Told by Cathy Jo Smith
A few years ago at a fall festival, I came across a booth selling carved stones. I picked up a lovely jade-green heart and showed it to my husband. “I bet you can come up with a few stories from that” he challenged me. “If I can’t,” I replied “I’d better quit calling myself a storyteller!” And so it began. I remembered tales of a monster who kept his heart outside his body for safekeeping but I had never liked the endings I found. I wanted it to follow a fairytale format with a heroine. I also wanted her to use her wits and her own heart to win the day, instead of using a sword or other implements of destruction. It’s now one of my husband’s favorite stories. I hope you enjoy it as well. Oh, and yes, I do have other stories involving that stone heart; but those are tales for another day.
About Cathy Jo
Cathy Jo Smith began telling professionally at the Dublin (Ohio) Irish Festival in 2000. She specializes in Irish and Irish-American history, stories and songs. Cathy also has a particular (peculiar?) expertise on Irish wakes and has traveled to festivals across the Midwest with her wake display. Her booklet is entitled “Wake Me When It’s Over “. She also has a book of tales of the Irish FairFolk entitled “Adventures of Seamus McSeamus; an Irish Rover”. When asked if she’s from Ireland, Cathy tends to respond “Not yet.”
Contact Cathy Jo
Website: www.irishteller.com
Email: or
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