Ethel Barrett

Ethel Barrett (1913–1998) was a prominent Christian writer, speaker, and storyteller whose popularity spanned from the early 1950s to the mid-1980s. She authored over 40 books, selling millions of copies through publishers like Zondervan, Gospel Light, and Regal Books. Her work also appeared on 30 audio records and tapes.

Barrett's career began as a Sunday School teacher in Schenectady, New York, in the early 1940s. She engaged unruly students with Bible stories using character voices and dialogues, leading to local radio appearances. Her notable works include retellings of John Bunyan’s "Holy War" and "Storytelling – It’s Easy," which saw multiple printings. Books like "Don’t Look Now," "The Secret Sign," and "There I Stood in All My Splendor" achieved significant sales.

She was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1978 for her audio storytelling and posthumously received the Great Christian Storyteller Award in 2007. Barrett’s bibliography includes series like "Great Heroes of the Bible" and "Stories to Grow On," which used illustrated stories to teach moral lessons to children. Her contributions left a lasting impact on Christian storytelling and literature.