KidLit Guests - Storytellers
Mick Hennebery
Mick grew up as part of a touring eight member family troupe performing unicycle, magic, drums, trumpet, and juggling.
Mick, a practiced orator with over 25 years practicing law as private attorney and public defender was the 2005 Lairs Contest winner for the Peoria Prairie Storytellers.
His Irish heritage combined with tales of the road makes his first fifty years fertile ground for tales to be shared in the future.
Tricia L. Kelly
Tricia L. Kelly is a storyteller, writer, tour director, local historian, historical tour guide, and who knows what else! Where does she find the time? About her storytelling, Tricia says, "As much as I would like to give credit to my vivid imagination and Irish heritage, the truth is, my ability to tell stories came from really, really bad eyesight."
"You see, the world looks a lot different to someone who can't see clearly. Clothes hanging in the closet become monsters. The silent shadow that lurks next to a blurred eye becomes a friend, a constant companion. A huge, angry groundhog with rabies easily becomes a six-foot bear with rabies , especially to a girl alone in the woods who can't see anything but trees."
"And the books? Well, they were the greatest influence of all. Words were the one thing I could see. Since words together create a picture, I could see the words; I could see the picture. There is perhaps no greater power on the human mind than words. They inspire us, they anger us, they make us laugh, and reduce us to tears."
"I use my words to show you something that you didn't see before. Stories very often blur the lines of reality, and that's ok. The world is a lot more interesting when you stop using your eyes to see and start using your mind instead."
