The Story Blender

Kenny Tedford is one of only two deaf people in the world with a master’s degree in storytelling, which he earned at 55, almost half a century after being told by teachers and psychologists that he would never complete the third grade. Oxygen deprivation in utero resulted in him being born deaf, partially blind, partially paralyzed on his left side, and unable to speak clearly until the age of 10. Kenny has served as the Executive Director of both the Tennessee Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing and the Communications Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, and has also worked as a career counselor and employment specialist for the disabled. Together with author and speaker Paul Smith, Kenny is the author of the book “Four Days With Kenny Tedford.”

From the Story Vault: Acclaimed author Karin Slaughter is published in 120 countries, has sold more than 35 million books, and serves as the Director-at-Large for International Thriller Writers. Listen in to catch hold of her passion for sharing empowering and honest stories of women as she discusses PIECES OF HER, her eighteenth novel. Author A.E. Schwartz joins as a special guest host.

Minton Sparks has worked as a spoken word performance artist for many years. Fusing music, poetry, and an intoxicating gift for storytelling, Minton Sparks paints word pictures of the rural South that put you square in the middle of the people and the places she knows like the back of her hand. Minton is a wildly original poet, performance artist, novelist, teacher, and essayist whose appearances range from the prestigious Jonesborough National Storytelling Festival all the way to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and Lincoln Center in New York City. In addition to writing and performing, Minton teaches a workshop called Create Your Story at universities and professional organizations across the country.

Jon Land is the USA Today bestselling author of 50 books, including ten titles in the critically acclaimed Caitlin Strong series. His works have received awards and accolades including multiple International Book Awards, the USA Books Best Book Award, the Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Mystery, and an American Book Fest Best Book Award for Mystery/Suspense. For three years Jon wrote in the MURDER, SHE WROTE book series based on the hit CBS television show starring Angela Lansbury. He also wrote the film Dirty Deeds, which has been downloaded over 50 million times via various streaming services since its release. Jon is a 1979 graduate of Brown University and lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Alan Jacobson is a USA Today Bestselling author of jaw-dropping FBI & black ops thrillers with 20-plus years of New York City publishing industry experience. Alan’s latest thriller, RED DEATH, is available now wherever books are sold.

Carol Van Den Hende is an author, speaker, and strategist who is a Climate Reality leader and board member as well as a mom of twins. Her latest novel, Goodbye, Orchid, recently won the American Fiction Award for urban fiction, the Pinnacle Award for multicultural fiction, and was named a “Most Anticipated Fall Read” by Parade, Buzzfeed and Travel+Leisure.

Chris Fabry is an award- winning author and radio personality who was recently inducted into the Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications Hall of Fame. A native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children. Chris has won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Awards of Merit from Christianity Today. His books include movie novelizations such as War Room and Overcomer, and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. He encourages writers of all skill levels through his website, heyyoucanwrite.com.

Bobby Norfolk has been a story-performer, actor, and author for 43 years. He is a recipient of The NSN Circle of Excellence Award and has traveled internationally promoting his craft to all who will listen. He was a National Park Service Ranger at The Gateway Arch and Historic Old Courthouse in St. Louis for 10 years honing his Living History programs for the stage. In 2018, Bobby was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by The University of MO - St. Louis and gave the commencement address to the College of Arts & Sciences.

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of The Line Between, The House of Bathory duology, Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, and the Books of Mortals series with NYT bestselling author Ted Dekker. A notorious night-owl, she loves watching TV, eating bacon, playing video games with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband. You can find her hanging around the snack table or wherever bacon is served. Her latest book, A Single Light, releases September 17, 2020 from Simon & Schuster and is available for pre-order now!

From the Story Vault: Acclaimed for his originality, James unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets in his breakneck-speed novels. Called “One of the world’s best storytellers” by the Huffington Post, James shares insights into his writing process and an insider’s look at his thriller The Demon Crown.