Tell Me A Story In The Dark

"Storytelling is bred in your human bones. Language, by its very nature, spins a narrative."

As a child, I would often create stories in my head to help me fall asleep. Some of these became multi-night ordeals with such detail and extensive setting and character growth. Eventually, in high school, I started to write these all down. A few became short stories, a few became poems, and a few were starts on novels that were never finished.

I am so glad I had such an extraordinary imagination as a child. It helped mold me into whom I am today, and I can still find myself daydreaming out the window or while listening to soundtracks. I want that joy for my children.

I have been reading books to Rhys for a few months now (although, he's at a point where he'd rather crawl and explore and play then sit still and look at a book). So, when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it.

This book, just in the first few pages spoke to me not only as a mother, but as an English teacher and writer! It describes the story creating process, one that I have just tried to explain to my students as they created their own short story. But, it also delves deeper into the importance of telling stories rather than just reading them. Yes, reading to your children and with your children is, I believe, one of the utmost important things you can do with and for them to grow and develop. However, oral story telling is much more ancient and inherent in us. How many of you have ever told a white lie or exaggerated a recap? (My husband, Justin, has both hands raised in the air--he is the king of exaggerations.) It is part of our nature. Before cultures had a written language, how were myths, stories, history, genealogy carried down the lines? Orally. So, it is thoroughly a part of us.

John Olive says in his introduction, "Many artists describe a state of mind as they work, in which their connection to their creative subconscious is heightened. Some refer to this as a waking dream, a creative trance. Dream-storming. For me, the best analogy is athletic: you get in a zone. Time slows. You feel inspired (the artist’s version of an athlete’s heightened reaction time). You’re smarter— literally. Ideas come more rapidly. Character dialogue has vibrancy. Sentences have power."

Olive shares many instances of story telling with his own children and also many beginnings and outlines of the stories he tells to help the reader begin their own repertoire. I have really loved reading this book and excited to start creating my own tall tales for Rhys!

Tell Me a Story in the Dark by John Olive is available for purchase on Amazon or at familius.com. Familius is a family oriented publishing company that focus on strengthening the family and supporting strong values.

**I received a digital copy this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.