Your StoryWorks was co-founded in 2006 as an educational organization for digital storytelling by Ron Melmon and Maike Wessel in Sedona, Arizona. Both attended the Digital Storytelling program at Yavapai College, graduated with a Certificate, and facilitated numerous digital storytelling workshops. When the college sadly closed the program, Ron and Maike felt compelled to continue this work and to try to bring it to a wider audience. In workshops and one-on-one productions, with seven new iMacs, they helped curious, courageous and creative people to write, narrate, record, photograph, and edit short movies that are touching, entertaining and inspiring – some of which are shown on this site.
Since 2008, Your StoryWorks has been run solely by Maike Wessel.
I grew up in Bavaria in a family that nourished my immense curiosity and hunger to learn and explore. Without television in the house, I spent a big part of my childhood reading and making music. At the age of 14, I was given my first camera, and my passion for photography has grown since.
While completing my university studies with a Masters in political science, I was trained as a journalist and worked as a news editor at a statewide radio station. There, I discovered my voice and became a voice-over talent, specializing in narration and poetry. With translating, editing and writing, I built a successful career.
A relationship, combined with my sense for adventure, brought me in 2001 to Sedona, Arizona. A new beginning on all levels. I found a new professional path: digital media arts which allowed me to combine my skills in narrating, writing and interviewing, with my passion for design and photography. I enrolled at Yavapai College and finished my studies with a Certificate in Digital Storytelling.
I like helping people write and produce their own story. It is a joy seeing how their creativity gets flowing. But most importantly, I am impressed by the therapeutic power of creating a digital story. It is very rewarding to contribute to others on their journey of self-expression, healing and connecting.
Currently, I spend most of my work time as a designer. My clients are people who want to build or expand their business and need a convincing, clear and beautiful print and online identity. I help with defining the business, I write and edit copy, develop a logo, create print material like business cards and brochures, and develop, design and build websites. (By the way, a digital story is a great tool to promote your business, sharing who you are, the person behind the business!)
What I love about this work, in addition to the creativity, is that I can contribute to people reaching their audience, thus being able to bring to the world what they do best.