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PLEASE DO NOT PRINT REVIEW BEFORE RELEASE DATE OF OCTOBER 20, 2015Contact Haley Stocking, Publicist 206/826-4318 hstocking@sasquatchbooks.com

When you watch Margot Leitman telling stories onstage, you find yourself laughing hysterically and somehow feeling less alone in a world where it seems everyone else got some kind of instruction manual. And now shes literally gone and given you an instruction manual.Dan Kennedy, host of The Moth Podcast and writer-performer

Did you ever wish you could tell a story that leaves others spellbound? Storytelling teacher and Moth GrandSLAM champion Margot Leitman will show you how in Long Story Short: The Only Storytelling Guide Youll Ever Need (Sasquatch Books; $19.95; October 2015). This practical storytelling guide from Leitman, a comedian, winner of multiple storytelling competitions, and founder of the Upright Citizens Brigades storytelling program, breaks a story into concrete components with ways to improve content, structure, emotional impact, and delivery. Leitman shows readers how to get past the fear of having nothing interesting to say and how to strike gold in the universal

truth of shared human experiences. She also addresses common questions like what details can I fudge? With an easy-to-read layout and plenty of sidebars and tips, Long Story Short helps anyone turn lifes mishaps into story magic.

The book takes a fun, irreverent, and infographic approach, with personal anecdotes, relatable examples, and practical exercises to help storytellers of all levels draw in audiences and keep them on the edges of their seats.

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Long Story ShortThe Only Storytelling Guide Youll Ever Need

Margot Leitman

About the AuthorMargot Leitman is a storyteller, comedian, and writer originally from Matawan, New Jersey. She is the author of the comedic memoir Gawky: Tales of an Extra Long Awkward Phase from Seal Press/Perseus Books, which was called hilarious by New Jersey Monthly magazine, and really, who doesnt desire to make their home state proud? For television, she has written for NBC, the Hallmark Channel, and the PixL network. In print, her writing has appeared in Playgirl magazine and New York Press, and on websites such as the Frisky, CollegeHumor, and MyLifetime.com. Margot is a five-time Moth StorySLAM winner and was the Moth GrandSLAM champion in New York City in 2011. She travels all over the

world performing her true stories and teaching others to tell their own. She is also an amateur baker and keeps an avid yoga practice. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. Visit MargotLeitman.com.

SASQUATCH BOOKS1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 710 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101

206/467-4300 TOLL FREE 800/775-0817 FAX 206/467-4301www.sasquatchbooks.com

Long Story Short The Only Storytelling Guide Youll Ever Need

Margot Leitman

October 2015 $19.95 320 pages Paperback ISBN 978-1-63217-027-9

Available wherever fine books are sold.Sasquatch Books 800/775-0817 www.sasquatchbooks.com

Praise for Long Story ShortWhen you watch Margot Leitman telling stories onstage, you find yourself laughing hysterically and somehow feeling less alone in a world where it seems everyone else got some kind of instruction manual. And now shes literally gone and given you an instruction manual. Shesa former hypochondriac, obsessed with game shows, and asuperfan of hair metaland shell make you realize your own qualifications and credentials in no time. In a world of experts, youve found an insightful book about storytelling from an actual human.Dan Kennedy, host of The Moth Podcast and writer-performerMargot Leitman is a rare thing: shes a performer, a writer, andin this bookthe teacher you secretly have a crush on. Sharp as hell, Leitman teaches you how to tell your own story. Through sharing her process, telling personal stories, and giving practical exercises, she will give you the tools and confidence you need to share your story with the world.Elna Baker, author and regular contributor to This American LifeFor our improv show ASSSSCAT the success of the performance hinges on how meaty the story is that the monologist gives us. Margot always delivers a nice thick cut of filet mignon.Matt Besser, cofounder of The Upright Citizens Brigade and author of The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation ManualMargot Leitman and Michael Jordan are both naturally good at storytelling/basketball. But theyre not content to coast on their natural abilities; they also work at their craft/dunks. But where they differ is that Michael Jordan has retired and Margot Leitman continues to hone her formidable skills on the word processor/court. Long Story Short shows her at the top of her game/game.Rob Delaney, comedian and best-selling authorMargot Leitman is not only an incredibly skilled and entertaining storyteller but also a gifted teacher.She is the person you most want next to you around a campfire, at a grungy bar, or cheering you on at your first PowerPoint presentation. In Long Story Short, Margot expertly guides readers through the ins and outs of a craft essential to all who seek to connect more deeply with the world around them.Jillian Lauren, New York Times best-selling author of Some Girls: My Life in a HaremWhether you know it or not, there are great stories inside of you, and Margot Leitman is the perfect person to help you find them and squeeze every drop of humor and emotion out of them when you do. Long story short, she rules. Buy this book.DC Pierson, author of The Boy Who Couldnt Sleep and Never Had ToMargot Leitman is hilarious and vulnerable and real. In Long Story Short, she teaches us, with great candor and clarity, how storytelling works. This book is essentiala reminder that the world would be a better place if everyone knew how to tell a good story.Diana Spechler, author and seven-time Moth StorySLAM winner

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From Long Story Short: The Only Storytelling Guide Youll Ever Need by Margot Leitman

Keep it true. Change names and identifying characteristics of other people in your story if you feel its necessary. Make sure your story has a universal theme that is relatable, not self-indulgent or overly personal. Have multiple points of entry. Dont be heavy-handed with your message. Let the story speak for itself. If youre not over it, dont tell it. Tell us what you were thinking at the time of your story. Reveal your inner monologue, from A to Z. Cut the fat when introducing external characters. Use composite characters and nickname them when you can. Make sure we root for you. Be an underdog. Show us your flaws and use them to your advantage when telling your story. If there are full-circle connections within your story, be sure to use them. But dont force a connection. Be the star of your story. Add nostalgia (songs, television shows, fashion styles from the time of the story). Keep us on our toes by incorporating the unexpected. Keep it conversational, not presentational. Cut out anything you wouldnt say to a group of your friends. You want your story to sound natural. Make sure you arent just listing things, going on a rant, or making a political speech. Make sure you get to the meat of the story. If you care, we care. Passion will take you far. Emotionally respond to the tale you are recounting, but dont yell at us!

SASQUATCH BOOKS1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 710 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101

206/467-4300 TOLL FREE 800/775-0817 FAX 206/467-4301www.sasquatchbooks.com