L'Art Du Conte (The Art Of Storytelling)

George Dawes Green made his mark in the literary world, having authored such critically acclaimed works "The Caveman's Valentine" and "Ravens" as well as the global blockbuster, "The Juror."

But the Savannah-based author has a second passion as raconteur, or storyteller.

Green founded The Moth in 1997, a group dedicated to the art of storytelling.

This isn't the storytelling of tales handed down of one generation to the next, he explained earlier this week during a stop at in East Atlanta Village.

"We're telling personal stories," he said. "They're stories — usually unscripted — about vulnerabilities, but the kind of stories you would tell in your kitchen late at night."

A Georgia native, telling stories is in his DNA.

The Moth aims to move those stories from the kitchens and other intimate places out into the open, guided by Green's philosophy that these stories are worthy to be told and shared for the delight of the story.

"Raconteuring, the idea of telling these personal, unscripted stories is its own art form."

Green, launches that art form Feb. 4 in his “Unchained Tour,” in a 10-show, 9-city travelling bus troupe of storytellers, musicians and circus performers.

The tour comes to Atlanta Feb. 11th and Feb. 12th at Manuel's Tavern in Poncey-Highland. Green also is using the tour to highlight and promote the importance of locally owned, independent booksellers.

East Atlanta Patch caught up with Green on Sunday at Bound To Be Read Books and Randy Osborne, a local raconteur, as they discussed the art of storytelling.

If you go: The Unchained Tour comes to Atlanta Feb. 11th and the 12th at Manuel’s Tavern in Poncey-Highland. The show is 8 p.m. on that Saturday and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15.