Jonathan Kruk, Storyteller - entertains, enchants, educates

When at our home, a cottage near a lake in the Hudson Highlands, and children come around, I feel like a doctor or a dentist or a stockbroker. I get asked to work for free. Kids of course don't want advice on their cholesterol, crown or investments. They say. 'Jonathan, tell us a story!' Their parents try to rescue me. 'Jonathan needs to rest when he's at home. Storytelling is his job, and he's not working now.'

Once upon a time before my own daughter went away to college, the parents prevailed. 'I'm resting now, come to one of my shows!' Feeling the pang of passing (nay, pushing) time, I jump to indulge any kid who asks, tell me a story.

They don't get one of my performance tales, like "Barkface and Rootnose" or the headless horseman! We'll make something up, together. Strolling to the lake for example, I'll ask, what do those trees near the water look like?
'Trees!" "Giants?" "That twisted one looks like a Troll!"
Now, I've got something to turn into a tale. Of course, we're accompanied by our ten pound Pomeranian, Wesley - all fluffy and feisty. I've got my hero!
Once upon a time a slimy-skinned, fish-eyed, snaked-beared troll, with one snaggle tooth. (I've just taken what's in the lake and exaggerated it onto my troll) lived in this very lake. Once when you called out over the lake and your voice echoed back from the mountain, the Troll bubbled out of the water. The big boy in our lake parade, devilish look on his face, hollers. SNAGGLE! Wesley barks! (I've got my plot.)
Tossing slugs and snakes, shouting "stupid-noisy-noseys" I'll get you." Snaggle stormed after the kids. Smiling to make a flower face, the kids try hiding in a patch of Daisies. Snaggle still throws slugs, snakes and snorts! The kids shriek, but little big Wesley barks aarp! aarp! And he's not even fifty years old! My old friend gets the A.A.R.P. joke.
Wesley scared Snaggle so, that nasty troll scrambled up that tree. The big boy points to a shag bark hickory, and plays along. I see it, with the torn bark! The other kids look at adorable Wes grinning at our feet and over to the monstrous hickory. (!+!) <@@> {*!*}
How could Wesley scare a hairy scary troll?
There's one thing trolls fear more than sunshine and sugar cookies.
"What?" The kids wonder as we approach the lake. I huddle us in, and whisper.
"Big little dog kisses, terrify trolls!" Once Snaggle got up that tree, with little Wessie her aarping here, the troll croaked for his friends the lake crows. Who can caw like a crow? A girl with a pixie voice worries. "Won't we wake up the lake troll?" Why no! The crows came and carried Stinky Snaggle away over the mountains. Now, the lake is free of trolls, beautiful and ready for kids to jump in!
They all caw, clap and run for the little beach. And maybe, when they go off to college, they'll take away a little tale of vanquished lake troll.
And I'm ready to make up the next tale.
Thanks for reading this. Please be not shy about making a reply.


Sunday, July 24, 2011

Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley

The ghastly heat wave delivered a treasure, my book. Other authors warned the feeling, the sight of your own work in hand, published (by The History Press) would overwhelm. Indeed! I saw images of the old decapitated Hessian, trying to again escape with his secrets while hurling into your head his ghostly presence. Now, I felt my book caught up with him, to reveal his origins in German lore, Dutch-American custom, and a revolutionary war General's journal.
The work collects many tales from the region, including the back stories of the ghosts noted but neglected by Irving, in his classic. There's the "tragical" tale of Major John Andre, Benedict Arnold's co-conspirator. I unearth several layers of spirits while uncovering the "White Lady of Raven Rock." Plus, what haunted the region in the first place dates back to the First Nation peoples here and of course Henry Hudson.
The book has scholarship, but the publisher had me streamline the writing by folding all my footnotes into the text, letting my strength, storytelling deliver the origins of the Headless Horseman. I wrote the book for precocious children keen on the galloping goblin of Sleepy Hollow, ghost hunters, local historians, and people just curious about the region's heritage. No other book collects horseman sources, Sleepy Hollow spirits, and the lore of the lower Hudson Valley together with scholarship and storytelling. Now, to cool off in a lake in the Hudson Highlands for autumn soon will haunt us!
Posted by at 7/24/2011
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