NEWSFLASH from Chloë, August 2007

Coming soon

The new improved Midnight Storytellers website will feature the UK Original site and Karen-Eve’s new pages now that she’s gone transatlantic.

Cunning plan includes downloadable audio samples. Also look out this autumn for Midnight Storytellers arriving on MyFace and its ilk…

Back in the USA

Karen-Eve was immediately made welcome in the arts and education communities on her return to North Carolina last year. Networking + introductions flourish, new approaches get encouraging responses - let’s just say it’s a whole different attitude there…

She still has strong UK links and I hope to see her before too long. If you’ve lost touch with her, I’ll forward emails.

‘FLOODLIGHT’ project

I found it extraordinarily miserable to watch so many places I know in Gloucestershire go under water. And to see my neighbours’ homes awash. It was a strange and stressful time even up here in the Cotswolds, waiting for fresh water and power to be cut off – as you know, this came within inches of happening.

To support the Gloucestershire Flood Relief Fund I am publishing ‘FloodLight’ – a collection of Flood Legends from around the world, plus historical and literary accounts, plus new poems and short stories. You’re welcome to send in a piece. Max 1,000 words prose; just be practical about poetry… Still working on donations of paper and printing… Kind offer of line drawings gratefully accepted… Regret cannot use photos ‘cos they cost more to print. With luck I’ll be able to put up an online version with secure PayPal direct donations.

COPY DEADLINE 15 August.

“Oops!”

Yes, that was me in the trailers for ITV1 gameshow Golden Balls. They must have taken pity on me after I lost so painfully in the final seconds of ‘my’ programme [22 June].

There I was, thinking I was about to go home with a half share of £47,000.

And then that female nabbed the lot. Suffice it to say I showed temper… Self-centered creature that I am, in that second of shock on seeing what my opponent had done, I also worked out that it would make fun telly if I let rip a bit. So I did. But of course nothing vulgar…

Even though all I went home with was a nasty canteen banana, the experience was worthwhile: a pleasure to meet longtime comedy hero host Jasper Carrott – calm, warm, perfect pro – and most importantly I discovered that I’m at ease in a tv studio doing stuff ‘live’.

I’ve just auditioned for BBC’s ‘1 vs 100’ quiz show (audition = sit around 3 hours, chat on camera 3 minutes!) and Channel 5 have asked me to take part in a (mildly daft) documentary. Sadly my ancient telly can’t get to grips with C5 signal out here in the wilds so I’m unlikely to see the result!

What’s a storyteller doing chasing after semi celebrity? Not chasing, for starters: they’re calling me! Given my screen persona seems to blend Joyce Grenfell with Victor Meldrew + a dab of Ruby Wax, and that I always describe myself as a storyteller, it’s possible I might help raise general awareness of performance storytelling. All part of the cunning plan…