Fantastic Tales from the Frontier

Nancy Winniford is a fascinating weaver of yarns, tall tales and American history who has charmed audiences of attentive children and adults for nearly forty-five years. Her stories center around the fictional character Mz. Grundy Z. Leatherberry, a young woman who strikes out on her own at the age of eighteen to conquer the Wild West. Mz. Grundy’s journeys and adventures across the wide expanse of the United States, beginning in the 1870’s, form the vehicle which Nancy uses to relate U.S. history in fun, captivating ways. Her stories present a new way to relate history that draws the listener into the past, using humor and body and facial expression to capture people’s attention.

Her education has included a diploma from Aiken Senior High School, Cincinnati, Ohio, a BA from the University of Cincinnati, where she was featured in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and graduate studies at the University of Alaska,Anchorage. She was mentored in storytelling by Michael Sherman and Glen Guy, AKA Dusty Sourdough.

In addition, Mrs. Winniford was an outdoor educator for five years, a teaching assistant and then teacher for fifteen years, and a home school mother for fourteen years. She taught the Slingerland Teaching method at the University of Alaska, Anchorage at the graduate level.

Another gig was co-host of the radio program “Truth Under Fire.” Nancy and her formidable husband, Steven, have been married over thirty years and have two lovely adult daughters, Sarah and Stephanie, one gallant son-in-law, David, and one lovable grandson, Colson.

Mrs. Winniford has been featured in the Anchorage Daily News entertainment section. She is a three-time winner of the Anchorage Fur Rendez-vous Storytelling Contest and has performed at the Alaska State Fair and the Sourdough Mining Company, as well as numerous churches, camps, schools, correctional facilities, and nursing homes.