Bio

Bio

Author Media Kit:

Author Press Kit:

In 2016 Melva won first place in the Utah Arts Council for an MG book, Operation: Middle School Madness. In 2020, she gained about twelve honorable mentions and three silver honorable mentions from the Writers of the Future contest. She’s attended a Highlights workshop in March 2016. Melva has a story, Forfeit, featured in the Jan 2021 issue of Cricket Magazine. She also published in several small presses and websites for fiction and nonfiction.

Her fiction touches upon many realms including Children, Mainstream, SF/ F, and Romance. My nonfiction book is: I Know You THINK This is a Toaster: Promoting Family Values Through Object Lessons.

Storyteller Press Kit

Melva Gifford is a Utah Story Guild member and Timp Tellers member and contributor to USG’s Tale swapper newsletter.

Melva has performed on the PBS radio program, Story Mine, Story Crossroads, WUS storytelling festival, Pioneer Days, and Ellis Island (Orem event). Her repertoire includes patriotic camps, community fairs, Provo Park, and church. She told at Orem’s Library’s Liars Competition and the Horror competition. She’s told tales at Pioneer Park, Pioneer Village, family reunions, Orem deaf school, family parties, and Springville Art Museum. She performed at Coyote tales and Clearfield virtual festivals.

Comments from the WSU Storytelling Audition committee: The balloon head story would be a fun and silly story to share with the kids. Many kids would giggle at the idea of a head getting bigger and bigger. The audience interaction with us shouting out “Melva!” made it a more memorable experience. You had appropriate gestures that allowed the audience to visually see the story while you told it. Overall, you are a wonderful and dynamic teller!
-Writer Press Kit
Melva Gifford has been writing since her youth. She has had fiction and nonfiction shorts published in various magazines. My storylines touch upon many realms of interest from children’s mainstream, science fiction, and fantasy. They include nonfiction as well as adult science fiction and fantasy.

Comments from Pioneer Village: If I could have you every year, I would! You were fabulous! Your stories were meaningful, well thought-out and powerfully presented. The times that I was there, people really responded to you. You kept a professional air about you, while relating to and looking at people. I loved your stories – – they were captivating.

Videos featured on YouTube:

Stupid Wad (Comedy)