The first thing I did when I joined Facebook in 2007 was create the Story Teller group. I did so with little hope of attracting members for I strongly suspected that I was the only one to remember such an obscure children’s magazine from the 80s. I was wrong. Yes, membership growth was slow at the start but today, the Story Teller Facebook Group is more than 3200 members strong. And it continues to grow.
This edition of STME marks fifteen years of nostalgia, magic and friendship generated by the group. Over the years, members have indulged in non-stop nostalgia about our favourite story magazine, as well as collaborated on various exciting projects to ensure that Story Teller lives on. These projects include the digitisation of the magazines and cassettes; the launch of a YouTube channel; the compilation of a music database detailing every single track used in the audio; and the creation of a dedicated website that has become a repository for all things Story Teller.
To be sure, no project has created more din, drive and delight than STME itself, the first issue of which came out in 2020. For many of us, the tribute magazine was a dream come true which re-ignited a shared magic from our childhood in a real way. STME brought back beloved characters that we had grown up with, while also introducing the enchantment of Story Teller to a whole new generation.
It is, therefore, my joy to welcome you to the third edition of STME. It is only fitting that we should mark such a significant anniversary with one of the most significant characters from Story Teller: Timbertwig. We thank Peet Ellison for gifting us with another adventure featuring the popular Story Teller icon. STME 2022 also presents Mouldy Old Words, a story written by Geraldine McCaughrean who was a staff writer for Story Teller. Now a renowned and successful children’s writer, Geraldine still regards her days working for Marshall Cavendish—original publisher of Story Teller—amongst her happiest, and she is delighted to contribute this new story to continue the Story Teller legacy.
As ever, I am indebted to our talented and generous group members for making this publication possible. I bow to the excellence and enthusiasm of our in-house writers, narrators, illustrators, editors, audio technicians and designers. Together, they have conjured up an electric mix of Stories, Tales, Magic and Escapades that is as spellbinding as the original series. Working with members of the Story Teller Facebook Group remains a joy and a privilege. Their contagious passion is real testament to the enduring magic and influence of Story Teller … still the best collection of children’s stories.
Antonio Pineda
Creator of the ST Facebook Group
