The Story Blender

A special episode of fun, family-friendly stories to get your new year off to a good start, told by world-renowned storytellers Steven James and Bob Stromberg.

Robert J. Morgan is a prolific author and gifted storyteller who has served as a pastor in Nashville for forty years. He’s written more than two dozen bestselling and award-winning books, including the seasonal favorite “12 Stories of Christmas,” and his books have more than 5 million copies in print. In this special Christmas episode of The Story Blender, Robert shares some of his secrets to storytelling and also tells one of his most beloved Christmas stories, “Gabriel’s Cry.”

Sheila Arnold is a gifted performer who has been using her talent since she was eight years old. She has been a full-time storyteller for seventeen years, traveling through the United States and sharing a variety of stories as well as doing Historic Character Presentations and Christian Monologues. At her core, “Ms. Sheila,” as she is commonly called, is a Professional Imaginator with a passion, vision, and ministry of healing hearts, unifying communities, and reminding people to share their stories.

Tamera Alexander is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous books including Colors of Truth, With This Pledge, A Lasting Impression, A Note Yet Unsung, and To Whisper Her Name. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her multiple industry awards including awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Bookseller’s Best Award.Tamera was recently inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame for excellence in Christian Fiction, an honor bestowed to an author following four Christy Award wins, and is listed among Publishers Weekly and Library Journal’s Top Inspirational Fiction authors.

Chuck Neighbors is an actor and writer. For over 45 years he has toured throughout North America as well as to 18 countries on 6 continents. His most popular show, a one-man dramatic adaptation of Charles Sheldon’s classic In His Steps, has been featured both radio and television as well as performed before thousands of audiences. Chuck’s published works include 11 books of theater scripts. He has also authored Drama Workshop: Teaching Drama to Beginning Actors and Church Pews, Potlucks and a Tank of Gas: A Survival Guide for the Independent Christian Artist. And for something completely different, he published the best-selling children's book I Am Lucy, and a book of faith-based limericks: Get Me to the Church in Rhyme. Chuck is a husband, a father, and a grandfather who lives in Salem, Oregon.

From the Story Vault: C.C. Humphreys is a multi-talented actor and novelist who gives a unique perspective on developing characters for fiction and presenting stories orally, even for those who aren’t trained in acting. Listen in as he talks through what led him to write his novel Chasing the Wind.

Leonardo Wild is a professional author with 11 published books, over 200 published articles, and 49 produced scripts. Although he wears many hats, writing has been his livelihood and passion since the age of twelve. Currently the CEO and co-owner of a company dedicated to environmental solutions in Ecuador, Leonardo has travelled extensively. He has sailed across the Atlantic and the Pacific, was the skipper of a million-dollar yacht in New Zealand, and in 1989 survived Harry, a Category 4 cyclone. He has walked three times over the Andes into the Amazon jungle, taken part in gold survey expeditions in Ecuador’s rain forests, cycled across South America, built wooden houses, advised Ecuador’s Central Bank on currency design, and more. His adventures invariably find their way into his writing.

From The Story Vault: Bina Shah is a journalist and novelist who lives in Karachi, Pakistan and is one of the country's most talented authors. Her 2009 book Slum Child was a bestseller in Italy. Along with teaching writing at a university level, she is also a regular contributor to The International New York Times, offering her perspective on Pakistan's society, culture, and women's rights.

Alex Segura is an acclaimed writer of novels, comic books, and podcasts. He is the author of the Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, the Pete Fernandez Mystery series (including the the Anthony Award-nominated crime novels Dangerous Ends, Blackout. and Miami Midnight), and the upcoming book Secret Identity. He has also written a number of comic books, most notably the superhero noir The Black Ghost, the YA music series The Archies, and the “Archie Meets” collection of crossovers, featuring real-life cameos from the Ramones, B-52s, and more. He is also the co-creator-slash-co-writer of the Lethal Lit crime/YA podcast from iHeart Radio, which was named one of the best podcasts of 2015 by The New York Times. By day he is Co-President of Archie Comics. A Miami native, he lives in New York with his wife and children.

From the Story Vault: An expert in the kidnapping and ransom world, K.J. Howe is an international bestselling author and avid traveler who has raced camels in Jordan, surfed in Hawaii, and dived with great white sharks in South Africa. She offers great insights on writing believable female protagonists as we explore her critically-acclaimed book SKYJACK.