April 08
Hot off the press, Dragon Tales is now
available via this website and (from 19th April) also via Amazon.
Check out the website page - Dragon Tales
for full details and sample clips. We hope you enjoy it!
Most of the stories have been tried and tested in various places
(schools, storytelling evenings, friends and family) over the last few
months. My middle son always giggles at Sky Dragons.
We are very pleased that the wonderful Loon have agreed to let us
use their music on the CD. They are renaming themselves
Horsewife (check out their mySpace page) but you can still for the
moment also find them at their website
www.loonmusic.co.uk.
They are regulars on the rural touring circuit and if you are lucky
enough to catch them, do go and see them - their music is unique and
great fun. They often work within theatre, with mime artists,
puppetry and even storytellers! So their shows are always amazing.
Another titbit that might interest you is that
AudioBook Radio is featuring The Pirate's Sister next
week (w/b 7th April). This is an internet radio
station which specialises in broadcasting literature - plays, stories
and poems - some by the "greats", some more modern and "new writers" too,
which is where my story comes in. They have a set 12 hour
broadcast schedule which repeats every 12 hours for about a week.
They are broadcasting the entire Pirate's Sister story at 5.53
(am and pm, approx) for that week. So do listen in if you are
interested. Their website is
www.audiobookradio.net.
I have lots on this month, some detailed below, with
also various school visits and a second guest spot for The Flying
Donkeys at Grassmoor (nr Clay Cross) on Friday 11th April.
I've just invested in a pirate costume which had my whole family in fits
of laughter (perhaps not the reaction I wanted!), so I'll try and
get a picture of it added to the Gallery
later this week. Oh and a dragon costume / set is also in design -
well more outfit than costume per se, bit cumbersome to actually dress
up as a dragon! So watch out for that too! I don't usually
turn up in costume when storytelling - but will do if it's for a special
children's event or say a school pirate week.
So I'm looking forward to airing the full dragon and
pirate repertoires this month, and imbetween all that our house is
slowly transforming with plumbers, electricians and plasterers abound
and poor old me and Rob busy decorating and about to start on a new
kitchen - that'll keep us preoccupied all summer, I should think!
Can't wait for the weather to turn a little warmer...
February 08
It
seems a while since my last news update - sorry - just been so busy!
Lots to tell you though.
Dragon Tales, my new audio book CD
collection of stories is shaping up nicely - recording is now complete
and the CD is currently in edit and mix
stage, with a planned launch on St George's Day, 19th April
(seemed appropriate!). And rather prophetically this coincides
with a performance booking request specifically for dragon stories from
Snibston Discovery Park near Coalville on 19th April.
Snibston
is a wonderful science oriented museum / gallery, with the most amazing
interactive displays and activities for children to explore all the key
science and engineering concepts. With an engineer for a husband
and 3 curious boys, we had a wonderful day out there last summer with
friends, and now I am to return, this time to perform my stories.
You'll be able to find me in the Fashion Gallery from 10 am till 3pm
on Saturday 19th April partaking in their St George's Day special
event. Here's the running order:
10.15
- 10.45 St George & the Dragon, and other tales
11.00
- 11.30 Grievous and Gruesome Dragons
11.45
- 12.15 Dragon Stories for little ones (age 3 - 5)
1.00 -
1.30 Beowulf & the Death Dragon
1.45 -
2.15 Lihua and the Ghost Dragons (age 7 +)
2.30 -
3.00 More Grievous and Gruesome Dragons
If you come along, you will be amongst the first able to
buy, and listen to stories from, my new CD, Dragon Tales. Why
not ask for a signed first edition copy? You never know it might
be worth a mint in years to come! (I wish!)
I
have also been asked to tell some of my dragon stories at the Shipley
Park Storytelling Festival 7th / 8th June, being organised as part
of the Derbyshire Literature Festival. Details yet to be
confirmed, but probably in the afternoons of that Saturday / Sunday.
You can see me performing at Clay Cross, Derbyshire
on Thursday 2
1st
February (6.30pm). As part of The Flying Donkeys "From the
Heart of England" storytelling tour, this group of Derby based
professional storytellers are performing a evening of "Dragon Tales
and other weird stories from Derbyshire" and I have been invited to
do a guest spot. It is aimed at children and adults,
so come along and enjoy a unique evening of
local tales. Community of Christ Church Hall, Thanet St, Clay
Cross. Oh and by the way, as part of the same tour, we are
hosting the wonderful Flying Donkeys here in my home village of
Quarndon on 8th March - check out my Live & Local page for
more details. Really looking forward to that one!
www.flyingdonkeys.co.uk
What else - oh yes - poetry - have been working hard
on a few more poetry pieces - some funny, some much more serious, some
for kids, some definitely for adults. A few have even had an
airing as part of a local performance poetry evening "Words
@CUBE"
(Derby Dance Centre, Nov 07 and Feb 08). I really believe
poems come to life when read out or "performed". Maybe that's the
storyteller in me!
In
between all this, I have been very busy domestically as an extension is
being built. So we have been surrounded by builders, pavers,
electricians, plasterers - well you get the picture and it's all
happening at once at the moment. Can't wait for our very own Grand
Design "reveal" in a few weeks time...
So now you know why I've been so quiet... More
soon!
October 07
I love the autumn - its always been my favourite time
of year - the air turns crisp, and colour fills the country lanes and
woods. It's a new academic year too which has all sorts of
memories for me.
So what am I up to ... have been visiting various
schools trying out my new dragon stories and "story-building" with
little ones. Most recently went to Eckington Junior School
near Chesterfield and Portway Infants (where I first started
performing my stories). We had a go at Acrostic poems at Eckington
(where the first letter of each line makes up a word pertinent to the
poem) and that was great fun - they were very quick!
I did a guest spot at Matlock Storytelling Cafe
(at Cromford's The Boat Inn) last week, telling the story of
TallTree Forest and the Ghost Dragons (on the new CD), and this week
has been the Derby Festival of Words - my eldest son went
to a storytelling workshop with Debbie Guneratne and came home
full of beans. He had to propose to nine girls in the process of
telling the story of The Toad Princess - which for an 8 year boy is no
mean feat! I went to see Debbie storytelling that evening and it
was lovely - charming "naga" stories from Sri Lanka. The naga were
shape-changing cobras who walked between the naga world and that of
humans. Very inspiring.
It's
half term next week and if you are in Burton town centre, you can
see me performing Friday and Saturday (26th & 27th October) at
the Octagon Centre (first floor) during the day. They've a big
Halloween event and I will be storytelling for families over the two
days 11 - 4pm. We're all to be in costume - so check out the new
witch's outfit on my Picture Gallery
- very Kate Bush, a friend tells me! Still sorting out stories for
the event, but definitely a few spooky tales, witchy concoctions and
mysterious spells... It's a free event with crafts and other
activities for families, so a great way to entertain the kids this half
term!
I
have at last set a date in a recording studio for the new Dragon
Tales. We have just started to build an extension onto our
house and it got postponed as I was so busy sorting things out.
But it is now set for first week November, so hoping to get this ready
by the end of November in time for anyone looking for Christmas
presents. I've been busy practising the stories wherever I can and
really pleased with the collection - just hope you guys out there like
it too!
Have
been busy too organising another show at Quarndon village
hall - The Hired Man - a musical by Melvyn Bragg and Howard
Goodall, performed by New Perspectives Theatre on 3rd October.
It was a sell-out and got a fantastic reception - a standing ovation no
less and well deserved - the singing and acting were brilliant - we were
all transfixed!
Oh
- another little snippet, I was recruited as an extra filming at the
National Trust's Kedleston
Hall just down the road from home.
It's a period drama called "The Duchess"
- about the scandalous 18th century Duchess of
Devonshire. I'm in a ballroom scene
- assuming it survives t
he
cutting room floor, you might catch
sight of me being pushed aside as the Duchess (Keira
Knightley) enters the dance, and again as her
the husband, (Ralph Fiennes) storms in after her. Everyone looks
very dashing in corsets and fine waistcoats and breeches, and it was a
fascinating experience. Here's a couple
of photos of me with friends outside of the set (sorry we weren't
allowed to take photos on the set itself). The film is due out
next summer.
Finally, we are now selling copies of
The Pirate's
Sister and
Dragon's Christmas on
Amazon.
There is already a very kind review by one customer on the site.
You can of course still buy the CD's direct from me via this website.
August 07
The sun is shining at last and our three boys are
racing outside in the garden as I type. They seem to have
discovered Hide and Seek so go tearing round the house pulling curtains
awry, clambering into wardrobes and yelling "ready or not!" at the tops
of their voices! I have finally finished all the dragon stories
and found some fantastic music and sound effects to set it all off -
just waiting for the recording studio's availability before I can start
mixing and editing. Here's a sneak preview of the CD cover:
May / June 07
What a beautiful Spring we have been having!
Our garden is full of blossom, trailing lilac wisteria blooms and
blackbirds, blue tits and robins all nesting in the hedges and fighting
over the moss lined flower baskets left over from last year. They
are either tugging out bits to line their nests or battling for the best
branch viewpoint. Endlessly entertaining to our three boys and the
cat!
June is looking to be very busy with a number of
performances scheduled, writing commissions and further work on the new
dragon CD. I will be performing for the Green Health Project
at Shipley on Wednesday June 6th, and story-telling for
little ones as part on the "Midsummer Magic" event at The
Ripley Greenway on Saturday June 16th. The latter event
promises to be a lovely day out for all the family with fairy and pixie
costume making, performance excerpts from Shakespeare, music-making and
2 story-telling slots from myself in the living willow pods (12.15 and
1.15). This event is free, being funded by Amber Valley Borough
Council - so do come along and say hello and enjoy the day!
On Friday 15th June, I will be at the St
Benedict Catholic School Performing Arts College, Derby and on
Friday 6th July at Chesterfield College, Chesterfield as part
of the Derbyshire Creative Arts Markets. The afternoons of
these events are a great opportunity to meet me and discuss any project,
performance or workshop you may be interested in for your school or
group or simply to find out more about my work as an author and
performer. Why not check out my new
"Schools" website page. Or simply
email me or ring for an informal chat.
robandsophie@hotmail.com
Tel 01332 840007
In anticipation of another gorgeous summer...
Sophie
April 07
We have been delighted by recent sales of The
Pirate's Sister. Apart from here at home in the UK, we
regularly sell to the US, Canada and Australia and more recently even
Poland and Sweden!
And I am delighted also to say that
The Pirate's Sister
has just been reviewed by the US pirate website Pirates &
Privateers. Cindy Vallar, the website editor
writes:
"Those gifted with
storytelling weave an invisible web that draws the listener into the tale
without you realizing what’s happening. Sophie Snell is one of those
storytellers whose voice mesmerizes you while images form in your mind as
the tale unfolds. “The Pirate’s Tale” haunts the listener with its poignant
reality. Your mood goes from one of joy and happiness to one of sorrow and
devastation. It is a story that remains with you long after it ends. “The
Curse of Wicca Tree” is spellbinding – your eyes widen as the truth of
Gwinear’s fate creeps into your psyche. The inclusion of “Silver Waters”
perfectly compliments the two tales – like sherbet served between dinner
courses to cleanse the palate before the next dish is served.
Although created for children, The Pirate’s Sister is
for all ages – booty fit for any pirate’s treasure chest. The sound effects
enhance the listener’s experience. If you can resist listening to these
tales until the sky is gray and rain pelts the window panes, I recommend
waiting. A stormy day provides the perfect backdrop. Just close your eyes
and you’ll see the waves as they crash upon the shore, and the magic of
storytelling whisks you to a distant time and place rife with brigands of
the sea."
To read the full review simply click on this link -
www.cindyvallar.com/piratesister.html
(You can buy The Pirate's Sister CD at our
online shop:
Shop Online
)
I am now gearing up to record my latest audio book CD which we hope to be available by the summer. It's a
collection of fantastic dragon stories and poems - an entertaining mix
of adventure, fun and intrigue, capturing the mystery and wonder of
those beautiful mythological creatures. Perfect for boys and girls
aged 5 - 11. [I have loaded up one of the poems
on the Schools Page.
Check it out and let me know what you think!]
We have been having great fun looking for dragon
pictures and monster noises and sound effects!
I am also taking part in the forthcoming Derbyshire
Creative Arts Markets. Look out for me at the St Benedict
Catholic School Performing Arts College, Derby on Friday
15th June and at Chesterfield College, Chesterfield on
Friday 6th July.
Tickets are still available for our next Live &
Local show - Howdenjones. At Quarndon Church Hall,
Friday 20th April, 8pm. All profits are being donated to the
Quarndon Pre-School to help with the cost of refurbishing the new
downstairs kitchenette at the Church Hall which they have sponsored.
"One of the most sought after acts on the UK Folk
/ Acoustic music scene. Highly evocative music presented with
great warmth, wit and charm..."
And as featured on The Pirate's Sister!!!
We are now planning next year's (Autumn 07 to Spring
08) Live & Local events - once again the Live & Local Head
Office team have produced the most amazing selection of top quality
performers - I am always like a kid in a sweet shop trying to choose
which one for our village! We do our best to bring you not only
quality but variety - a range of shows to surprise, delight and amaze
you and to appeal to people from around and about with all sorts of
different musical and theatrical tastes. So if you have any
feedback and suggestions - now is the time to pass them on to me!
I am now also acting as part of small promoter
support network group for Derbyshire Live & Local. So if you are
reading this from a neighbouring village and interested in finding out
more about the scheme - drop me an email or ring
(robandsophie@hotmail.com
Tel 01332 840007). I can thoroughly recommend it!
In amongst all this, I am working on a new collection
of paintings, so watch this space!
Happy Easter! Sophie
February 07
We were very busy the last couple of weeks before
the half term
holiday leading up to the ShooShooBaby Live & Local show on the 8th Feb.
Despite heavy snow and a flu epidemic, the hall was packed and ShooShoo
completely wowed us with their music and costumes. They are
amazingly professional, and it was a slice of true glamorous cabaret -
hugely entertaining! And they are very photogenic - check out the
photo gallery on my LIve & Local page and you'll see what I mean...
We then rushed off the next day to drive to
Shropshire (despite the deepest snow we've seen in years - the boys were
ecstatic!) so I could attend The Winter's Edge story-telling festival.
I was par-taking in story-telling courses and attending performances -
and was completely wowed by the inspiring array of styles and stories -
from sassy and tantalising (a pair of thigh-length red patent leather
boots featured in one show!) to ethnic folk stories combined with gentle
music and percussion. And everyone is so friendly! Much Wenlock is a very pretty place especially in the snow.
Then it was half term, my youngest's birthday and
I am now back at the keyboard, working on a new collection of dragon
stories in between various other things. More about the new dragon CD
soon.
And to keep the midnight oil burning we have also
updated the website with a new online shop - you can now buy any
of my CD's and paintings on the spot by going to the
Shop Online page and just a few clicks.
It's easy and quick, we offer a money back guarantee (we want you to be
100% happy with your purchase) and we take PayPal, most credit cards and
UK personal cheques. We've already sold to most counties in the
UK, the US, Canada, Australia and even Poland!
Some recent feedback:
"Wonderful ultra-fast postage of story CD when
I really needed it. Next day!" Susan, Lairg,
Scotland, 15th Feb
"Delighted with product, packaging and customer
service. Thanks!" Angela, Lancashire, 14th Feb
"Really great item, wonderful stories, we have
all enjoyed them. Thanks!" Alexandra, Warwickshire,
25th Jan
Sophie
December 06
With The Pirate Sister doing so well, I
have now launched a new audio CD in time for Christmas. The
Dragon's Christmas is a collection of stories and poems - funny and
poignant - for children aged 3 - 8. Perfect bedtime reading in the
run up to Christmas, it features a Christmas-hating cat, fights over the
Christmas calendar (does that sound familiar?), cheeky letters to Santa,
the Bethlehem dragon and a magician, and a tired Santa taking a break.
It has a running time of 45 minutes. The stories and poems are set
out to run from hilarious to cheeky to magical to heart-warming and
hopefully aid your child to make that transition from excited and not
wanting to go to sleep, to distracted, entertained and ready to cuddle
up in bed! It works on my three anyway! Check out the new
webpage for more details (Xmas Audio CD).
I have also been busy arranging a number of school
performances, reading stories and poems with sound effects from my
collection. For the week beginning 11th December, I will be
performing at Portway Infants, Portway Juniors and Muggington Village
School.
Sophie
