Folklore & Fiction

A devout king of cats returns from his pilgrimage to Mecca. A devout king of mice prepares to welcome him. Mousey subjects express misgivings about the whole reformed cat thing. Join me for a fable that tackles a difficult topic, and come away with a few tools for tackling difficult topics yourself. (Companion Dispatch: https://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-113b)

A beautiful princess who will only wed a man who can tell her a story whose beginning is impossible and whose end is untrue. A storyteller who specializes in the absurd. Join me for a tale that might belong in many categories and a discussion of its many narrative treasures. (Companion Dispatch: https://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-2014)

Three mayoral candidates who decide to let a stranger govern the city of Cork and a brush-maker who doesn't recognize himself in the trappings of office. City fathers who believe it's possible to shift a church by pushing it. Where's the funny? Join me and find out. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-1284-and-atu-1326)

Join me in a discussion of weak humans, strong monsters, and the power relationships between them. Come away with a better understanding of folk poetry and song. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-1096-sewing-contest)

Join me in an exploration of folkloric elements in my forthcoming climate change fable, "Metal Crow and Ghost Crow." (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/summer-solstice-dispatch-2021)

Join me in a discussion of a Realistic Tale type for the unreal, and come away with an exercise designed to help you craft better lies in storytelling. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-852-lying-contest)

Join me for the first in a new series of supplementary dispatches and podcasts addressing the intersections between climate change, ecology, folklore, and the sacred. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-780-singing-bone-supplement)

Join me in an exploration of a popular tale type and its Child Ballad variants, and come away with a few guiding questions for subverting folkloric narratives. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-780-singing-bone)

Join me in an exploration of a tale type with a very spooky motif, and come away with an exercise designed to help you make the most of it as a storyteller. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-365-dead-bridegroom-carries-his-bride)

Join me for an exploration of a little tale type with a lot of hidden depth, and come away with an exercise designed to help you make the most of that depth as a storyteller. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-60-fox-and-crane-invite-each-other)