Mark Binder's Bark Minder: Recent Episodes
Mark Binder
World-renowned author and storyteller Mark Binder has been writing and telling stories for all generations for more than three decades. His remarkable stories are fun, interesting, and always surprising. His mission? Transmit Joy with Story
The City of Providence's Department of Art, Culture and Tourism (ACT), has awarded a development project grant to Christopher Johnson and Mark Binder a devised theater piece called, “The F-Word.”
“The F-Word is about friendship," said Mark Binder, author and founder of The American Story Theater. “We live in a time of controversy and conflict. Issues that have simmered for years are surfacing, opening wounds and demanding action. Christopher and I have been grappling with the question, ‘What can ordinary people do to respond? To connect?’”
The F Word demystifies the gray areas of differencebybuilding bridges, blending storytelling and conversation with poetry and comedy.
For more information, sign up for the newsletter at americanstorytheater.org/
Spooky Fun MisadventuresEver been to the beach? Gone trick or treating? Heard ghost stories at summer camp?
Conducted scientific reanimation experiments in the basement?
"My friends and I just wanted to relax and have fun. We didn’t mean to get into trouble. The trouble always found us…"
Now Available on Spotify and more!
I wrote “The Shaggy Dog's Tale” when I was collecting stories for THE BED TIME STORY BOOK. It didn't take long to write, but it takes a while to tell. It's the sort of story children enjoy, and parents… well, maybe you will and maybe you won't.
Scroll down to listen to the audio here, and download the story's text here. The audio is from the in-progress audiobook, so make sure you sign up for the newsletter to hear about it. You can buy the book and the ebook.
Enjoy
– Mark
In collaboration with the Hope Library Association, the RI Council for the Humanities has awarded a $2,000 mini grant for the Scituate Story Project with Christopher Johnson and Mark Binder.
Beginning July 6, on Thursday evenings in July and August, young people ages 13-19 will learn and practice telling their own stories. The last Thursday of each month will be a public open mic swap/slam.
The program is free, and there are spaces available. For more information, contact the Hope Library in Scituate, RI - (401) 821-7910.
Christopher Johnson is a word slinger – freelance writer, poet and an award-winning spoken word artist. Timely, relevant, honest, unapologetic, personal, and political, Christopher Johnson’s spoken word commands in a way that is uncomfortable and arresting. The author of more than two-dozen award-winning books and audiobooks Mark Binder is a professional performance storyteller, and a nice guy. He tours the world, transmitting the joy of story across boundaries.
When her parents' marriage falls apart, how will Rachel Cohen adapt?
Every year I write a Hanukkah story. This one is just out.
Click the link below to find it on Spotify, iTunes and others…
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/markbinder/broken-candles-feat-izzy-abrahmson
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a warm holiday season.
Book Signings and Storytelling(s?) Come out and see me this month. I'll be signing books and telling stories all over.
- Book Signing, Saturday, December 3 from 10am – 3pm at the Rhode Island Authors Expo, Crowne Plaza Ballroom, Warwick, RI
- Storytelling, Saturday, December 10 at 12:30pm – A Holiday Present at Scituate's Christmas in the Village - multicultural stories and song for all ages
- Book Signing, Saturday, December 17 from 10:00am - 4pm at Providence Artisans Market Holiday Arts Show in the WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley St, Providence, RI
- Book Signing, Sunday, December 18 from 10:00am - 4pm at Providence Artisans Market Holiday Arts Show in the WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley St, Providence, RI
- Storytelling, Wednesday, December 21 at 11:00am – A Holiday Present - a multicultural celebration at Revere Public Library, 179 Beach St., Revere, MA
Thanksgiving… White Cane Awareness… Identity… and more stories for discussion and pleasure.
Even during the best residencies, I only have a few hours with students. These are stories you (and your students) can listen to and read at your own pace. I've linked to Spotify because listening to the stories won't cost you anything more than your free or already paid subscription. (Please do "follow" me there.)
Cinderella Spinderella a new "spin" on a classic story (ebook for grades K-4)
Designed so that any child can see herself or himself in the narrative. It's NOT just about a pretty dress, but about owning your identity. We're GIVING AWAY the ebook edition to teachers to use.If you'd like students to be able to take home copies email beth.
Lo Mein and an Egg Roll What is it like to be blind? (Spotify audio, grades 3-12, 29 minutes.)
In honor of national White Cane Awareness day, I wrote and recorded this story. It's a long and immersive story, and will provoke a lively discussion.
My Grandfather's Fish: An Explosive Thanksgiving Disaster
(11 min audio on Spotify, grades 3-8) Lots of things NOT to do in this story. A fun story before the holiday.
Winter Blessings - Hanukkah Stories (book and audiobook. All grades.)
Whether you're Jewish or not, these stories are fun and educational. The emphasis in the book is on humor and warm relationships. Possible questions include: What's your favorite holiday food? Are Hanukkah presents a good idea?
Jody Makes a Friend • Jody Listens Two gender-neutral short stories
(Spotify audio 2.5 minutes each - simple stories but with discussion for all ages)
Several years ago, all my stories were about boys, girls or animals. These two are deliberately non-gender specific, BUT they're not about that. Suggest that you not tell students in advance and see what their reactions are.
A Kwanzaa Surprise Sometimes presents aren't guaranteed…
(Spotify Audio 6 min. Elementary) Holidays can be challenging. You'll appreciate how this story ends.
Please keep me posted!
If you come up with an awesome lesson plan, will you share it with me?
Email to mark@markbinder.com
Listen to the story on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, GooglePlay and more… More than a decade a go, I almost went blind. I was wearing contact lenses at the beach and either grit from the sand or a batch of bad lenses abraded my eyes.
The doctor freaked out, and my brand new girlfriend, Heather, was forced to put goopy antibiotic into my eyes twice a day. I had to keep my eyes bandaged for several days.
I didn't tell anyone, because it was hard enough being terrified of going blind without having to manage the worry of my parents or kids.
Fortunately, within a few days the doctor gave me the ok, and I was able to squint in darkened rooms. I remember thinking how much of a difference just a little bit of vision made in navigating the world. And fortunately, my sight was completely restored. (Though I'm still not wearing contacts.)
Recently I was invited to tell stories for a White Cane Awareness Day event in the Garden City Plaza.
Organized by a number of government and non-profits that support the visually impaired and blind, it was an inspiring event.
I took on the challenge of creating a story for them that would work for both blind and seeing people.
This story is the result. I didn't end up performing the whole piece - it's just too long for a crowd on folding chairs in the middle of an outdoor shopping mall.
But I hope you'll enjoy it.
- Mark
It was a cold day in Providence. Winds were gusting at 20 mph. But the audience kept warm by laughing and listening.
Listen to Cinderella Spinderella, one of my personal favorites - and watch for the moment the tent nearly blows away!
I've enjoyed several interviews with Erik Heen for the What's Your Story radio show.
We discussed StoryFest, the It Ate My Sister audiobook and more. It's always interesting to capture a story that has visual effects in an audio-only medium.
You can listen to the latest here (The interview and stories start about 40 seconds in).
"Binder is a skilled writer and performer, and in these stories he’s as charming as ever…"
– Alan Rosenberg, USA TODAY NETWORK
Coming soon on Audible, but in the meantime…
GET THE AUDIOBOOK HERE
GET THE PRINTED BOOK…
Come see the amazing Bill Harley, the zany Keith Munslow, the elegant Raffini and the enthusiastic Marlon Carey - and me at STORYFEST 22
It's October 1 from noon until dusk in Providence. Free tickets are at americanstorytheater.org
It's hot outside, so perhaps reading some cool stories from #TheVillageLife will make your day.
Winter Blessings is set in the winter (gasp!). Yes, it's set around the holiday of Hanukkah. And YES, you'll enjoy reading it even now.
Plus, we won an Idie Book Award Silver/Finalist Medal!
In January, when I contracted COVID, I went crazy. Every time I started to feel better, I ran to the computer and worked on a new book: The Seagull, The New York System, A Winnebago, and the Big Blue Bugs
It's a great collection. And we're changing the title and cover.
Three Rhode Island stories:
- Roger Williams vs. The Big Blue Bugs
- The Seagull and the New York System
- Governor Weds Miss RI
NOT available on Amazon. Only available in person or by clicking HERE
It's been so great to get back on the road. And gratifying that my programs have been appreciated.
Why publish one book, when you can publish two?
Clearly, these are radically different volumes.
But sometimes things just don't work out the way they're supposed to.
I was standing in front of a gym full of fifth through eighth graders, reading aloud from the first story in The Seagull…
"Transcription of a manuscript stolen from the locked archive at the Providence Athenaeumw"
Read that again. Notice the extra "w". A typo in the very first sentence?!
ARRGH.
The error has been corrected. Reprints are on the way. I invite you to buy both books, and we'll send them out ASAP.
The Village Feasts (under the pseudonym of Izzy Abrahmson) is a delightful collection of 10 Passover Tales. A perfect seder gift, and something you'll enjoy too.
The Seagull… is the second collection of Rhode Island Legends. It's a greater book – now that the typos' been fixed.
-- > Get yours here! <--
Yesterday I had the pleasure to stand in front of a library full of students and share my work in person. And then I got to do it again. And again!
Grades? Sessions for 6-8, 3-5, K-2, and the splendid preschoolers!
It was wonderful being out in the world. Wonderful to rediscover the things that I know to be true:
- Storytelling connects people of all ages.
- Storytelling transmits joy
- Storytelling inspires and delights
Thank you so much for having me @StPhilipSchool in Johnston, RI
What do you do when you get Covid? I spent a lot of time being one with the couch. In between, I put together a collection of three "Rogue's Island" stories as a limited-edition chapbook. Based on my absurdist/fabulist performances, this was the first time that some of these stories were written down.
If you've never been to Rhode Island, it's a quirky state with quirky people and quirky food. These "Legends" aren't exactly true, (except the food parts,) but they'll give you a sense of the place and a good laugh too.
It was a lot of fun getting the book done. The audiobook actually has several live performances on it, too.
I did a kickstarter, which although it didn't make the funding goal inspired me to get the thing finished early.
The only thing political about this is that it's NOT EVER going to be available on Amazon or Audible.
The title? The Seagull, The Big Blue Bugs, a Winnebago, and The Independent Man.
Now it's in preorder! Please buy a copy for yourself and as a gift. Tell your friends. And if you have any suggestions
-- > Get your copy here! <--
First off, I completely agree with Neal and Joni that Spotify should pull Joe Rogan's misinformed podcasts.
But I'm not going to pull my work from their platform, because I can't afford to.
Currently, Spotify is one of the only places where people can listen to my work "for free" and I still get paid. Yes, it's a few pennies at a time, but it builds up to be about two to three beers a month. Am I selling my political soul for small potatoes? Perhaps.
But Spotify is also a place where my work gets discovered randomly -- and I get paid.
Don't listen to Joe Rogan on Spotify. Follow me! You can get there quickly by going to https://markbinderbooks.com/spotify
Since I can't tour widely, I wanted to share this story with you in a variety of forms… My second summer as a storyteller, I had two important gigs: ReadBoston, which was Mayor Menino's literacy program, and Shake-A-Leg, now called Sail to Prevail, a summer camp in Newport that taught youngsters with disabilities how to sail boats.
At the time, I didn't have any stories that featured kids in wheelchairs…
For more, please go to this page: Cinderella Spinderella
Back in the age of paper, when I was a kid, I used to love going into the bookstore and browsing. Shelf after shelf of possibilities. In those days there weren't so many different sections. There was nonfiction, fiction, mystery and sometimes Science Fiction.
While some bookstores still survive, most books in this country are sold on Amazon. While the monster company started with books, it really doesn't care about books. They'll be happy to sell you anything. Looking for a book? Buy a pair of shoes.
Plus, for craft publishers and authors like myself, Amazon actually prints the books in their warehouses, so not only do they make the money off the sale, but they also make money as a printer and distributor.
Finally, the experience of "shopping" for a book on Amazon is brutally unattractive. In an old school bookstore, you can glance at a dozen books in a moment. You can take in an entire shelf of books in a minute or two. You can look at covers, find authors, and move on. Amazon is all about click. Click. Click. Click…
So, while many of my books are available for sale on Amazon (See: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Binder/e/B001JS3S9M/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1 ) I take a perverse pleasure in NOT offering everything on their website.
The look of delight on the faces of shoppers at book signings is palpable.
Which is why I'm NOT giving Amazon my new book, THE SEAGULL, THE NEW YORK SYSTEM, A WINNEBAGO, AND THE BIG BLUE BUGS.
Get your copy today
Tired of sheltering in place? Bored with video, corporate culture, and isolation?
When people come together in a room (both in person and "virtually") they create a unique experience that is vivid and joyful.
Lately I've been grateful for opportunities to perform again and share my stories.
I hope you'll invite me to your community, organization or refer the people who make those decisions to me or my agent, Beth Hellman
You can check out
Performances • School Residencies • Tour Dates
We've rebooted, "The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul" as A Village Romance.**
She owns the only restaurant. He’s the wisest man in the village. Together, they make an unlikely and lovable pair. From the Audie Award nominated author of the National Jewish Book Award Finalist, Winter Blessings.
“The lethal latkes is not a murder mystery.” – The New York Times
“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” – Kirkus Reviews
"joyful charm… troubled congregants… warm relationships, and the power of women" – Audiofile Magazine
Weddings and celebrations, stories of Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, and Passover, and of course delicious food. It is time for a new generation of readers to discover the unorthodox wisdom of Rabbi Kibbitz and the savory sense of Mrs. Chaipul.
Izzy Abrahmson is an undiscovered genius of delightful fiction. Readers of all backgrounds will be captivated by his lighthearted take on Jewish village life. In interviews, he sometimes says this is his family's history, and sometimes says he made it all up "from whispers and smiles." The characters are so vivid that you'll instantly love them. Each chapter story is a gem, woven into "a novel of stories."
“A Village Romance will almost certainly make you laugh and might even cause you to shed a tear.” – Jewish Rhode Island
More good press about Izzy Abrahmson's Village Life Series
"Delightful and whimsical.” – Jewish Herald Voice
“Wired Words/Electric Prose” – Providence Phoenix
“the mix-ups are many and the potential for laughter abundant.” – Jewish Book World
Purchase A VILLAGE ROMANCE Now!
Don't see your favorite platform? Click here for more options
Hello!
I'm Izzy Abrahmson, Mark Binder's alter ego. As you may know, Mark's written books and stories about a small village for many years. We recently realized that the computers hated this fact. Yes, it's true. Computers don't like things that aren't simple.
So rather than try and explain everything in machine language, I got born. I'm the guy who will be writing and telling stories about what we're calling The Village. In the next few weeks, all of the existing books under Mark's name will be pulled from circulation and reissued (with a few tweaks) under mine.
I've also got two more novels already written…
Please take a moment to sign up for my own separate newsletter
Changing the way I communicate…
Over the years I've experimented with many newsletters. I began with Grinning Into The Millennium, which ran from 1998 to 2001. The past few years I've been doing mostly "fan/customer" emails. Now it's time to try something different. I'm using Substack, the controversial email system - https://markbinderbooks.substack.com
Sign up to find out more.
We got so many great reviews on the show that it was extended through February 7.
If you haven't had a chance to see it, check it https://thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html
As my first produced play in 3 decades (yowza) this isn't exactly the way I pictured it. No backstage jitters and nervous laughter with the cast. No peeking in at the audience in their seats. No celebratory drinks after the show at the theater's bar.
And yet, it is a real thrill to be able to inspire and be part of the creation of a work of theater that is written specifically for this moment.
No, we can't gather. The only sound of someone unwrapping a hard candy will be your spouse. The communal experience will be mitigated, although the talk-backs after will help to connect the audience.
But that frisson as you enter the lobby. That uncertainty. The balancing act. The inexorable drawing into the narrative and lives of the characters.
All that is ready and waiting for you to experience. And while, yes, it's being recorded, we have no intention of releasing it for a large multinational corporation to profit from. (Unless someone wants to make an exceedingly generous financial offer, in which case, I'll refer you to my agent.)
I hope you'll join us tonight -- or at any of the other showings of THE RACE (Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm, Sundays at 2pm (EST) through January 31.)
Get ticket here - https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html
I truly appreciate the work of the actors: Rodney Eric López, Jim O'Brien and Jennifer Mischley, the director,Brien Lang, music composer Nikita Zabinski and Stage manager Allison Marchetti.
Thanks to Josh Short and The Wilbury Theatre Group for giving me the chance to play in the sandbox again.
You've met Og and Marsha, haven't you?
Well, this story is both prehistoric and contemporary.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon
TOUR DATES
- Chinatown for Chanukah on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/6dBEN4ehfqxkfGz5r9XCXD
- Listen to, Chinatown for Chanukah on East London Radio,'s Talking Stories program… https://www.mixcloud.com/EastLondonRadio/talking-stories-46/
- Virtually Live Storytelling: Holiday Tales at New England Folk Festival Online
Sunday 12/27 at 7pm Register for free at https://bit.ly/neffa-2020 - Virtually Live Storytelling: Story Blowout 2020
An all day storytelling event starting at 10:30 am, curated by Artists Standing Strong Together. I'm on at 5pm sharp (ish) - Info and registration at https://www.artistsstandingstrongtogether.net/upcoming-events - THE RACE - an play set in the Zoom Space. Produced by The Wilbury Theater Group - New dates: Friday and Saturdays 7pm, Sundays, 2pm January 15-31 Tickets are coming, info at: https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html
This summer I got so frustrated watching Zoom performances that ignored reality. They weren't making a live theater.
I began to imagine.… THE RACE
Joseph Black and Joseph White are interviewing for the same position. At the same time. On Zoom.
I invite you to join us for The Wilbury Theater Group's world premier workshop production, directed by Brien Lang and starring Jim O'Brien, Rodney Eric López, and Jennifer Mischley.
For more information and tickets visit https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html
"When I began writing, THE GROSTON RULES was contemporary.
Now? I think it qualifies as historical fiction. Recent and still relevant, but perhaps a bit nostalgic.
Adam, Isaac, and Charlie are dealing with problems of college admissions and climate change, not Coronavirus.
They can hang out with different people every day, and go to an (illicit) rave with only the fear of getting caught by their parents.
And they have the privilege of boycotting a real-live and in person prom.
"Reading THE GROSTON RULES is like eating a great meal at a restaurant. Twice."
Learn more
I'm as disappointed as you that Halloween is cancelled. Yes, parents of some children will arrange for limited contact trick-or-treating, but we're not, as some people suggest, going to be putting out a bowl full of candy!
That reminds me too much of my story, "Fat Charlie and the Witch." Every year, the witch puts a big bowl of candy on her front porch with a sign, "Take whatever you want. But eat whatever you take."
One year, my best friend Charlie (I had a lot of best friends in those days) dumped the whole bowl into his bag with disastrous results.
I invite you to read that story in the book, THE ZOMBIE CAT and share it with your family. It's appropriate for all ages, though a bit on the revolting side.
There are also audio versions floating around on the web, as well as a forthcoming live version that should hit Spotify in the next few days. Links will go here when they come in.
I also invite you to become a Patron. If you were a patron, you would have already received access to the live Fat Charlie story and more. Patrons help support the work – and get rewards for doing so. It's sort of like a beneficent fan club. Or a way of feeling like royalty, but without having to worry about being thrown into The Tower.
Anyone who becomes a patron between now and Halloween will get a free ebook edition of THE ZOMBIE CAT! Click on one of the links below to get THE ZOMBIE CAT, or to become a patron.
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A multi-part serialization (in progress) This is the first installment of a serial.
audiobook #audiobookshort #serial #serialization #LifeDuringCovid #fatherandson #family #yoga #parenting #onlineschool #virtualschool
Last Friday I had the pleasure of being a guest on Simon Brooks' "Friday with Friends" show.
Simon's an awesome storyteller and worth checking out at https://www.diamondscree.com/. Here's the video
What happens when they shut down your school? Isaac, Adam, Helen, Charlie, Sean, Jésus and Rover had planned on coasting through their final semester at Ashby Bryson High. They called themselves Team Bomb Shelter, and their plan was simple, get stoned, play video games, get into college, and get the hell out of Groston.
Instead, they get caught up in chaos.
The last straw is when Ashby Bryson High School is suddenly shut down, and they’re bussed to Fectville Regional, which sucks.
But every time Team Bomb Shelter gets knocked down, they get up again, come together, and solve their problems. They throw the rules out the window and make up their own.
THE GROSTON RULES is like a humorous buddy war movie, with high school as the battlefield. Everyone in Team Bomb Shelter has their own challenges, but by working together, they overcome and ultimately triumph.
PREORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY TODAY
Advance Praise for THE GROSTON RULES:
“A group of high schoolers deals with mishaps and disasters six months before graduation in this coming-of-age novel.... Immensely likable characters on an enthralling and entertaining journey.”
– Kirkus Reviews
Written in 2018 • The first novel to be serialized on Spotify • (NO it's not Covid!)382 Pages with 40 Bookplates
I had a dream that Julie Andrews was making a television show about my bagel story…
But I hadn't written one yet. So when I woke up…
audiobook #audibookshort #roshhashanah #yomkippur #jewishholidays #bagel #bread #chelm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
At 3pm Central time, author, storyteller, playwright and craft publisher Mark Binder will perform the world's first Zoom eBook at Digital Book World. The whimsical autobiographical talk will spiral around the subject of "How technology and distribution spark creativity".
"It's going to be an informative and (hopefully) entertaining whirlwind," Mark explained. "Changing technology has always influenced my process: from my first Mac 512 and MacPaint through The Brothers Schlemiel and Cinderella Spinderella to forthcoming release of The Groston Rules."
For information and to register, visit https://www.digitalbookworld.com/
Just released!Mark Binder 2020, a live "story concert" for the whole family. Every summer, Mark tells stories. This is the ONLY way you can hear him perform live. A 45 minute program the whole family will enjoy.
Enjoy Summer 2020 Today Includes a BONUS companion book
Review from The Providence Journal
During a normal summer, Rhode Island storyteller Mark Binder would be out doing his usual shows at camps, summer schools and community centers. But this pandemic summer is different.
So Binder has issued a collection of five original stories, recorded over the years in various venues. The ones where you can’t tell there’s an audience sound the most professional — but the ones with that “live” feeling have a wonderful charm, with children shouting answers and singing at key moments, prompted by Binder.
The stories themselves are eclectic: a Cinderella who uses a wheelchair (glass slippers aren’t practical for dancing, after all, but they’re perfect if you’re sitting); a version of “Stone Soup” set at Valley Forge; and the true story of Binder’s son Max, who hated pizza.
And then there’s the tall tale of Erika P. Spunk (the “p” stands for prudence, of which she had none), a circus performer with a sturdy and useful umbrella; and Binder’s cousin Adam, who survives a tsunami at Scarborough Beach with admirable style.
It’s all a lot of fun. Binder is a masterful performer, his voice swooping and diving, his characters coming alive.
And if you’d like to see and read them, purchasers of the book can email for a bonus 99-page e-book with the same stories; the “Cinderella Spinderella” tale is nicely illustrated by Steve Mardo. You can get both books at https://gum.co/summer2020
As you know, professional live face to face storytelling has stopped.
I was fortunate enough to get through 2/3 of a world tour before the shutdown.
This is an article was just published in the UK storytelling Magazine Facts and Fiction. You can subscribe here: https://petecastle.co.uk/fandf/enter/
Storytelling and The Pause by Mark Binder
On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, I received word that my live storytelling career had been put into a medically induced coma.
I was in Copenhagen on tour, and had just finished a lovely dinner with my son, when news came that the government of Denmark was closing everything. The school workshops I had planned were cancelled. An evening performance at a small spoken-word venue was cancelled. The money that would have covered that part of the trip evaporated.
All day Thursday, I wandered around Copenhagen, trying not to feel sorry for myself. The Viking Museum was closed. My son was busy dealing with the cancellation of his study abroad program. It was windy and cold. I wanted to want to get drunk, but didn’t. By Friday we were both headed home, hoping not to catch the virus on the airplane.
Storytelling, the way I’ve practiced, it isn’t just another word for making a film or writing a book or selling you a product. It’s a live and in-person experience that’s distinct from theatrical monologue, solo performance art, or comedy.
I stand at the front of a room. I look out at the audience, and pick from a list of about 200 stories in my head, the best and most appropriate tale for that moment.
It’s magical. The audience vanishes. I vanish. All that exists is the story, created with words and imagination.
That whole experience is, for the forseeable future, dead and gone.
I’ve heard the siren song that whispers, “video streaming…” and “Instagram… Zoom… Facebook Live.”
But it’s a crock. While I’m sure that there are nimble and facile tellers out there who will adopt this new form and make it breathe – and perhaps I will even figure out a way to join them — it’s just not the same.
If I’m honest, one of the reasons my storytelling worked was because there was no competition. In the moment of telling, I’M THE ONE IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM. People would come to see me. Or at least to see storytelling.
And I rewarded them by being engaging and entertaining. I’m not a traditional teller. I didn’t grow up in an oral culture. Although my stories could be educational, I usually don’t have an agenda, or even a moral.
It wasn’t high art. Occasionally, it was deep, but honestly… my mission was to Transmit Joy with words.
I told “Three pigs” to preschoolers, “The Zombie Cat” at summer camps, and “Goldilocks and the Three Bubbes” to senior citizens. I frequently convinced ninth graders that a giant slug ate my sister.
Once, at a “true stories” event, an audience of adults gasped when they heard me confess to murdering my on father with a nail gun. (Then, they were furious, when they realized that the “true” part was the frame at the very beginning when I had said, “My therapist told me to kill my father, so I wrote this story…”)
For me, the juice was in that moment of suspension when the crowd of young and old, black and white and yellow and brown and red, rich and poor all become enmeshed in the story. The bonus was that storytelling brought diverse audiences of all ages together in a shared experience that was indescribable.
But it was live. Face-to-face. And intimate.
Not a bunch of people in different rooms staring through their screens at my head.
The virus has put the whole thing on pause. Maybe it’s finished.
No, of course storytelling won’t die. If everything falls apart, I guarantee that those of us who survive will be telling stories (and singing songs) around campfires.
Honestly, I can’t believe that I’ve managed to get paid for the past twenty years of speaking. They call that “imposter” syndrome. But recently, I realized that my children all grew up knowing that their father was a writer and “professional storyteller.” So it must be true.
But mass gatherings? Audiences that pay to be in an enclosed space with strangers? Before The Pause, our society was already heavily invested in home entertainment. We spent thousands on video screens, laptops, tablets and hundreds a month to pay for phone and internet services, games, and streaming subscriptions. We spent more time “connecting” on social media and less time reading. We already spent days binge watching on the couch.
Even before The Pause, those of us who told stories saw our audiences dwindle.
I have been so fortunate. Thousands of performances for hundreds of thousands of listeners around the world, sneaking most a final world tour in under the wire.
At the time I didn’t know it, but my last event before it all stopped was an open mic in London called, “Tales in Tooting.”
Hosted by Niall Mooranji it was a small gathering of listeners with a few tellers, many from the Discover Children’s Story Centre. Over several fine pints of real ale I was treated to stories of Britain, fairy tales in a way Americans just don’t get, and adventures from around the world. Niall told a draft excerpt of a piece on “The Uprising” in India.
When I stood (because, let’s face it, give me an opportunity and I’m going to take it) I said that I felt overwhelmed by the variety and physicality of their stories.
I launched into, “The Two Monks and the Gross Slimy Monster.” It’s a humorous take on the Zen Bones story about two monks and a woman.
As I sat down to write this piece, I realized that this was the very first story I ever told to a group of professional storytellers at Sharing the Fire way back in 2001.
“Grasshopper,” the master says at the end, “I left that monster on the other side of the river. You have been carrying her with you this whole way.”
The stages and nightclubs, classrooms, libraries, concert halls, auditoriums, even the parks are closed.
I’m going to miss it. We all are. In the coming months we will write (and webcast) and record new material appropriate to the zeitgeist.
Live, face to face storytelling…
Pause. Reset. Begin.
“After the time of distancing, people came together. They were reluctant to come close, to hug or kiss.
“Then someone said, ‘Let me tell you a story…’ And the world was reborn.”
This article is copyright 2020 by Mark Binder, all rights reserved.
Read the PDF "Storytelling and the Pause"
This article was published in the British storytelling magazine Facts and Fiction. Brilliantly edited by Pete Castle, I highly recommend you subscribe.
Subscribe here: https://petecastle.co.uk/fandf/enter/
As it says in the introduction, a good friend asked me to write a humorous story about the coronavirus.
It's too soon. But… I remembered that I'd written this story a decade ago.
Enjoy!
- Mark Binder
If the stories we tell create our future, why are we choosing to tell these? Ever beat yourself up? For years I've been my own worst enemy/best critic. I rip everything I do to shreds. No sooner am I done with a project than I find its flaws. Even worse, I doubt the value of the project in the world. Instantly I become certain that no one will want to listen. No one cares.
On a purely practical level, it's true. No one cares as much about your work as you do. And by being pre-emptively critical, you might prod yourself to do better.
More likely, self-whispering sabotages any possibility of that project flying high and free and taking flight on its own.
(Pssst. Democratic Party candidates, officials and voters, I'm talking to you. Start celebrating your greatness instead of playing the pundit's games.)
So I'm going to take a moment and celebrate with you:
- Last week I finished the first draft of what is likely to be the concluding volume of my "Life in Chelm" series.
- I had been thinking of this as the "final" volume, but the fact is that there are at least two other story collections and another novel that are locked and loaded.
- For me, the Village of Chelm is a place where the fears and disasters of the world may be present, but unravel with joy and humor.
- So far I've published four "Life in Chelm" books -- which you are welcome to read in any order -- they all overlap in time and space.
- This afternoon I'm flying to Europe for my first world tour since 2016.
- Stops include: Vienna, London, Copenhagen and Providence!
- These are going to be awesome events! Tell your friends and come to the shows in those areas.
- I'm keeping a tour journal, but I invite you to follow it on social medias at #Chelm2020.
Thank you as always for your support.
https://jewishbookweek.com/event/misadventures-in-chelm-and-other-stories/
Now that the White House's Pet Mime is in charge of the Coronavirus, I'm not worried at all about travel…
On Monday, I jet off to Vienna for the First stop of my #Chelm2020 world tour.
If you know anyone in Vienna, come on and say hi.
7:30 PM Wednesday, 3/4/2020: The Misadventures in of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul - Story Talk and Book Signing at Shakespeare & Co, Sterngasse 2, 1010 Vienna,
6:30pm Sunday, 3/8/2020: Misadventures in Chelm (and other stories) at Jewish Book Week - KINGS PLACE 90 York Way, London N1 9AG (https://jewishbookweek.com/event/misadventures-in-chelm-and-other-stories/)
6pm Thursday, 3/12/2020: Misadventures in Chelm at Words Festival - BestTellers, Krusågade 25-27 kld., 1719 Copenhagen V,
I'll be back in Rhode Island for the finale of this season's Spoken Story Saturdays.
Come on down. We're planning on doing some live video. The theme? Homecoming and of course Springtime (It's the Equinox)
Two sets: Family fare at 2pm, 14 and up at 3pm
Admission: $10, $5 for students, seniors, under-employed
The Parlour Pub is located at 1119 North Main Street, Providence.
Details at https://facebook.com/spokenstorysaturdays/
I'm pleased to announce that I'm going on my Life in Chelm 2020 World Tour!
EUROPE (and UK) * Vienna: March 4, 7:30 PM: The Misadventures in of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul - Story Talk and Book Signing at Shakespeare & Co, Sterngasse 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria * London: Sunday, March 8, 6:30pm: Misadventures in Chelm (and other stories) at London Jewish Book Week, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG, UK * Copenhagen: Thursday, March 12, 6pm,: Misadventures in Chelm at Words Festival - BestTellers, Krusågade 25-27 kld., 1719 Copenhagen V, Denmark
RI MINI TOUR * Saturday, Feb 15 2pm - Spoken Story Saturdays hosting Marlon Carey and Raffini at the Parlour Pub, 1119 North Main St, Providence. Theme: Sweet… * Sunday, Feb 23, Book Signing and Talk at Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence, RI * Sunday, March 15, 2pm - Book Signing and Talk at Barrington Books Cranston, 176 Hillside Road, Cranston * Saturday, March 21, 2pm Spoken Story Saturdays "Springtime - Homecoming" Season Finale at The Parlour, 1119 N Main St, Providence, RI * Sunday, March 22, 2pm Book Signing and Talk at Barrington Books, 184 County Rd., Barrington,
A new season of Spoken Story Saturdays at the Parlour Pub!
- January 18 - Beginnings
- February 15 - Sweet…
- March 21 - Springtime!
Two sets: Family fare at 2pm, 14 and up at 3pm
Admission: $10, $5 for students, seniors, under-employed
The Parlour Pub is located at 1119 North Main Street, Providence.
Darkness, Light and the New Year - a pop-up showcase Come to the Parlour Pub on Saturday, December 21 for the first Spoken Story Saturday.
Two sets: one for families and one for 14 and up
Featured performers include: Mark Binder, Jay Walker, Damon Combs (and possibly others).
Admission: $10, $5 for students, seniors, under-employed
The Parlour is located at 1119 North Main Street, Providence.
Holiday Book Signing: December 14
I will be signing copies of THE MISADVENTURES and most of my other books at the FarmFreshRI Winter Farmer's Market in Pawtucket, RI. If you already purchased a copy, bring it and I'll sign it. (Please feel free to buy more.) If you haven't, now's your chance! You'll also have a chance to see and buy some beautiful functional ceramic wares created by my lovely bride, Heather.
When and Where? Saturday, December 17 and December 14, 9am to 1pm, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI (Hope Artiste Village)
The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul "Binder, one of Rhode Island’s leading storytellers, is back with a set of gentle tales about an elderly rabbi and the woman who runs the village restaurant and steals his heart."–Alan Rosenberg, Providence Journal
"The Feel-Good Book of the Season!" – Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv
"great fun and full of humour." – Facts and Fiction Magazine, UK
"The Wise Men of Chelm’ reimagined… Mark Binder’s “The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul” will almost certainly make you laugh – and might even cause you to shed a tear." – James Rosenberg, Jewish Rhode Island Newspaper
“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” – Kirkus Reviews
"The Lethal Latkes is not a murder mystery. It concerns some awful-tasting latkes (potato pancakes) and what you might call another Hanukkah miracle: love.” – The New York Times
Available in stores and…
A word about Thanksgiving… Thanksgiving has always been a quintessential American holiday: families gather together and over-eat. Often there is football, and recently pre-game shopping. Occasionally conversation veers toward politics, or flaw-finding in the celebration of a history based on conquest. Sometimes we tell stories.
What I love about Thanksgiving is something that I think is at the heart of my Life in Chelm series -- the idea that community holds the heart of the individual, even when the individual is lost.
As we tuck in our napkins and pick up our forks and knives, I hope we can be grateful for the people in our lives.
And for anyone who feels alone or isolated, please come and visit Chelm. Then, when you're done reading, take a moment to find another person and reach out to give them a hug.
– Mark Binder, November 24, 2019
The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul "Binder, one of Rhode Island’s leading storytellers, is back with a set of gentle tales about an elderly rabbi and the woman who runs the village restaurant and steals his heart."–Alan Rosenberg, Providence Journal
"The Feel-Good Book of the Season!" – Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv
"great fun and full of humour." – Facts and Fiction Magazine, UK
"The Wise Men of Chelm’ reimagined… Mark Binder’s “The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul” will almost certainly make you laugh – and might even cause you to shed a tear." – James Rosenberg, Jewish Rhode Island Newspaper
“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” – Kirkus Reviews
"The Lethal Latkes is not a murder mystery. It concerns some awful-tasting latkes (potato pancakes) and what you might call another Hanukkah miracle: love.” – The New York Times
Available in stores and…
The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul "Binder, one of Rhode Island’s leading storytellers, is back with a set of gentle tales about an elderly rabbi and the woman who runs the village restaurant and steals his heart."–Alan Rosenberg, Providence Journal
"The Feel-Good Book of the Season!" – Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv
"great fun and full of humour." – Facts and Fiction Magazine, UK
"The Wise Men of Chelm’ reimagined… Mark Binder’s “The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul” will almost certainly make you laugh – and might even cause you to shed a tear." – James Rosenberg, Jewish Rhode Island Newspaper
“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” – Kirkus Reviews
"The Lethal Latkes is not a murder mystery. It concerns some awful-tasting latkes (potato pancakes) and what you might call another Hanukkah miracle: love.” – The New York Times
Available in stores and…
A brief novel for adults, with no politics, and a lot of smiles. You’ll enjoy reading it, and giving it as a gift. Hardcover, softcover, eBook, audiobook…
“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” – Kirkus Reviews
"The Lethal Latkes is not a murder mystery. It concerns some awful-tasting latkes (potato pancakes) and what you might call another Hanukkah miracle: love.” – The New York Times
Available in stores and…
Get it on Amazon.com for yourself, and your friends, school, shul, church, mosque…and help it become a best seller today
Also available at some
(If you want it, but don't want to get it on Amazon, then you can order a copy here)
BOOK NEWS: For the past year and a quarter, I’ve been working on The Bark Minder Project, a collection of edgy work for adults. As part of that, I created a novel that was initially serialized on Spotify. Last week, I finished the umpteenth draft and began sending queries to agents. I’ll keep you posted as … Continue reading "Book News, Tour Dates and Passover"
I often wonder about the origin of human interests. Who was the first scientist? Usually, I find that it begins with Og, the caveman. Og is a hapless protagonist who makes a lot of mistakes. In this story, Og stumbles on the secret to a happy marriage, and finds a new source of protein. Feel … Continue reading "Who ate the first clam?"
What are the Vampire Clams of Narragansett Bay? Who ate the first clam? Find out This Saturday from 9:30 to 1:30 pm at 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI (second Floor) Or purchase here now. Loading The Vampire Clams of Narragansett Bay…
It’s tonight! Starting around 7:30! See if Loki Ragnarok is the big winner for Original work! Or will it be Magus Elgar? or Splat! A Quirky Cat Audio Book? Or someone else? Watch the #audies2019 and see who wins. CSPAN will be broadcasting the whole thing! https://www.c-span.org/video/?458126-1/2019-audie-awards … follow this to get a heads up when … Continue reading "Watch the Audies Tonight!"
Almost every day during the winter, someone would look at the sticker on my puffy down parka and say, “I voted for Bernie.” or “Still hanging on, huh?” I’d slapped it on a billion “news cycles” ago, because I supported Bernie over Hillary. Over and over back then, people would tell me, “He can’t win. … Continue reading "Stop Playing the Reality Election Game Show"
February 4, 2019. New YorkLOKI RAGNAROK, written and narrated by Mark Binder has been nominated for a 2019 Audie Award for Best Original Work! The audiobook was published by Light Publications, and is available on Audible, GooglePlayAudioBooks, Scribd, and many other platforms. Considered the audiobook Oscars, the Audie Award ceremony is presented by the Audio…
Some of you know that for the past year I’ve been working on a novel under the nom de plume of “The Bark Minder Project.” I created this alter-ego as a way of developing new material that might be edgy or “inappropriate” for children. (Don’t worry, I’m still doing work for families and young people!) … Continue reading "Bark Minder Project Novel Draft 18 Complete!"
“The Challah that Ate Chelm” is one of my oldest and most favorite stories… Friday is #challahday — and I’ve been baking for years. But when I started, it was a disaster. “The Challah that Ate Chelm” is a story that grew from an early baking disaster. Last Sunday, I had the honor of being … Continue reading "Life in Chelm (live at Limmud)"
Will this be Rabbi Kibbitz's last Chanukah? It seems unimaginable, but I've been writing Hanukkah stories for more than 20 years. This year's tale is somewhat wistful.