Storytelling in Sedona

& Oak Creek Canyon

Bring your guests a night of canyon legends, wildlife tales, and true Southwest adventures—right at your B&B, retreat, or rental.

Stories Rooted in Sedona

When groups come to Sedona, they don’t just want another dinner reservation or sunset photo—they want to feel where they’re staying, not just see it.

For small groups staying in Sedona or Oak Creek Canyon, I create story-rich evenings right at your B&B, boutique hotel, or rental property. Guests hear about the people, wildlife, and landscapes that shaped this place, so they leave with a deeper sense of where they’ve been.

 

· A deeper sense of the canyon and high desert as a living place, not just scenery.

 

· Stories they’ll retell to friends and family long after they’ve checked out and gone home.

 

· An easy, on‑site evening that works for mixed ages and energy levels after a full day of exploring.

Options for Your Group in the Sedona Storytelling Circuit

I partner with a small number of Sedona inns, B&Bs, and venues to offer recurring storytelling evenings and literary events. These programs travel—some weeks I’m on a B&B patio, other weeks at a retreat center or library. Here are three signature programs for B&Bs, retreats, book clubs, and gatherings.

Sedona Legends & High Desert Stories

 

For visiting groups who want to feel where they’re staying—not just see it.

 

Drawing on The Sirens of Oak Creek, The Legend of Everett Ruess, and 25 years of living in the Southwest, I share stories about Sedona’s canyons, early wanderers, and the wildlife that still moves through this landscape. Guests hear about Everett Ruess—the young vagabond who roamed the Southwest in the 1930s—as well as local legends, cliff dwellings, and desert trails that inspired my novels.

 

This is a relaxed, conversational program that leaves guests seeing Oak Creek Canyon, West Fork, and the surrounding red rock country with new eyes.

Book Club Evening: The Sirens of Oak Creek

Ideal for book clubs, reading groups, and retreats that want a deeper dive into Sedona’s history and mythology.

In this session, I join your group for a guided conversation centered on my award‑winning historical mystery, The Sirens of Oak Creek. We explore the real people and places behind the novel—Sinaguans and Mayans, Apaches and Spaniards, pioneers and modern Sedonans—and how 1,200 years of story shaped Oak Creek Canyon. I share a short reading, behind‑the‑scenes tales from the research and writing, and then open things up for questions and discussion.

 

This evening works best for groups who have read, or are currently reading, the book—either in person in the Verde Valley or online from anywhere. There’s also an audiobook that’s perfect for road‑tripping groups heading to Sedona.

 

Explorer Cubs: Stories for Kids & Families

 

Designed for families, multigenerational groups, and kid‑friendly retreats.

Explorer Cubs brings the wild Southwest to life for younger audiences through age‑appropriate adventure stories, animal encounters, and show‑and‑tell. I share tales from the trail, introduce the creatures that call this region home, and help kids imagine themselves as explorers—curious, brave, and respectful of the natural world.

 

We keep the tone light and fun, leave room for questions, and make sure both kids and adults walk away with stories they’ll remember long after the trip.

 

 

Plan a Storytelling Event

 

Most sessions run 60–90 minutes and can be tailored to your group’s size, age range, and interests. I’m gradually building a circuit of Sedona venues that host these evenings on a recurring basis. If you’re a property owner or bringing a group to Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, or the Village of Oak Creek and would like to add one of these programs—or join an event already on the calendar—reach out with your dates, location, and which talk you have in mind, and we’ll shape an evening that fits your group and budget.

reach out and we’ll shape a visit that fits your group.

Fireside Storytelling

Once a month, I host a Fireside Storytelling hour at the Sedona Community Library—live stories from wild places around the world and the red rock country we call home.

We gather by the outdoor fire when the weather cooperates (or indoors when it doesn’t) for true tales, local legends, and an easy, campfire‑style atmosphere with room for questions and conversation.

 

Fireside Storytelling takes place on the last Wednesday of every month, from 6:00–7:00 p.m.

 

Admission is free and open to the public; seating is first‑come, first‑served. .

For Book Clubs

Two of my books are especially well suited for reading groups visiting Sedona or meeting online.

The Legend of Everett Ruess is a historical novel about the young wanderer who roamed the Southwest in the early 1930s. I imagine Everett as a cross between a young Indiana Jones and a young Walt Whitman.

 

He painted landscapes and wrote beautiful letters—eighty of which his parents collected after he disappeared. He came to the Southwest at sixteen and traveled for four years, living with Hopi and Navajo while exploring the canyon country. Edward Abbey wrote about Everett in Desert Solitaire, and Jon Krakauer mentioned him in Into the Wild.

The Sirens of Oak Creek is a historical mystery that unfolds across 1,200 years. Sinaguans and Mayans, Apaches and Spaniards, pioneers and modern Sedonans all appear in this mix of history and mythology told through the voices of eight women. It has won four national awards, including one for female empowerment. Visiting West Fork or Indian Gardens isn’t quite the same after reading it.

reach out and we’ll shape a visit that fits your group.

Exploration & Community

My storytelling work is deeply shaped by a passion for exploration. I’ve been a member of The Explorers Club for 25 years and currently serve as Chair of the Southwest Chapter, a role I’ve held for the past seven years.

I host the Southwest Lecture Series, bringing explorers, scientists, and field researchers to share their work with our community.

I also lead the Explorer Cubs program (ages 5–11), introducing kids to wild places, wildlife, and the mindset of a curious, respectful explorer.

Writing Workshops

This summer I’ll be leading a writing workshop at Yavapai College, blending craft discussion with travel and exploration stories to help writers bring their own experiences to the page.

I’m also developing online workshops that will cover topics like writing from place, weaving research into story, and turning real journeys into narrative. If you’d like to be notified when new online workshops open, send me a quick note and I’ll add you to the list.

 

These workshops are designed for adult writers at all levels, from beginners to published authors.

 

Shortcuts

Historical fiction, Southwest legends, and global adventures from author & speaker Robert Louis DeMayo.

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Sedona, Arizona