Sacred Story Tellers Donna Ingham is a storyteller from Spicewood. At the Texas Storytelling Festival in 2007 Donna Ingham received the John Henry Faulk Award "for outstanding contributions to the art of storytelling” which is the highest recognition given for storytelling in the Southwest. Donna is a past board member of the Tejas Storytelling Association and is a member of the National Storytelling Network. The author of three books, soon to be four, she is a willing mentor for storytellers and writers and a tireless supporter of storytelling and literary events. Donna has found her "calling." Mary Grace Ketner retired from the Institute of Texan Cultures, she has also served in a half-time position as Director of Religious Education at First Unitarian Church in San Antonio during the '80's. She says, “To me, there are moments of transformation in traditional legends and fairy tales which reflect and reinforce the transformations people undergo in their spiritual journeys. Traditional stories help us pass our values to the next generation. In a very strong sense, my reasons for telling stories are related to my personal faith.” George West Storyfest Sacred Stories First United Methodist Church 501 Crocket Street George West, TX. Sunday Nov. 8, 2009 9:30 a.m. Sheila Starks Phillips is on the Traveling Artists Roster of TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS and a past recipient of the John Henry Faulk Award. Sheila Starks Phillips resides in Sugar Land with her cat Flo (short for Florence Nightengale). Sheila is a long time member of the Network of Biblical Storytellers and tells stories on a regular basis in the Children’s Chapel at Calvary Episcopal Church, Richmond, TX. Her goal is to teach, in an entertaining manner, morals, problem solving, and life lessons and to also motivate children to read. Consuelo Samarripa shares her Mexican heritage through stories, tales, poetry, and folklore. Unique bilingual blends and "noise makers," as well as her use of shawls, add interest to her storytelling style. Her varied life experiences allow her to relate to audiences through a different perspective-- as a native and a foreigner. She also shares her bilingual blend of multicultural folktales and historical stories.