Gary Carden is many things, but boring is not one of them. Telling stories since the day he first could speak, Gary draws inspiration from a number of tragedies that struck from an early age. Abandoned by his teenage mother after the murder of his father, Gary has used storytelling as a way to cope with misfortune and reach reconciliation. Gary often uses the Chinese proverb, “May you live an interesting life.” For Gary, a widely-renowned and award-winning storyteller of Appalachia, writing plays and telling stories gives meaning to his life. Despite the loss he has endured, Gary says that these experiences have molded him into the person he has become, and ultimately enriched his life.

Photo of Gary Carden by Tenley Garrett