Been there, done that

Julianna and her friend and I are at the Moth--judging the GrandSlam at the Echoplex--The Moth is the Gold-standard of Storytelling. Check out: themoth.org. Love the podcasts...the last three times I went, I prepared a fab tale, put my name in the hat and wasn't called. To make it worse...there were eleven names in the hat the last time. Only ten could tell a tale. Geeze...by the time the tenth name was called it was too late to drink. Aghhhh. So, we've got L.B.Searches.

Spark off the Rose is a great storytelling show in Pacific Palisades, CA. Sorry the pic is small but if you go get your magnifying glasses...Storyteller of reknown, Bill Ratner, is in the center, and I'm third over from his left. All the stories were excellent and they have a proper rehearsal prior to the show. Then snacks after in the lobby for a shlight shmooze.

Storytelling Finals, aug. 2016.....Harold Payne played, Mark Wilde c0-emcee'd, robbin fortier stage manager,

2017 Jan. 21 Speaker at So. Cal Writer's Assoc., Fountain Valley, CA
2016 Oct.1, Storytellers Workshop, Facilitator, Torrance Cultural Art Center
2016 May 14, On Motherhood, Guest Storyteller, Long Beach Community Theatre
2016 Accidentally Unfamous: (audio book release date TBA)

Podcasts—Featured Guest

2015 December 4th, “At a Glance” Talk Radio with Host Rodney Bardin, Live interview with Mariana & Paul Williams
2015 “Seated at the Writer’s Table” with Host Phil Giangrande http://tinyurl.com/juocwbl
2015 November 18th, Featured Guest Storyteller at Taboo Tales Fall Show, Macha Theatre, West Hollywood, CA
2015 August 8th, Guest Speaker, California Writer’s Club, Long Beach, CA
2015 Creator/Producer Huntington Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller
2014 June 10th, Second place at The Moth StorySlam in Public Housing Works Library, NYC, NY Mariana told, “Daddy’s Last Ride” (missed winning by 1 tenth of a point, it's on YouTube.)
2014 June 2nd, Love, Regret & Accidental Nudity: International Book Award Finalist; non-fiction humor category.
2014 May 30th, Mariana leads Storytelling Workshop, Alamitos Bay, Long Beach, CA
2014 February 3rd, An Evening of Mariana’s True Tales, 15 Shades of Love—The Lighter Side of Betrayal, Revenge and Accidental Nudity, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2013 September 21st, Guest Speaker, Southern California Writer’s Association, Fountain Valley, CA
2013 April 20th, Featured Storyteller, Voices at the Water’s Edge Storytelling Festival, Encinitas, CA
2013 February 22nd, Storytelling Workshop (co-led by Evie King), San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2013 February 1st, Mariana facilitates Storytelling Workshop, Long Beach, CA
2011 Creator/Producer Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller (2011—current)

In the last here years I have also attended prestigious storytelling festivals in the United States, including the following: Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in Utah; Jonesboro Storytelling Festival in Tennessee; Bay Area Storytelling Festival in Oakland, CA.

Timpanogos Storytelling Fest, five huge tents with tellers amidst a backdrop of Utah's natural beauty. 2015

Storytelling All Stars

SUN., JAN. 25th AT MALARKEYS.

We present the winning storytellers for the year, 2011; Hiroshi Hosoda, 2012; Jason Bowe, 2013;Will Mc Crabb and 2014; Barbara Jordon. Also, Summer 2014 winner, Lisa Dickey." When I was 21, I traveled alone for three weeks through Pakistan."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sun., Dec. 28th Long Beach Searches Finals for 2014

DAVID URSTEIN WAS HELD AT GUN POINT DURING A ROBBERY. IT WAS A CLEVER ACT OF SURVIVAL THAT KEPT HIM ALIVE --TO TELL THE TALE!

Book Signing and new friends in Kauai, September

REACHING OUT TO EXPRESS HERSELF, BARBARA IMPRESSED THE JUDGES AND AUDIENCE ALIKE AND WON THE POPULAR VOTE AS WELL AS $100 AND THE TITLE, PICS FROM FINALS, SUN., DEC.28, '14.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2014

Sept.10th Radio interview on KKCR "Kauai Vibrations" 2:00 p.m. with host Tracey Schavone,
discussing Love, Regret and Accidental Nudity
Sept.12th Book Signing at TALK STORY BOOK STORE during Art Walk Festival,Fesitval & Art Walk, 5:30-9 p.m.
Hanapepe Village, Kauai, (Hawaii)

Sept. 28th, Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller, Fall Show 7-9 p.m., 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach,  CA (accepting story submissions Sept. 1st- on
Wed., Sept. 24th, 11:00 a.m.
AuthorSpeak! Mariana speaks on writing at The Leisure World Library, 12501 Seal Beach, Blvd., time TBA Seal Beach, CA

Oct. 2-4, Jonesborough Storytelling Festival, Festival grounds at:117 Boone Street, Jonesborough, TN (Mariana attends 1st time, and hopefully weasels into story slam.)
Dec. 28th, Finals Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller 7-9 p.m., 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT (2014)Aug. 3rd Book Signing at APOSTROPHE BOOKS, 2-4 p.m. 5229 E.2nd St. L.Bch, 2-4 p.m. We'll have cam-corder to record your OMG moments too!
Aug. 3rd, Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller, Summer Show 7-9 p.m., 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA
July 27th, Open Story Slam at University Synagogue, 12:45 p.m., 3400 Michelson Dr, Irvine, CA 92612
June 10, THE MOTH, Public Housing Works Library, New York City , Mariana told, “Daddy’s Last Ride” (missed winning by 1 tenth of a point)
June 2,   Love, Regret and Accidental Nudity announced Finalist for International Book Award Competition, Humor,
  The Valentine State announced Finalist for IBA Book Award, Chick Lit
May 30,  Mariana leads STORYTELLING WORKSHOP, Alamitos Bay, Long Bch. Terrific evening with Barbara, Sharon, Kellie, Robbin, Cheryl, Bob, Julie,
Don, Ce Ce and Karl
May 17-18, BAY AREA STORYTELLING FESTIVAL, Oakland, CA, Mariana told, “How to Get Free Candy in July” at story slam
April 27th, LONG BEACH SEARCHES FOR GREATEST STORYTELLER, Spring   Winner: Nick Yaro, runner-up: Barbara Jordon

WATCH NOW FINALS AT LONG BEACH SEARCHES FOR GREATEST STORYTELLER, DEC. 29, 2013.
_CLICK HERE!_ (RUNNING TIME 28 MINUTES) THANKS TO OUR PADNET TEAM: JOHN, ROBBIN, KELLY, JOEY AND BOBBIE

Thanks to Southern California
Writer's Association
for inviting me to speak to the club on Sat., Sept. 21st in Fountain Valley, CA.
We had a lively meeting; first I spoke on Storytelling and devulged many secrets of the craft...heh, heh, then we ate a delicious Claim Jumper lunch, and after, listened to daring stories told by their members and guests. We kept the true tales to five-minutes.
Here I am with President, Larry Porricelli.

ELIZABETH & MARIANA GUIDE YOUR TRUE TALE

Long Beach, California
STORYTELLING WORKSHOP
Fri., Feb. 1, 2013 6-10 p.m. with Mariana & Elizabeth West. We had a fun night. I read the stories ahead of time for edits--I have no idea what the person looks like, their age, style. But, I do know something personal about them. Something they are ready to share. It's an exciting process. No healing or therapy, just a moment in the sun to share your truth in front of attentive listeners and feel the applause after a job well done. The show was great, guys!

San Miguel de Allende,Mexico
STORYTELLING WORKSHOP

Evie King and I led a Storytelling Workshop, Feb. 22, 2013, after the Writer's Conference at San Miguel Allende. It was at The Shelter--a great little theatre. Evie is an award winning Fiction and Fantasy writer whose acting background helped our workshop attendees do their best performances at the end of the workshop. www.elizabetheveking.com. BTW, we are standing in front of one of her paintings. She is a talented artist as well. More paintings are in the lobby of the Shelter.

2014
An Evening of Mariana's True Tales, Monday, Feb. 3,,2014 5 p.m.
15 Shades of Love-The Lighter Side of Betrayal, Revenge & Accidental Nudity-One-night only, in San Miguel de Allende, Mex. (I had such a great time at the Literary Conference last year, and with fellow author, Evie King, we did a storytelling workshop.) I've been invited to do an evening of my stories this time.
Where: Teatro Santa Ana/Biblioteca
Address: Relox 50-A, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Cost: 50 pesos (half of the proceeds benefit children’s library)
The Lighter Side of Betrayal, Revenge and Accidental Nudity, is an evening of humorous, edgy, true tales by author/storyteller Mariana Williams. When asked, “Why do you claim to know so much about love?” she responds, “Perhaps because between my mom, dad and myself—we’ve racked up thirteen marriages. Romantic? Maybe, but optimistic? Certainly! If my dad weren’t Catholic, he might have had even more than six wives. I HAD SOME DOUBTS ABOUT ME--BEING ENOUGHT OF A DRAW TO FILL THE 60 SEATS. I WAS SO TOUCHED THAT IT SOLD OUT--AND PEOPLE WERE TURNED AWAY, (INCLUDING THE PROMOTER, WHOM I NEVER MET) THAT I ALMOST CRIED. THERE WAS A PIANO IN THE VENUE AND I PLAYED MUSIC AS PEOPLE CAME IN AND THAT CALMED ME. GRACIAS AMERICAN STRANGERS! I THINK IT WENT WELL.
*
LONG BEACH SEARCHES FOR GREATEST STORYTELLER 2014 Schedule
Spring, Sun., April 27th- winner: Nick Yarris, 2nd: Barbara Jordan
Summer, Sun., Aug. 3rd-winner: Lisa Dickey, 2nd:Jorge Suarez
Fall, Sun.,Sept. 28th, winner: David Urstein, 2nd: Lynn Putnam
Winter Finals, Sun., Dec.28th all winners and runner-ups. (Filling in for Lisa will be Justin Ezzi)
******

2013 Mariana’s Storytelling Haps—leading/guest storytelling/shows
Sat., April 20 13th Voices at the Water’s Edge Storytelling Festival, Encinitas, CA Encinitas Library. 540 Cornish Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
An all day event from 10-6 p.m. Mariana is a guest storyteller around 3:00 p.m. Theme is “Friends & Lies” true tales of betrayal. Also, you won’t want to miss Evie King & Catherine Close both storytellers from L.B. Searches stage. No charge.
Sun., April 28th 7-9 p.m., Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller—Spring    Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., L.B. $100 to best five-minute, true story, audience and judges vote-secret ballot. To enter: send 5 lines & contact info to:[email protected]. $5. Tx avail @ door.
Sun., May 5th 2-6 p.m., Storytelling Workshop, Encinitas, CA,   Workshop includes story edit, storytelling exercises, light dinner & margaritas. Storytelling performance by attendees (friends invited). Okay to use notes. $25.     Limited to ten. To sign up email: [email protected].
Fri., May 24th 7-9 p.m., Live Taping of Coming Clean, Fountain Valley, CA**     Taylor Studios,16808 Bushard St. “Aghh, that was horrid, why is everyone laughing?” Mariana records a CD of true tales on the lighter side. Limited seating. RSVP to [email protected].
Sat., May 25th 12-4 p.m., Storytelling Workshop, Long Beach, CA, L.B. Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St. (2 blks W. of PCH) Workshop includes story edit, storytelling exercises & light dinner. Performance by attendees (friends invited). Okay to use notes. $25. To sign up email: [email protected].
Sun., May 26th 12:45-2. p.m., Open Storytelling Irvine, CA                           University Synagogue, 3400 Michaelson, Irvine, CA (near 405 & Jamboree) This was popular last year so Mariana’s bringing it back. Listen or share a five-minute true tale. No charge.
Sun., June 9th 4 p.m., Pinata Storytelling Show, Santa Monica, CA                   VIdiots Annex, 302 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA. (310) 392-8508. Mariana is a guest storyteller among a strong line-up of storytellers. No charge.
Sun., June 30th 7-9 p.m. Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller—Summer Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., L.B. $100 to best five-minute, true story, audience and judges vote-secret ballot. To enter: send 5 lines & contact info to:[email protected]. $5 Tx avail @ door.
Sun., June 30 2-4 p.m. Book signing The Valentine State, @ Apostrophe Book Store, 4712 E. 2nd Street, Long (Downtown Belmont Shores)
Sun., Sept. 29th 7-9 p.m. Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller—Summer  Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., L.B. $100 to best five-minute, true story, audience and judges vote-secret ballot. To enter: send 5 lines & contact info to:[email protected]. $5 Tx avail @ door.
Sun., Dec. 29th 7-9 p.m. Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller—FINALS Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., L.B. $100 to best five-minute, true story, audience and judges vote-secret ballot. To enter: send 5 lines & contact info to:[email protected]. $10 Some tx avail @ door, this show always sells out, get yours early!
Join our mailing list, won't you? We don't share our list with anyone and only send it to announce the show (twice). One save the date, and reminder a couple days before. Also, you will hear about the workshops!

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Stars or Stripes 4th of July

This is the 3rd novel in the series. It came out July 3, 2011 the perfect beach read

I put chocolate on the tables to try and buy their love.

Mariana chills with her readers outside on a summer afternoon

HNYD book signing at Shenandoah, Los Alamitos, CA,

Flowers? Ok, I'll take em'

Apostrophe Book Store in downtown Belmont Shores, Long Beach, hosted booksigining

SoS still avail at Apostrophe Books in Long Beach, CA

Stars or Stripes 4th of July is a tale of mistaken identities, love gone sideways and a dog.

Plan an Author Night with your Book Club

Mariana Williams, author of Happy New Year, Darling! and Stars or Stripes 4th of July, will join your group for a lively discussion on the writing process, plots and back stories of characters. Q & A where anything goes. Take this question from “Cauliflower Ear in Seal Beach”:

“How do I get off the phone when my chatty bf goes on and on and on? Who has the time??”

Answer: "A few minutes into the one-sided conversation, hang up while YOU are talking!! She won’t see it coming when you hang up on yourself. When Chatty calls back don’t answer. It looks like a dropped call in a bad cell zone. Heh, heh,heh."