Humorist and folklorist Donna Ingham takes the ancient art of storytelling and gives it a Texas twist to entertain audiences of all ages. Hear tall tales, folklore, historical and personal stories told only as a Texan could – or would.

As a storyteller Donna has appeared at festivals and conferences throughout the United States and even swapped a yarn or two in Ireland. A former college professor with a Ph.D. in English, she also offers workshops, master classes, and training and in-service sessions as well as age-appropriate programs for elementary and secondary schools.

As a published author, she brings an added dimension to her school visits, and she both entertains and enlightens audiences at book festivals and conferences. Her reputation as a humorist makes her a popular luncheon and after-dinner speaker and presenter of special programs and keynotes as well.

She has been named the Biggest Liar in Austin, Texas, seven times and the Biggest Liar in Texas four times and is a recipient of the John Henry Faulk Award for “outstanding contributions to the art of storytelling” and a National Storytelling Oracle Regional Excellence Award for “exceptional commitment and exemplary contributions to the art of storytelling.”

Donna is listed on the Texas Touring Roster of the Texas Commission on the Arts and on the Mid-America Arts Alliance Regional Touring Program.

Autumn 2023

Wallace Stegner says, “Another fall, another turned page. . .”

That’s the plan: continuing to turn pages, doing research and writing stories. As a certified elder, I feel a certain urgency to get things down, especially those family and personal stories I alone may remember and those folk tales and folk ways that need to be collected, preserved, and passed on. As opportunities arise, I’ll certainly be out and about sharing stories orally as well.

As immediate past president of the Texas Folklore Society, I’ll be representing TFS, along with others, at the 13^th Annual Dobie Dichos, November 3, in Oakville, Texas. I’ve been invited to tell at the event twice but will be a “professional listener” at this year’s event, hoping to sign up members for the Society. Learn more about Dobie Dichos at dobiedichos.com and the Texas Folklore Society at https://texasfolkloresociety.org.

A November deadline of importance to Texas schools, libraries, and other non-profits is the quarterly Texas Commission on the Arts deadline for Arts Respond Performance Support Grant applications. Those applications are due by November 1 to be considered for activities occurring between December 15, 2023, and March 14, 2024. Details and a list of artists on the TCA Texas Touring Roster are available on the TCA website: https://arts.texas.gov.

Meanwhile, remember to turn your clocks back (November 5), and use that extra hour to tell more stories. . .