PORT TOWNSEND — An evening of backcountry adventure tales will kick off the 10th season of First Friday Story Night from 7 to 9 tonight.
The featured teller, Alice Susong, will draw from her life with her national park ranger husband, Dunbar. Susong’s presentation, “What Living in National Parks is Really Like,” might include encounters with moose, elk or tourists.
The Quimper Storytelling Guild hosts the monthly evening of oral stories in the Friends Meetinghouse at 1841 Sheridan St.
Following Susong’s presentation will be a short break for refreshments, followed by up to five short stories by attendees who sign up on a first-come first-served basis.
The evening’s master of ceremonies, Perry Spring, will close with a story song true to the evening’s theme, organizers said.
Susong spent more than 30 years living in national parks where her husband worked as a park ranger.
They lived in Rocky Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. She started telling stories to her children while camping in the tent on a rainy night.
After moving to Sequim, Susong became active in the Story People of Clallam County. In 2004, Susong produced her CD, “Life With Ranger Dunbar.”
She has told stories to public school classrooms, the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, national parks from Olympic to Grand Teton, churches and cruise ships.
When Susong took a “Prairie Home Companion” cruise to Alaska with radio host Garrison Keillor, she won second prize in an on-board talent show.
First Friday Story Night is a communal exploration of the art and ritual of the oral tradition through the old myths, folktales, fairy tales, family, personal and modern stories.
The Quimper Storytelling Guild also holds the Third Sunday Story Swap at the Port Townsend Library for aspiring and experienced tellers to hone their craft in a supportive, informal setting.
The Guild is gearing up to participate in the 30th annual worldwide Tellabration with an evening of stories by the hearth of the Port Townsend Library’s Carnegie Reading Room on the third weekend in November.
Community members interested in participating in the local Tellabration are encouraged to come to the Sept. 16 9-minute story swap that will begin at 2 p.m.
For more information, see the group’s Facebook page, email Quimper StoryGuild@gmail.com or call 360-316-9600.
