National Storytellers

Lyn Ford

Fourth-generation Affrilachian storyteller Lynette (Lyn) Ford is a teaching artist with the Ohio Teaching Artists Roster, an award-winning writer and anthologist, a Thurber House mentor to young writers, a storytelling and creative-writing coach, and a certified laughter yoga teacher.

For 30 years, Lyn has provided stories, workshops, and keynote presentations for libraries and schools, universities, education and literacy conferences, and some of the most prestigious storytelling conferences and festivals in the United States, Australia, and Ireland. Lyn has also shared stories and tips for telling in sessions for Acud Macht Neu in Berlin, Germany, and is included in their publication, “Our 2030: Stories From the Future.”

Lyn’s awards include two National Storytelling Network’s Oracle Awards, the first for leadership and service, and the second the prestigious Circle of Excellence Award. Lyn feels honored that her work is recognized by her inclusion in the National Association of Black Storytellers’ Circle of Elders and the National Writers Project National Writers Council.

In 2023, Lyn was a recipient of the National Association of Black Storytellers' Black Appalachian Storytelling Fellowship and NABS' prestigious Zora Neale Hurston Award for the preservation and perpetuation of African American folktales and folklore.

Bil Lepp

Bil Lepp is an award-winning storyteller, author, and recording artist. He’s the host of the History Channel’s Man Vs History series, the occasional host of NPR’s internationally syndicated Mountain Stage, and a contributing columnist to the West Virginia Gazette-Mail. Bil’s humorous, family friendly tall-tales and stories have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages and from all walks of life.

Though a five time champion of the WV Liars’s Contest, Lepp’s stories often contain morsels of truth which present universal themes in clever and witty ways. Audiences all across the country, from grade schools to corporate execs to the Comedy Central’s Hudson stage, have been delighted by Bil’s mirthful tales and delightful insights into everyday life. Bil’s books and audio collections have won awards including the PEN Steven Kroll Award for Children’s Book Writing, Parents’ Choice Gold awards, and awards from the National Parenting Publications Assoc., and the Public Library Assoc. He is also the recipient of the Vandalia Award, West Virginia’s highest folk honor.

“Just as New Jersey has Bruce Springsteen, West Virginia has…
Bil Lepp.”
– Goldenseal Magazine

Antonio Sacre

FOR 25 YEARS, IN 13 COUNTRIES, IN 45 STATES, FOR OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE

Antonio Sacre tells stories.

His tales of growing up bilingually in a Cuban and Irish-American household have inspired children worldwide to gather their own family stories and become storytellers themselves. His stories have been published in award-winning books and audio recordings. His Professional Developments and Keynote addresses have helped educators teach writing to students from pre-Kindergarten through graduate school. Now his stories are being developed for film and television.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, two children, and two cats. Yes, he's a cat guy.

Kim Weitkamp

Kim Weitkamp grew up in Amish Country as the middle child of exhausted parents. Labeled by teachers as high-spirited, uncooperative and too talkative, Kim took those comments and channeled them into a lifetime of high-energy, heartfelt and hilarious artistry. We are better for it.

Kim is an award-winning storyteller, author, singer-songwriter, and humorist. After using applied storytelling in her work with adjudicated and at risk youth for 12 years, Kim took a turn onto a different avenue of story and song which led her down the path of full time touring for the last 15 years where she gathered an armload of awards.

Kim performs regularly at festivals and theaters around the country, has written a well-received folk operetta, and has been a guest editor and contributor for various publications. Kim's material gets regular airplay on Sirius XM and NPR Affiliate Stations.

Kim has 8 award-winning albums, has produced and/or designed 32 albums for other performers, and has hosted a morning show for a DOVE Award-winning radio network. She has been honored with leadership and speaking awards for her coaching/speaking work with internationally known companies like Purina, Liebherr, Grifols, and Edward Jones, as well as nationally recognized non-profits like Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity, and Conflict Resolution Centers. Kim is ranked as one of the top 20 business coaches in the Columbus, Ohio region by Influence Digest, teaching the power of story to help grow organizations and build teams.