Getting Lost In L.A. is a rite of passage for Angelenos, and I'm no exception, though I don't live there anymore. This is my favorite version of that story so far, thanks to the big-hearted community of Larry Dean Harris' storytelling show, Strong Words. His...
Live Storytelling
Nada Nada Tamalada – Cara en el Moth StorySLAM en Español
Hola mis amigos y siguedores quien hablan español. Tal vez saben que soy ni sola una escritora sino una narradora también. Por siete años, había contado historias frente de audiencias en vivo, y soy una ganadora de The Moth StorySLAM. Esta primavera, por primera vez,...
The Clucking Funt – Cara Live at The Moth StorySLAM in L.A.
For those of you who don't mind a little salty language - in the service of telling it like it happened - here's video of a true personal story I told last fall, live at The Moth StorySLAM. Don't let the title fool you. This is a love story. I was thrilled, and a...
The Tamale Incident – Cara’s Story for the Strong Words Holiday(s) Show
I may never live down The Tamale Incident, my moment of infamy in the Lopez-Lee family. In this live personal story, I confess what happened that day and why sometimes, just sometimes, I feel like a failed Mexican woman. Thanks to Larry Dean Harris for inviting me to...
Sparklers Are Giant Matches – Cara’s Childhood Tale for StoryMasters
I've been excited to appear in many in-person storytelling shows that have returned to the stage, but I'm also grateful for the virtual shows still online. They create opportunities for storytellers and audiences to share stories when they can't get out, make friends...
Ride the Neighborhood – Cara’s Bicycling Tale at The Otter Story Hour
Personal storytelling is back to the live onstage world, and what a gift to fully interact with storytellers and audiences again. Through the pandemic, I've been grateful to use Zoom and other online streaming platforms to stay engaged with community via the art of...
In Search of Family History – Cara’s Story at 80 Minutes Around the World
I've been moved by the audiences who've taken an interest in the stories of my search for the family history of my Mexican-Chinese Grandma. In 2021, I had a few opportunities to share the story of my journey to China to heal an old family divide. In case you haven't...
The Tamale Incident – Cara’s Tale of Family Feasts on The Otter Story Hour
As my holiday gift to you, allow me to share a funny, touching story that originally aired on The Otter Story Hour's show: Family Feast. Every Christmas, visions of tamales dance in my head. Actually, I eat tamales year-round, maybe because I'm a Mexican who grew up...
Old Mr. Ma – Cara Tells a Story of Home for The Storytellers Project
As many of you know, I'm writing a historical novel inspired by family stories my Mexican-Chinese grandma used to tell me: tales of secret immigrants and mixed races, family loyalties and betrayals. I'm also involved in the world of live personal storytelling, and The...
The Hooker Bully – Virtual Storytelling During the Pandemic
If you're involved in the world of live personal storytelling, as a teller or a fan, then you know the pandemic didn't stop us but only prompted us to find each other online, thanks to dedicated producers who took their shows to the virtual road. Such shows are part...