Local Tellers Amy Curtis and Tom Hernandez Hit the Stage

Two local storytellers, Amy Curtis and Tom Hernandez, are taking the stage at (art) INSPIRED! live lit on Tuesday, July 2ndat the Third Floor Gallery in the Gaylord Building, Lockport. The evening begins at 6:30 with the melodic melodies of Chuck Pelkie followed by Five Fab Storytellers. In addition to Amy and Tom, Amy Aeton, Lisa Colleen, and Phyllis Porche will also share their stories. (art) INSPIRED! live lit is produced by Lisa Colleen and Barbara Eberhard.

Amy Aeton has been a dancer, a poet, a singer-songwriter, an artist, a prep cook, an actress, a cocktail waitress, a plain old waitress, a guitarist, a lame girlfriend, a bored student, a bartender, a good friend, a less than good friend, an arts ed teacher, an ok wife, a solo performer, a writer, a founder of a children’s theater company, an artistic director, a mother, a pretty good baker, a director, and a human that fails and mostly gets back up again.

Lisa Colleen loves the sharing of stories because they connect, empower and INSPIRE! As a mother, grandmother and coach, she has an endless supply of stories to tell. Rarely does she make it through the telling of one story without wanting to interrupt herself with another story.

Amy Curtis is a local real estate agent, a student of writing and storytelling, and a regular participant in the (art) INSPIRED! live lit classes. She believes stories connect us. In telling our stories we remind one another we’re not alone.

Tom Hernandez is a writer, public speaker, raconteur, performer and communications professional. Born and raised in Joliet, Illinois, Tom has been writing personally and professionally since childhood. He was a reporter for 10 years at several suburban daily and weekly newspapers and wrote a “slice of life” column for another 11 years for two community newspapers. He now serves as the Director of Community Relations for a large suburban Chicago public school district. Tom’s writing explores the many complicated facets of life — marriage, family, relationships, identity, aging, parenting, faith, social justice and politics. He has published three books, all available on Amazon and through his website, www.tomhernandezbooks.com

· “Chocolate Cows and Purple Cheese and other tales from the homefront” – essays about young parenthood, marriage, politics, faith and family.

· “Abundance – a collection” poems exploring the common experiences that connect human beings – life and death, love and loss, joy and sorrow, faith and doubt.

· “The Edge of Middle – thoughts from the top of the hill” – essays, poetry and short fiction about one man’s journey to, and through middle age.

Tom and his wife, Kellie live in Plainfield, Illinois. They have two adult daughters and welcomed their first grandchild in 2018.

Phyllis Porché is a writer, storyteller, teacher, and fiber artist. She was born and raised in Chicago, and she believes the best stories come from the absurdities of life. She is a 30-year cancer survivor and never leaves home without earrings.

(art) INSPIRED live lit storytelling classes begin again Thursday, August 29, For more information on the classes visit inspiredlivelit.com

Mark your calendars for July 2nd at the Gaylord Building, Third Floor Gallery, 200 West 8th Street, Lockport. At 6:30 p.m. the music starts. For more information visit our website inspiredlivelit.com, follow us on Facebook, or contact us at inspiredlivelit@gmail.com