Emerging Form Episode 74: T.A. Barron on the Magic of Stories
“There is a magic to stories well told,” says novelist T.A. Barron, and in this thoughtful, heart-opening, life-affirming episode, he explores how story weaves through every part of our lives. He talks about how he went from rejected novelist to successful business leader to best-selling author. He speaks of the story as a boat containing treasure–and of the magic not only in his stories about Merlin, but also in our daily lives and how creative practice helps us share this treasure. To close, he shares one of the best stories of perseverance and making lemons from lemonade that we ever heard–think rejection, Madeleine L’Engle and a notary–a story to inspire anyone who has ever been roundly rejected want to find a way forward.
T. A. Barron grew up in Colorado ranch country. After a successful business career in New York, he moved back to Colorado to pursue his dream to be a writer, outdoorsman, and conservationist. He is the award-winning author of more than 30 highly-acclaimed books, including the international bestselling series The Merlin Saga, which is now being developed into a feature film by Disney. T. A. Barron is an advocate for public-spirited kids, and is founder of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, a national award that each year honors 25 young people who help their communities or the environment. In addition to writing and speaking, T. A. Barron serves on many environmental and educational boards, including Princeton University, where he helped to create the High Meadows Environmental Institute, and The Wilderness Society. He has also launched his own podcast, Magic and Mountains, on creative process, the magic of Merlin, and more.
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Rosemerry’s poem about apricots
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