The Story Behind the Stories

The first of the Slamto Carracas Stories has now been published! After 3 decades (gulp!) of readings and performances, it was finally time! Yes, the stories have been "out there" for quite a while, but few people know how they came to be. Here is the brief story behind the stories...

Back in 1987, I met a man who I "knew" immediately. I'm not sure I even believed in past lives at the time, but I felt that I had known him forever. In fact, I got the feeling that we had been brothers! It was strange...weird...and destiny.

We were both in the acting world, and there was a sense of play, as we began dating. Joel would make "proclamations" in a fantasy language (actors know this as "gibberish"), and he was -- and is-- a supreme storyteller.

I had been writing since I COULD write and it seemed like a natural extension to gift him with a tale about a lonely storyteller and his wish for a lifelong friend. Thus, on July 6, 1987, the Smigleybuf bear was born. That original tale, Slamto Carracas and the Smigleybuf Bear, is included in my first book, as the prologue.

Other stories followed -- there are now six total, and probably more to come.

It has been an amazing journey. I'm excited to explore the next chapter with you!