Author speaks on power of storytelling

Oregon author, retreat leader, and storyteller Mark Yaconelli will present his new book “Between the Listening and the Telling: How Stories Can Save Us,” on Tuesday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Paulina Springs Books.

Yaconelli is the author of five previous books and founder and director of The Hearth, an Ashland-based nonprofit that builds community through the art of storytelling.

Yaconelli leads readers into an enchanting meditation on the power of storytelling. Stories can be medicine, helping individuals and communities address the despair of climate change, the trauma of school shootings, and the daily struggle for meaning and hope. With a foreword by Anne Lamott, the book offers an alloy of story, commentary, and contemplation. In an era of runaway loneliness, alienation, global crisis, and despair, sharing stories helps us make a home within ourselves and one another.

Through his work with The Hearth nonprofit, Yaconelli has served communities across the U.S. and United Kingdom to bridge divisions, heal trauma, shed light on injustice, and recover hope. In this inspiring and interactive presentation Mark Yaconelli will show how stories can heal our families, our world, ourselves.

Bend children’s book author Francine Rockey will read her children’s picture book “To Find Treasure in the Mountains” on Saturday, May 6, at Paulina Springs Books. Families and kids of all ages are invited to this 11 a.m. storytime presentation.

With sturdy shoes and a sense of adventure, three young children hike through the sparkling woods to find treasure in the mountains. No pirate’s map or magic wand required! Outside, there is always something wonderful just around the bend.

Is that treasure hidden in a hollow old tree trunk? Does treasure gleam near the lizard with the bright blue belly? Can the feathery flight of a great gray owl hint at treasure? Yes, yes, and yes! Because all steps into the wild lead to nature’s treasures. This picture book highlights discoveries and connections that come from sharing time outdoors together.

Francine Rockey is a writer, poet, and editor specializing in children’s literature.

Readers can visit Francine Rockey online at https://francinerockey.com.

Paulina Springs Books is located at 252 W. Hood Ave. Call 541-549-0866 for more information.