Storyspinning—the term Loralee has used to describe her work since the early 1980s—is her professional “moniker.”  For her, it incorporates all kinds of spoken story, from traditional folk tales to ballads, and even nursery rhymes and poetry, as well as a story that comes out of today’s newspaper.  Having lived in several regions of the United States, she incorporates folklore and family stories from her home state of Illinois, plus such areas as Arizona, where she began her professional work as a storyteller, including the Legend of the Bells of Tumacacori.  Stories of the Celtic tradition are also favorites, and well as the lore of the country of Georgia.  And in 2011 her book ‘Island Child” was published, which tells of the first 10 years in the life of Barack Obama, complete with remarkably lovely and well-researched illustrations by the Canadian artist Jillian Gilliland.

It was with Loralee’s guidance–and the help of many other Atlanta-based storytellers–that the Southern Order of Storytellers was launched in 1982, along with the Olde Christmas Storytelling Festival, which made its debut in January 1983, at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center.

Having lost her husband, Ed, also a Seanachie recipient, Loralee Cooley lives in New Mexico, the “Land of Enchantment.” She’s still sorting through memorabilia and artifacts saved for years  to share with those who treasure such things.