Author Ed Okonowicz who offers readers
chilling tales and legends and fascinating
oral histories from the Mid-Atlantic region.
Okonowicz, has an MA , Communication, University
of Delaware, BA , Education, Univesity of
Delaware, featured on "Ghost Waters,"
The Learning Channel. Mr. Okonowicz has
written Ghost Writer for Delaware
Today Magazine, and appeared on many radio
and television programs frequently to speak
about ghosts and storytelling. He has been
a speaker at the Gettysburg Ghost Conference
and his many haunted publications ar published
by Myst and Lace Publishers Inc.
Okonowicz is also the author of the well-known
DelMarVa murder mystery series. His programs
on teaching Delaware and Maryland history
through folklore and legends are popular
in schools and libraries. He also offers
workshops in writing and storytelling and
public speaking.
One of his most popular programs is a presentation
of Delaware, Maryland and Delmarva history
for visitors attending state, regional and
national conferences. Following is a sampling
of some of his clients
• National
Association of Press Women (national convention)
• Military reunions
• Fraternal organizations (Knights of
Columbus and Masonic Order)
• College and student meetings (Americorps
and Governor's School for Excellence)
• Occupational conventions (Maryland
Library Association, University Continuing
Education Association, Mid-Atlantic Region)
• Elderhostels, Academy of Lifelong
Learning
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
and WORKSHOPS
(also appropriate for librairies, scouts and
church youth groups)
Some of the
programs listed above are appropriate for
students and can be adapted in terms of content,
length and focus, depending upon the needs
of the student group. For these programs,
see descriptions above:
Folksongs
and Folktales
Memories of World War II in Delaware
America's
Patriotic Music, from The Revolution to September
11
Storytelling from the Brandywine to the Bay
Haunted Delaware and/or Haunted Delmarva
Disappearing Delmarva: A Look at the Effects
of Progress
on the People and Small Businesses throughout
the Peninsula
Learning Delaware History through Folklore
and Legends
Using folklore, legends and ghost stories
to teach the significant events of Delaware's
significant role in our country's history
has worked very well in schools and library
settings. Photographs of historic sites—from
Woodburn (Delaware’s Governor’s
Mansion) to sites along the beaches of the
Delaware and Chesapeake Bay—reinforce
the stories that are told during the program.
Hear about (and see) the "Ticking Tomb"
interesting tombstones and their eerie inscriptions
and the sites of reported Civil War (Fort
Delaware) and Revolutionary War spirits .
.. and much more. This popular program concludes
with an opportunity for questions from the
audience.
Secrets Behind the Stories
FREE BOOKS offered in NEW SCHOOL/LIBRARY
PROGRAM: If your child is in elementary,
middle school or high school, Ed is offering
a program called "SECRETS BEHIND THE
STORIES," where he visits the school
or public library and teaches students about
writing and interviewing. Each student receives
a FREE COPY of one of his ghost/folklore
books as part of the session. For information,
call Ed at 410 398 5013 or send him an email.
Or tell your child’s teacher, home
school association or librairan about this
popular program and call Ed for more information.
How to Write
a Spooky Story
FREE BOOKS offered in NEW SCHOOL/LIBRARY PROGRAM:In
this one- or two-part workshop, students will
learn about story structure, ideas, develop
a focus, story title, write a short story
and then discuss the content and writing process.
A FREE BOOK is provided to each student, and
selected stories are discussed and used to
illustrate different stages of the writing
and creative planning process. Ideal for ages
10 through high school, and can be used in
schools, libraries or for home schoolers.
Other programs by request
Storytelling programs can be adapted for
almost any venue, such as
Campfires
Conferences
Family Gatherings
Banquets
Breakfast or Dinner Meetings
Bus Tours
Luncheons
Anniversary Parties
Holiday Gatherings
Historical
Town Walking Tours and Cemetery Tours
(ideal fund-raising programs)
Ed and Cecil County historian Mike Dixon
develop and conduct town and/or cemetery
walking tours, which are used as fund raisers
for non-profit organizations.
Under the name History and Haunts they
have done this successfully for such groups
as:
Friends of the Delaware City Library
Boys and Girls Clubs of Cecil County
St. Mary Anne’s Episcopal Church,
North East, Md.
Corbit-Calloway Library, Odessa, Del.
Historical Society of Cecil County, Elkton,
Md.
Newark Arts Alliance, Newark, Del.
Smyrna Clayton Heritage Association, Smyrna,
Del.
Del Tech Adult Plus+, Georgetown, Del.
Friends of the Snow Hill Library, Snow Hill,
Md.
Historic Elk Landing, Elkton, Md.
Cecil County Arts Council, Elkton, Md.
Maryland Library Association, for its annual
convention
The combination
of history and folklore and ghost stories
attracts individuals who might not attend
a historical lecture in a sterile setting.
But, place the program in an 18th century
cemetery, or at an historical site—and
combine a few eerie legends—and the
audience will come and depart with a greater
appreciation and interest in history.
Some Previous Clients Include
This is a very small sampling of some of
the groups, companies, schools and museums
that have used Ed's sevices:
Museums,
Organizations, Corporations and Societies
Philadelphia
Art Museum
Siegfried USA
Talbot County Historical Society
Arsenal in Olde New Castle
Chadds Ford Inn
Historical Society of Delaware
Historical Society of Cecil County
Elk Landing Foundation
Delaware State Parks: at Trap Pond, Killens
Pond, Fort Delaware, Bellevue Mansion
Ghost/History Lantern Tour, Fort Delaware
(since 1997)
Chautauqua (opening act in 2002, 2003, 2004)
at Cecil Community College (Maryland)
First Night Wilmington
Friends of the Hancock House
Cecil Community College Milburn Stone Theater
New Castle 350th Anniversary Celebration
Delaware Seashore Preservations Foundation
Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation
Tyler Arboretum
Delaware Agricultural Museum
Fort Delaware State Park
Delaware Geneaological Society
Lewes Historical Society
Dover Historical Society
Delaware Civil War Round Table
Harrington Historical Society
Numerous
Senior Centers, Retirement Facilities and
Elderhostels
Universities
and Colleges
University
of Delaware
Parents Weekend, History/Folklore Walking
Tour, University of Delaware
Students Activities Welcome Back to Campus
Program, University of Delaware
Upward Bound
Academy of Lifelong Learning (Wilmington and
Southern Delaware)
Bach's Lunch Series
Salisbury University
State of Delaware Governor’s School
for Excellence
Delaware Technical and Community College Elderhostel
and Adult Plus+
Schools,
Libraries and Student Oriented Organizations
Milford Middle
School
Redding Middle School
Highlands Elementary School
The Tatnall School
Gauger Middle School
Cherry Hill Middle School PTO
Elkton Middle School
Milford Middle School
Holy Cross Elementary School
Most Blessed Sacrament School
Delaware School for the Deaf
St. Hedwig's School
Our Lady of Fatima School
Ferris School
Maryland
Library Association Annual Convention
Corbitt Calloway Memorial Library
Kent County (Del.) Library
Dover Public Library
Wicomico County Library
Carroll County Library
Worcester County Library
Denton Library
Sudlersville Library
Bel Air Library
Brandywine Hundred Branch Library
Harrington Public Library
Elsmere Public Library
Selbyville Public Library
Cecil County Public Library
Boys' and
Girls' Clubs of Cecil County
Girl Scouts Fall School Training Sessions
State, Regional
and National Conventions
Flying Farmers, Masonic Lodge, Knights of
Columbus, Maryland Library Association,
University Continuing Education Association,
Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference
Country Club Managers of Delaware
National Convention Speaker for National Association
of Press Women
Speaker at Paranormal Conferences
Gettysburg Ghost Conference, for International
Ghost Hunting Society
Gettysburg Ghost Conference, for Pennsylvania
Society for Paranormal Research
Eastern Paranormal Conference, for Baltimore
Society for Paranormal Research
Ed also made
presentations at conferences for educators,
parent teacher organizations, booksellers,
health care professionals, agricultural groups,
scout leaders and religious educators
Affiliation/Funding: Ed is a member of
the Delaware Humanities Forum Speakers Bureau
(for presentations before organizations)
and Visiting Scholars Program (for talks
in schools). Some of his programs are funded
by this organization. Call him for information
at (410) 398 5013 or e-mail at edo@mystandlace.com.
Because of his many books on ghosts and
folklore, Ed has been a speaker at numerous
paranormal conferences, sponsored by the
• International
Ghost Hunters Society
• Pennsylvania Paranormal Conference
• Baltimore Society for Paranormal Research
As a storyteller
he has been named a featured teller at Philadelphia's
Tellabration and twice at The Gathering, a
Mid-Atlantic regional storytelling convention.
Selected
Awards
• AmPol
(American's of Polish Descent Cultural Society)
Person of the Year Achievement Award , 2002
• National
Paranomal Awards, Best Speaker at the Eastern
Regional Paranormal Conference, 2004, Baltimore,
presented by Maryland Paranormal Investigators
Coalition
• Storytelling
World Honor Awards, Welcome Inn, "Concert
by Candlelight" (1996), Terrifying Tales
of the Beaches and Bays, "A Horrifyingly
True Fishing Story" (2001) best adult
story category
• National
Association of Press Women, 1998 Communication
Contest, Disappearing Delmarva, best general
book award and best photojournalism entry
Tours
With Mike
Dixon, Cecil County historian, Ed presents
cemetery walks and historic town walking tours
as fund raising events for non-profit organizations
throughout Delmarva and nearby states.
