Barbara Chamberlain ~ Storyteller

"Where Words Take Wings"

Picture taken by: Beth Miklavcic, www.anotherlanguage.org

Barbara Chamberlain's Biography

Barbara was born in Fresno, California. Since she first heard nursery rhymes she has loved literature, storytelling, and writing. She graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and received a masters in Library and Information Science at San Jose State University. 

Barbara designed three libraries at the elementary school where she worked as a librarian for thirty years. "Every day was story time at the library," Barbara said, "And everyone enjoyed the time for listening and reading." During that time she also wrote and published short stories and her two historical novels, "The Prisoners' Sword" and "Ride the West Wind." The books were named recommended reading by the National Council of Teachers of English and sold 50,000 copies. She has also written seminars and led seminars for teachers at the Asilomar Reading Conference in Pacific Grove, California. She has done tellebrations and private storytelling performances.

Barbara worked at both Harrison Memorial Library in Carmel, California, and Monterey City Library. She has been a president of the National League of American Pen Women, and is a member of societies for two of her favorite writers, Jack London and William Saroyan. She was honored as an Outstanding Woman of Santa Cruz County, is a member of the National Storytelling Association, and is the current Vice President of the Cowgill Cousins Of America as well as the Editor and 1st Vice President of the Cabrillo Host Lions Club Of Aptos.