Storyteller, author comedienne and motivational speaker Kelly Swanson will bring her newest program, Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale? How to Hang on to Humor When Life Doesn't Go the Way you Planned, to the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13.

Swanson said she has created "a cast of Southern characters" that she uses in her one-woman shows. Originally a writer, Swanson said she realized she had a gift for storytelling "through a series of weird events.

"I stumbled into the world of storytelling and these professional storytellers - there's all kinds of them in North Carolina," said Swanson. "I started to cut my teeth in that world and learn how to tell stories."

She performed at festivals and in schools until she "quickly realized" that she liked speaking to adults in the room, eventually working as a motivational speaker as well. No matter what kind of show it is, however, Swanson said she feels her show has value.

"I don't just go in, make them laugh and entertain them," she said. "I teach them how to stay on the funny side of life and create remarkable relationships. There's some value they get back."

She noted that staying on "the funny side of life" is "everything" to her show.

"It's all tied in to attitude and the power that we have to control how we see the world," said Swanson. "Especially now - times are really hard for a lot of people, and they're carrying around a lot of burdens. I can see it on their faces because I'm on the stage and I'm facing these audiences. It's just tough, and there's so much you can't control in life. The one thing that you can control is how you're going to let it affect you, and humor is just a great way to deal with the stress."

Jane Lonon, executive director of the Ashe County Arts Council, said that they invited Swanson to return to Ashe because "she is just one of those homegrown storytellers that puts together a professional evening's presentation that is non-stop laughter" who will have "you rolling in the aisles and laughing at those things that we all go through but sometimes take too seriously." Lonon noted the show is "good, clean fun" and is appropriate for family audiences.

Lonon also said that the audience can enjoy the show in the small, yet intimate, Arts Center.

"Instead of someone standing up onstage with 300 people in the audience [at the Ashe Civic Center], to be able to stand on floor level with 100 people - it's a better audience connection," said Lonon. "We realize that it limits the audience that we have but we think it makes for a better small, intimate theater experience."

Swanson said she thinks the audience can expect to "laugh and have a good time," in addition to "fellowshipping with each other and being reminded that no matter what happens, we're all in this together. We can all laugh."

Swanson said she enjoys the audiences, too, especially "hearing the the laughter and the comments that people make. The thing I love to hear the most is 'I laughed so hard I cried.' I also love to hear 'You changed my life today.' That keeps me going."

Admission to the show is $10 for adults and $5 for students. To reserve tickets, contact the Ashe County Arts Council at (336) 846-2787 or click to www.ashecountyarts.org.

To find out more about Swanson or watch clips from her performances, click to www.kellyswanson.net.