See a photo of Annette, a link to her bio, and Part 1 of this Q&A. Late-breaking bio news: I've just learned that Annette's The Story Factor has been included as one of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time, a book to be published by Penguin in February.

Q&A with Annette Simmons (Questions 2 and 3):

Q: How did you initially become involved with story/storytelling/narrative? What attracted you to this field? What do you love about it?

A: I was in grad school studying adult education in a master's program at NCSU. My stepmom thought it would be a good way to get us kids (adults, but barely) together from different parts of the country to meet at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, TN. I had never heard of it before. I fell in love with the stories, the people, the emotions, and the fresh-made cider they served hot from a long-gone general store.

Over the next few years I was simply a fan. It never occurred to me I could do "that." But Cheryl, a friend of mine saw a change in the way I did my work (leadership training). At one festival, I stopped Ed Stivender on the street just to tell him how much I love him and his stories. Cheryl was with me. He asked, "Are you a storyteller?" I said, "Oh no." and Cheryl piped in, "Yes you ARE!"

Like any art form, there are many who rush to call themselves a painter, singer, musician, and even a "storyteller." But some of us find the step a daunting bridge to cross. For me, to call myself a storyteller is sort of like being sworn in to a set of unwritten laws. I will tell the truth. I will tell stories that no one else might tell. I will bear witness to remind people of what is most important. Those storytelling principles are what I love most about storytelling. It is an honorable tradition as well as a wonderful way to stay connected to people and to stay connected to what is most important to us all -- family.

Q: What people or entities have been most influential to you in your story work and why?

A: Doug Lipman remains the single most important influence on me. I attended his workshops and I've hired him as a personal coach. I've chosen to stay as close to the "source" as possible when I study, work on my storytelling and consulting. I have hired Elizabeth Ellis and Nancy Donoval as personal coaches. I have attended workshops with Judith Black and Jay O'Callahan. All of these people are star performance storytellers I first saw at the National Storytelling Festival. I try to limit my use of "derivative" sources. We have such amazing talent available for such a low cost. Conferences can cost thousands and the festival only costs $150 for a full weekend. It is a great resource for learning and based in ancient "truths" craved by those adrift in numbers, money, and market reports.