Thank you Jim. An hour in length! That would be far too long for most of my audiences, and the MCs wouldn't allow it anyway (I only do floor spots at present). Seriously, an hour is quite a long time to listen when you are not an experienced listener.

I have quite a number of the sources you mention e.g. Bruford. I bought quite a number of Duncan Williamson's books last autumn, mostly secondhand through Amazon. Have seen him tell several times and had the privilege last autumn of telling to him up at a storytelling festival in Edinburgh. Got a pat on the shoulder and a peck on the cheek from him! I have already told "The hunchback and the swan", a lovely story that is one of his. I'll look out for some of your other references though - thank you!

Telling with conviction... You could well be right. I would have used the word confidence but conviction might be the right word. I certainly have to learn to really carry an audience with me on my journeys and not to feel worried that the material might not appeal to them. I have had compliments on my telling from a number of professional storytellers so I should hold my head up high when I tell.