconcerts.wootick.com/dashboard/​https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2023/aug/10/live-spoken-word-event-features-storytellers/​" alt="​https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2023/aug/10/live-spoken-word-event-features-storytellers/​">​https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2023/aug/10/live-spoken-word-event-features-storytellers/​</a>​ ​

Daily Inter Lake articles about our Story Concerts to come!

What a surprise to see so many Story Fans in Flathead Valley eager to listen to stories told live! We expected 50-60 people, maybe less as it was a 99+ degree day, but over 100 found seats and standing space in The Wild Side room at Sacred Waters last night (8/15).&nbsp;They listened actively and silently from 6:15-7:30, absorbing the inspiring stories about "Nature &amp; Nurture" from our 7 Tellers: RJ Young ("Wild Child"), Bobbie Williams ("Tails of Rescue" - pictured above), Rebecca Ashcroft ("Bad Friday"), Craig Thomas Naylor ("Playing Catch"), Heidi Wolf ("Searching For My Lost Soul"), Katie Carey ("Chrysacolla &amp; Quartz: a Love Story") and Glenn Schiffman ("Lessons from Plants via Gramma Minnie").Thanks a million to Jackie Evans and Sacred Waters Brewing for co-hosting and sponsoring this new event. Thanks to Authors of the Flathead, The Bookshelf Kalispell, and My Glacier Village for spreading the word as other sponsors.Looking forward to our next Story Concert (10/15 - 5-7pm) at Sacred Waters. It will be cooler in mid-October, and we will be ready for a full house again!&nbsp;Seeking stories for October now -- see Submission Guidelines for our October themes and requirements. Hope to get some from you!

First Flathead Story Concert - 100+ Story Fans!

Do you have an amusing &amp;/or inspiring personal experience story to share with neighbors and local story fans?&nbsp;Flathead Story Concerts curators Glenn and Barbara Schiffman of Whitefish are seeking new local storytellers to coach and support via an upcoming spring FVCC course and live events.In March they return to Flathead Valley College’s Continuing Education program with a new edition of their signature storycrafting course, now called Public Speaking for Storytellers. It teaches an effective 4-part structure for creating 7-minute (1,000 words) personal experience essays -- like those heard on The Moth Radio Hour or PBS’s ‘Stories From the Stage’ TV series. Students will also learn and practice simple public speaking skills to make their stories memorable when told live. Their original 2023 “Tell Us Your Story” 8-week class culminated in a highly acclaimed live event at FVCC on 4/27/23 to celebrate National Tell-A-Story Day. This year, National Tell-A-Story Day 2026 is being celebrated at venues around the US again on April 27th. Save the date to join the Schiffmans at FVCC where their 2026 spring story students will share new personal stories with friends and story fans at a free public “story concert.”&nbsp;More details: <a target="_blank" href="https://FlatheadStoryConcerts.wootick.com">https://FlatheadStoryConcerts.wootick.com</a> To be included as a Teller on 4/27, interested story students will need to prepare by attending the FVCC course (meets 3 Saturdays 3/21, 4/11 and 4/18, 10am-4pm) where the Schiffmans will guide and coach them to write and then practice their true stories. Class is limited to 10; cost is $149/person. No previous writing or public speaking experience required; just an idea for a true story you’d like to tell.&nbsp;Register at: <a target="_blank" href="https://campusce.fvcc.edu/fvcc/course/course.aspx?catId=18">https://campusce.fvcc.edu/fvcc/course/course.aspx?catId=18</a>“Our desire to support the interest in live storytelling in the Flathead expanded after our 2023 Story Day event at FVCC,” recalls Barbara, who previously co-founded two Toastmasters chapters for writers. “Everyone who attended wanted more live stories. Since then, hundreds of listeners have heard personal stories from dozens of local Tellers we’ve coached for our Flathead Story Concerts, held so far around the Valley at three local libraries and Sacred Waters Brewing. We also curated and co-hosted a fundraiser for The Making Place, a crafters non-profit, last year at White Raven Winery.”Glenn has told true stories from his 1970s rock’n’roll trucker years and other memorable experiences at live story events in Spokane, Los Angeles and the Flathead, including several of CRYJ’s annual “Not Your Average Love Story” fundraisers.&nbsp;A published essayist, author, and FVCC-CE writing teacher of memoirs and autobiographical-fiction, Glenn adds: “We’re glad that FVCC asked Barb and me to teach this course again so we can prepare more Flathead Valley tellers for live story events. We love hearing their personal experiences which always surprise and inspire us. These are the stories we tell at the Thanksgiving table -- and one of our Tellers even told one at her sister’s wedding in Zimbabwe, to rave reviews! They’re about where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what we’ve learned that’s memorable and helpful to others.”&nbsp;++++ For more info on Flathead Story Concerts 2026 events or the spring “Public Speaking for Storytellers” course at FVCC, email the Schiffmans at story23fvcc@gmail.com or visit their website at: <a target="_blank" href="https://FlatheadStoryConcerts.wootick.com.">https://FlatheadStoryConcerts.wootick.com.</a>​

This spring, Practice the Craft of Live Storytelling at FVCC

On 4/27/26, over 120 Flathead Story Fans heard new true stories from 9 tellers at our second National Tell-a-Story Day event at Flathead Community College!&nbsp;Our tellers included:&nbsp;(lower row) Craig T. Naylor, Nikki Reid, Shayla Paradeis, Tricia Hinchey&nbsp;(upper row) Glenn Schiffman, Ann Trinca, Heidi Wolf, Rebecca Ashcraft, and Ellen Mering,&nbsp;plus host Barbara Schiffman. Stay tuned for our 2nd Story Night fundraiser event for The Making Place in Columbia Falls on Thursday 6/25/26 at White Raven Winery!

Nat'l Tell-a-Story Day event 4/27/26 at FVCC = a full house + great stories!

Do you have a true personal experience story to tell at holiday gatherings or local live story events like Flathead Story Concerts in Kalispell (or others in Missoula and Spokane)?&nbsp;Do you need help crafting your true story to make it engaging for listeners and to present it with confidence?&nbsp;We can help! Barbara and Glenn Schiffman -- story coaches and curators of **Flathead Story Concerts - are seeking new stories from local Tellers for live curated and themed spoken word events in 2025!&nbsp;To help interested storytellers "incubate" stories to submit to FSCs, they are leading several "drop-in" Spoken Word Storycrafting Workshops from September through November. These free community workshops are co-hosted with and held at the Whitefish Community Center. No previous experience in writing or telling personal stories is required.&nbsp;Attend one or more or all sessions and learn a proven 4-part structure to shape your "life lessons" into engaging and inspiring tales that can be told in 5-10 minutes. Also get tips on simple presentation skills to make sure your story is well received by listeners.&nbsp;This "drop-in" series of free workshops begins Monday 9/23 from 3:30-5:30 at the Whitefish Community Center (121 E. 2nd St, Whitefish). More stand-alone sessions are scheduled at WFCC on the 2nd and 4th Mondays in October and November (10/14, 10/28, 11/11, 11/25) - also 3:30-5:30.&nbsp;The Schiffmans will cover their tellable story structure and basic presentation tips each workshop. Examples of stories (from "The Moth Radio Hour" or PBS-TV's "Stories From the Stage") will also be shared and tellable story ideas will be brainstormed. Stories-in-progress can be shared for feedback plus coaching on content and presentation from Barbara and Glenn. &nbsp;Info on storycrafting workshops: Call Barbara at 747-238-0038 Email at story23fvcc@gmail.comor visit www.FlatheadStoryConcerts.wootick.com or www.whitefishcommunitycenter.org/activities

New Spoken Word Storycrafting workshops in Whitefish: Sept-Oct-Nov 2024

We'll be there! Glenn &nbsp;Schiffman will display and sell/sign his books** (at "friends rates" for holiday gifting) -- along with nearly 50 other Montana authors!&nbsp;Special Author Speakers include Debra Magpie Earling (MT Book Prize winner; pictured here w/Glenn) and Leslie Budewitz (local author of cozy mysteries and MT historical fiction).&nbsp;Free admission -- easy parking.When: Sunday 11/17 - from 12noon to 5pmWhere: NW Montana History Museum, 124 2nd Ave East, KalispellInfo:&nbsp;406- 756-8381; Museum website = nwmthistory.orgOr visit:<a target="_blank" href="https://allevents.in/kalispell/200027329185549?ref=sharer">https://allevents.in/kalispell/200027329185549?ref=sharer</a>​++++++++++++** Glenn's books:LIFE IN THE FAST LANE: Truckin' on the 1970s Rock'n'Roll Road (autobiographical fiction - "much of it is mostly true!")THE WAY I WAS TAUGHT (autobiographical fiction re: Native American teachings)SEASONS AROUND THE MEDICINE WHEEL (Native American myths retold by Glenn in an illustrated coloring storybook for kids and adults!

Northwest Montana Book Festival - Sunday 11/17 @ NWMT History Museum

Our 4th Flathead Story Concert at Sacred Waters Brewing in Kalispell was another full house and great success! Over 80 story fans joined 8 Tellers who shared inspiring stories and poems about "All in the Family" and "Firsts and Lasts." There was standing room only before the Tellers got started, and rapt attention throughout the 90 minute program.Tellers included Craig Thomas Naylor, Alan Solum, Mary Frances Erler, Robby Cale (poet), Joe Weber, Keith Liggett, Heidi Wolf and Glenn Schiffman. Barbara Schiffman mc'd the program, and Craig Naylor ran the sound board to make sure the Tellers could be heard in the far back.&nbsp;FSC curators Barb &amp; Glenn Schiffman thank Sacred Waters Brewing for co-hosting, plus AuthorsOfTheFlathead.org (FV's local writers support group for over 30 years) and The Bookshelf in Kalispell for sponsoring and helping promote the free community events in 2023 and 2024.More FSCs will be scheduled for 2025 if Barb &amp; Glenn get enough story submissions to make for a good 60-90 minute program again. If you have a story to tell -- or would like to learn how -- check out their new Spoken Word Story Workshops at the Whitefish Community Center. Details at the FSC website or call Barbara at 747-238-0038.

Our Autumn 2024 Story Concert - another full house!

Our first 2024 Story Concert at Sacred Waters on 5/21 was a full house again! Over 70 attendees enjoyed true and fictional stories by Dixon Rice, Rebecca Ashcraft, Alan Solum, Susie Hartman, Katie Carey and Glenn Schiffman plus poems by Craig T. Naylor. Our spring theme was "All in the Family." Next Story Concert at Sacred Waters is scheduled for Tuesday 9/17 -- we are open for submissions of new stories -- see guidelines at our website. See pix of the 5/21 event in our gallery.

Spring 2024 Story Concert - another full house!

With a little help from our friends...Our Flathead Story Concerts sponsors help us spread the word about our new project and our upcoming Story Concerts. Please check them out -- and appreciate them too!Authors of the Flathead ~ writers helping writers ~&nbsp;<a>http://authorsofthe flathead.org​</a>​Sacred Waters Brewing Company ~ craft beer, food, music &amp; more ~&nbsp;<a>https://www.sacredwatersbrewing.com</a>​The Bookshelf (downtown Kalispell) ~ books &amp; more, specializing in Montana authors ~&nbsp;<a>https://www.facebook.com/bookshelfmontana/</a>​My Glacier Village ~ connecting, inspiring &amp; supporting aging seniors in Flathead Valley ~&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://myglacier.helpfulvillage.com" alt="https://myglacier.helpfulvillage.com">https://myglacier.helpfulvillage.com</a>​If you'd like to sponsor Flathead Story Concerts too, email us at story23fvcc@gmail.com or message us via our website contact page.<img src="https://cdn2.allevents.in/transup/wootick/sites/blog/b1/868f261a6642759dceae0c97937e06/AOTF_Logo_Horz_300dpi_em0fzr.png" data-origin=","><img src="https://cdn2.allevents.in/transup/wootick/sites/blog/df/af22600bb548628fe108e3840a3ddb/bookshelf-logo-round.jpg" data-origin=","><img src="https://cdn2.allevents.in/transup/wootick/sites/blog/ca/37a6e5f93947c68b00d18ecfd0f859/sacredwaters-logo-fishing.jpg" data-origin=","><img src="https://cdn2.allevents.in/transup/wootick/sites/blog/4c/5cb067c9f34e61aecd5cd97574923a/MGV-logo-with-circle-5-.png">​​

We Appreciate Our Sponsors

Some people think a "true personal story" is about someone they admire or find interesting. This may be the case for some publications and events. But for us at Flathead Story Concerts, we seek "true personal stories" about and created by the person who experienced it.&nbsp;&nbsp;The true stories we curate are meant to be told live by the person who lived it. This way we hear what happened in first-person from the Teller in their words with their emotions - what happened, what they learned and why it will matter to listeners.&nbsp;These stories inspire us. They're also the types of stories curated and told at The Moth live events and radio hour shows, and on PBS-TV's Stories From the Stage.&nbsp;If you're interested in creating true personal stories for spoken word events like ours or for publication, we recommend listening to The Moth (airs Monday nights on MT-PBS radio stations) or watching episodes of "Stories From the Stage" on your local PBS-TV station (multiple episodes air each week). Each 30 minute episode includes 3 "true personal stories" that fit the theme of the week. We know you will be inspired, entertained and surprised by many of them -- and you'll hear the types of stories we like.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our favorite resource on crafting and telling True Stories is the book "How to Tell a Story: the Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth" :<a>https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-Story-Essential-Storytelling-ebook/dp/B09BTYSNSG/</a>​ &nbsp;To find out how to submit YOUR first-person true experience story to Flathead Story Concerts for 2024 events, READ OUR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES at: &nbsp;<a>https://flatheadstoryconcerts.wootick.com​</a>​&nbsp; Questions: Email us at story23fvcc@gmail.com

What's a "true personal experience story" for Flathead Story Concerts?

It was fun to be asked to curate 3 Story Concerts (one hour each) over only 5 days to help the Flathead County Library Association celebrate 2025 National Library Week from 4/8-12!&nbsp;We invited some of our favorite tellers from previous events to reprise their stories -- and came up with a full baker's dozen! From Bigfork to Columbia Falls to Kalispell, between 35-65 people turned out at each library to hear stories told live by Flathead locals. We're looking forward to more...​<img src="https://cdn2.allevents.in/transup/wootick/sites/blog/36/f6b05ae1494f8f93af7840c5667a63/40925-CFalls-library---Sara-Busse.jpg" data-origin=",">​Sara Busse, Director - Flathead County Library Assn (at Columbia Falls library on 4/9/25)

Wow -- a Flathead Library Story Marathon - 3 story concerts in 5 days for Nat'l Library Week!

September 17. 2024 - Columbia Falls, MT - Flathead Valley Authors do a reading at Sacred Waters brewery.