Elizabeth Ellis as Teller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center

Designated an American Masterpiece Touring Artist by the NEA, Elizabeth Ellis grew up in the Appalachian Mountains hearing stories from her grandfather, a mountain minister. Ellis is a versatile, riveting teller of Appalachian and Texas tales and stories of heroic American women, though her personal stories – both poignant and hilarious – are arguably her best. She is a recipient of the John Henry Faulk Award from the Tejas Storytelling Association, and the NSN ORACLE Circle of Excellence and Lifetime Achievement awards. “Ellis’s buttermilk accent is the voice of family and trust, the voice of steep-sided hollers and ridge-top vantage points.” – Knoxville Voice