Coyote Tales

10/21/2025

EVEN IF YOU MISSED THE SHOW, YOU CAN STILL GET THE WHOLE STORY!

On September 6th, ten storytellers took the stage at Ivins City Park for the final event of our 2025 season. The warm and encouraging crowd welcomed mildly anxious but willing performers to the spotlight to share their true tales based on the evening’s theme: IMPOSSIBLE. Stories ranged from a tender tale of inspiration behind the opening of The Book Bungalow, to a yoga practitioner’s journey of finding his guru, to the heartwarming blessing of re-homing two dogs.

GET THE WHOLE STORY

If you were unable to attend but want to hear the stories, please visit the Coyote Tales Story Archive on our website: https://coyotetalesstories.com/

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

The evening was a rollercoaster of emotions. We laughed, we were inspired, we reflected, but above all, we were captivated by the authenticity of each story and its teller. As always, the goal of every Coyote Tales event is to nurture community spirit through the sharing of well-crafted stories. We believe we are privileged to listen to and truly hear voices that are often unheard, and we hope our events help build and strengthen the connection between our audiences and the storyteller. Our stage is a no-pressure space to celebrate the diversity, community, and experiences that make us who we are.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO KEEPING THE MAGIC OF STORYTELLING ALIVE

Coyote Tales, like many other arts organizations, lost state-sponsored funding due to recent budget cuts. We’re working hard to recover from this setback and to secure new support to keep the stories alive! As we look ahead to funding our 2026 season, we invite you to follow our website and page for updates on upcoming productions.

The tradition of oral storytelling has existed long before written works. Something deep and significant is conveyed through the relating of a well-crafted, well-told first person story. Many times these stories have served as a way to preserve history and explore and impact our emotions as individu...

09/10/2025

If you are curious to hear storyteller Paul Gooch's "glorious sound of more cowbell" give this a listen 🤠

09/07/2025

What a magical night of stories at Ivins City Park!

Many thanks to everyone who came out for Coyote Tales last night as we helped kicked off the week-long Ivins City Heritage Days Festival (https://ivinsutah.gov/ivins-heritage-days-2025/). The weather couldn’t have been better. Late-summer temps, a soft breeze, and a full moon that lit up the ballpark and turned it into an outdoor theater filled with story lovers armed with chairs, blankets and picnic baskets.

The evening’s lineup brought together a wonderful mix of invited and local storytellers who stepped up to the mic with courage and joy to share tales inspired by the theme IMPOSSIBLE. We heard tender, heartfelt reflections from a mother’s thoughts on what it means to be “good enough,” to a poignant tribute honoring a dear friend who had recently passed away. Laughter filled the air too with a story about a runaway mule that left the audience in stitches and, true to Saturday Night Live’s wisdom, wanting “more cowbell!”

I’m deeply grateful to everyone who helps bring these events to the community. We could not do it with out you. Last night as each teller sent their story out into the night, listeners caught a glimpses of themselves within it. That connection is rare and powerful, and I believe it's filled with a little bit of magic. Thank you for believing it is too.

Everyone has a story.
Giddy up!
Vic

Special thanks to Alan Holben of Alan Holben Photography for his beautiful photos. Alan, you captured each teller perfectly.

08/25/2025

AUTHOR EVENT WITH COYOTE TALES STORYTELLERS NOW SCHEDULED!

Longtime Coyote Tales supporters Tanya Mills & The Book Bungalow are hosting a wonderful group Author Event with Coyote Tales storytellers, Kevin Holdsworth, Jennifer Sinor and Michael David Sowder
Sat, 9/6/2025 - 11:00am - 12:00pm
Place:
St. George Chamber of Commerce (Downstairs Room)
136 N. 100 E.
St. George, UT 84770

Kevin Holdsworth, Jennifer Sinor, and Michael David Sowder will appear at a group author event to discuss some of their latest works, whether in prose or poetry.

Due to the number of authors involved, the audience could exceed the capacity of The Book Bungalow, so we've decided to hold this event at our local chamber of commerce. Please access the gathering directly through the downstairs door leading off the lower parking lot.

Be sure to catch these remarkable storytellers on stage at Coyote Tales Saturday evening at Ivins City Park. The evening show starts with a BYOP picnic party with Stillhouse Road Bluegrass music and free bottled water and cookies from Kayenta Homes and Properties at 7pm - stories start at dusk. This event is FREE and open to all

For all the details on the author event head to https://thebookbungalow.com/event/2025-09-06/utah-group-author-event-kevin-holdsworth-jennifer-sinorriter-and-michael-david

08/15/2025

Story lovers, seekers, and soul-searchers, this one’s for you.

Join us Saturday, September 6th at Ivins City Park as Michael David Sowder, award-winning poet, author, and spiritual adventurer, takes the stage at Coyote Tales to help kick off the City's Heritage Days Festival.

Michael is professor of English at Utah State University and founder of Amrita Yoga, His work dives into the wilderness of the soul—blending poetry, mysticism, and the deep teachings of yoga. His stories have been shaped by years of writing, teaching, and trekking through the Himalayas. Come hear his story live and experience a true tale that promises to inspire anyone who believes words can truly awaken the soul.

Event Details:
Saturday, September 6th
Ivins City Heritage Park
BYOP picnic + music by Stillhouse Road at 7 PM. Stories begin at dusk

Coyote Tales is made possible with love and support from Petite Feast, Utah Humanities, Kayenta Homes & Properties, and Black Desert Resort—with special thanks to Desert Dweller Realty and SBDance for their in-kind magic.

08/10/2025

For Wendy Wilson Spooner, it’s less about telling her story and more about discovering it.

Author, artist and genealogical sleuth Wendy Wilson Spooner will bring her one-of-a-kind voice to the Coyote Tales stage Saturday, September 6th. Wendy's stories typically dig deep into family roots, ancestral mysteries, and the stories that shape everyday of life. With a background in genetic genealogy Wendy's storytelling fuses heritage, heart, and humor like no one else.

Coyote Tales is the opening event of the City’s Annual Heritage Days Festival. Come hear Wendy share her powerful, true story inspired by the evening’s theme IMPOSSIBLE. It's guaranteed to make you laugh, think about and reflect on the branches on your own family tree.

Event details
Saturday, September 6th
Ivins City Heritage Park
BYO Picnic and music by Stillhouse Road starts at 7 PM - stories start at dusk

All outdoor events are FREE, and proceeds from indoor shows have gone straight to local nonprofits. Coyote Tales is brought to you with love and support from Petite Feast, Utah Humanities, Kayenta Homes & Properties, and Black Desert Resort. Big thanks to Desert Dweller Realty and SBDance for their in-kind magic.

*LONGTIME COYOTE TALES SUPPORTERS, KAYENTA HOMES & PROPERTIES WILL BE ON HAND PROVIDING FREE BOTTLED WATER AND COOKIES FOR STORY LOVERS THROUGHOUT THE EVENING!

08/08/2025

Behind every ordinary moment, there's a story waiting to be told.

Meet Jennifer Sinor — a writer who finds the extraordinary in the everyday.

Jennifer is an award-winning author and professor of English at Utah State University, where she teaches creative nonfiction and helps students uncover the power of their own stories. A former military kid who’s called many places home, she writes with deep reverence for place, memory, and the invisible threads that shape us. Her books, including Ordinary Trauma, Sky Songs, and The Yogic Writer, explore everything from western landscapes to inner stillness.

Whether drawing insight from a forgotten diary or teaching yoga behind jailhouse walls, Jennifer's work invites us to slow down, listen closely, and discover the beauty hiding in plain sight.

Come hear the impossibly true story Jennifer Sinor will share on the Coyote Tales stage, Saturday, September 6th at Ivins City Heritage Park. Bring your own picnic blanket to sit on and settle in for a magical evening of stories. Music by Stillhouse Road starts at 7 PM, and stories begin at dusk.
The theme for the evening's tales: IMPOSSIBLE.

FREE event with complimentary beverages provided by longtime Coyote Tales supporters Kayenta Homes and Properties.

Totally free. Absolutely unforgettable. See you there!

Coyote Tales is brought to you with love and support from Petite Feast, Utah Humanities, Kayenta Homes & Properties, and Black Desert Resort. Big thanks to Desert Dweller Realty and SBDance for their in-kind magic.

08/07/2025

This guy’s got stories.

During his decades of field research, Kevin Holdsworth has been dive-bombed by hawks, stalked by a cougar, and chased a half-mile by a black bear. He even was bitten by a rogue Uinta ground squirrel! Plenty of story material there!

He is an author, educator, and lifelong adventurer. He grew up skiing and fishing the Wasatch, then turned his sights on the Uinta Mountains. He’s climbed the nine highest peaks in the Uintas and more than 50 in the Wind River.

Kevin is the author of Red Stone Heart, Good Water, and Big Wonderful, and currently teaches English at Snow College.

Catch him live on the Coyote Tales stage, telling impossibly true stories of wild places and even wilder moments.

Event details

Saturday, September 6th
Ivins City Heritage Park
BYO Picnic and music by Stillhouse Road starts at 7 PM - stories start at dusk

All outdoor events are FREE, and proceeds from indoor shows have gone straight to local nonprofits. Coyote Tales is brought to you with love and support from Petite Feast, Utah Humanities, Kayenta Homes & Properties, and Black Desert Resort. Big thanks to Desert Dweller Realty and SBDance for their in-kind magic.

*LONGTIME COYOTE TALES SUPPORTERS, KAYENTA HOMES & PROPERTIES WILL BE ON HAND PROVIDING FREE BOTTLED WATER AND COOKIES FOR STORY LOVERS THROUGHOUT THE EVENING!

Totally free. Absolutely unforgettable. See you there

07/01/2025

229 STORYTELLERS CAN'T BE WRONG - COYOTE TALES IS A BLAST!
THIS IS YOUR MOMENT – WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2025

JOIN US FOR COYOTE TALES LIVE STORYTELLING OUTDOORS AT THE IVINS CITY HERITAGE DAYS FESTIVAL
THE THEME FOR THE EVENING’S STORIES IS: IMPOSSIBLE

Prepare a story about defying the odds. Getting a flat but still making your flight. A hole in one, hitting the high note, or remembering your dang password! Running into a grade school friend halfway around the world, turning in your first draft, or finding a needle in a haystack. Was there a time when you thought “there’s no way,” yet you persisted? Do tell.

Don’t want to get on stage? No problem – come be part of the audience and enjoy a night of laughter, connection and stories told the Coyote Tales way. Everyone is welcome!

If you are interested in sharing a story on stage, please contact Victoria through the Coyote Tales website https://coyotetalesstories.com

everyone has a story – Vic

Coyote Tales events are funded by Petite Feast, Utah Humanities, Kayenta Homes and Properties & Black Desert Resort. WE are grateful for the in-kind support of Desert Dweller Realty and SBDance. All proceeds from indoor events have been donated to local nonprofits and all outdoor events are FREE

06/09/2025

EVEN IF YOU MISSED THE SHOW
YOU CAN STILL GET THE WHOLE STORY!

"It was getting dark and we could hear all the night creatures. We knew there were bears – we had seen them. And if you’ll recall, I was walking around with a tuna sub strapped on my back. "
- adventurer and Coyote Tales storyteller, Olivia Dudding-Rodriguez

On Friday, May 9th, Coyote Tales was onstage at The Center for the Arts at Kayenta. Each Coyote Tales event is a unique and singular experience filled with the unpredictable and unscripted energy of live storytelling. Invited tellers, Robert Perkins, Olivia Dudding Rodriguez, Chris Kokinos, Jeanette Snyder and Micah Player joined three mildly nervous but willing local Ivins storytellers who each captivated listeners with their takes on the evening’s theme, SURRENDER.

Stories ranged from a tale about a young woman looking to reinvent herself in Ketchikan, Alaska, to a tender tale about what was surely the country’s first computer dating match, to a woman’s deep and profound connection with a rescued cow. As expected, listeners relished every moment. Of course, Douglas Caputo was there to guide the evening with his usual charm and good humor.

Other highlights of the evening were the bluegrass music provided by Joe and Paula Ferario of Stillhouse Road and the cocktail pre-party hosted by Kayenta Homes and Properties and Petite Feast. We were delighted that independent bookseller, Tanya Parker-Mills of The Book Bungalow was also able to join us to sell copies of many of our invited teller's works.

Coyote Tales events are intended to be about the shared connection between the teller and the audience. Each time a storyteller shares a tale, they are putting a call out to community - a community of listeners who recognize something in its telling that they can relate to. We believe that through this connection, an individual teller’s experience can become the audiences’ shared experience. In a very real way, a sea of ‘I’s” becomes our communal, WE.

GET THE WHOLE STORY
If you were unable to attend May’s event but want to hear the stories, please visit the Coyote Tales story archives @ https://coyotetalesstories.com/surrender-audio-clips/

Let us know what you think!

We are happy to announce that our next live event will be the opening event of The Ivins City Heritage Days Festival. I am working on an inspiring line-up of tellers, but there is room on the stage for you too! If you are interested in getting on stage, please contact me through the Coyote Tales website

Follow us on Facebook so you won’t miss any of the details.

Coyote Tales is funded and sponsored by Petite Feast, Utah Humanities, Kayenta Homes and Properties and Black Desert Resorts. We are grateful for the in-kind support of SBDance & Desert Dweller Realty

everyone has a story - Vic

05/11/2025

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in Coyote Tales Friday night at CFAK.

Each storyteller thew down an amazing tale! It was an evening of tender and heartfelt true stories about personal moments of beauty, wonder, acceptance and grace. Each Coyote Tales event is a unique and singular experience filled with the unpredictable and unscripted energy of live storytelling. Highlights of the night were tales of a midnight hike in Alaska, a new divorcee discovering her true power, a naturalist's awe in finding a falcon's nest, and an Artic explorers realization that surrender might just mean making the better choice.

It is our belief that by listening to one another’s stories we are encouraged to be more open, connected and alive. I can’t thank this community enough for whole-heartedly embracing Coyote Tales and supporting and believing in its mission. A million, billion thanks.

Our next event is scheduled for September 6th as the opening event to The Ivins City Heritage Days Festival. For more information head to: https://coyotetalesstories.com/.

Everyone has a story.
Giddy up!
Vic

Coyote Tales Events are funded by Utah Humanities, Petite Feast, Kayetna Homes and Properties and Black Desert Resorts. WE are grateful for the in-kind support of SBDance and Desert Dweller Realty.

100% of revenue from our ticketed events has been donated to local non-profits and all of our outdoor events have been free and open to all.

Special thanks to Alan Holben for his beautiful photos. Alan, you captured each teller perfectly.

05/03/2025

New storyteller added to May 9th's storytelling line-up!

Micah Player illustrator of numerous children’s books and most recently author and illustrator of “This is a Moment” will be on the Coyote Tales stage Friday, May 9th shaing his true tale based on the evening's theme, SURRENDER. The show will take place at The Center for the Arts at Kayenta.

Micah will join authors, Chris Cokinos, Olivia Dudding-Rodriguez and Robert Perkins along with other local and amateur tellers in sharing their stories. This is one event you don't want tio miss!

tickets https://kayentaarts.org/portfolio/coyote-tales-surrender/

Micah will also be at The Book Bungalow (94 West Tabernacle Street St. George, UT) for a Children's Writers Workshop on Saturday, May 17, 2025 - 7:30pm to 9:00pm. This will be a ticketed event with a $25.00 fee to benefit The Book Bungalow - You gotta love that!