Ballinasloe man’s book to help businesses tell their stories

A new book on storytelling by Ballinasloe native Jack Murray promises plenty of tactics, advice and strategy to help businesses in the Midlands to succeed.

The book entitled ‘The Magic Slice - How to Master the Art of Storytelling for Business’ is driven by real-life stories and case studies, and acts as a clarion call for anyone who needs to find their own Magic Slice—that unique place where what you want to say is exactly what your audience wants to hear. It is available worldwide on Amazon.

Murray (48) is a native of Ballinasloe and son of Noreen Murray and the late Joe Murray of the well-known farm supplies business. He dedicated the book to his late father.

“From a very early age, Dad lit the story spark in me. Growing up in the shop in Ballinasloe was a great way to understand the power of having a good story to face the public every day, and there were few better storytellers than my Dad,” he said.

Murray says this book and his career in storytelling were inspired by a story his father told him as a child. “As children, we were often told about our Great Grandfather John Murray. He was one of nine children struggling to survive on a small 29-acre farm in Roscommon, just west of the River Shannon in the 1880s. At 29 years of age, he left for America to make enough money to save the family farm. He returned some years later with an idea to start a business as a general merchant in the town - that business is still thriving today and run by my mother and brother. That story has fascinated me all my life and guided me towards a career helping others to tell their story and inspired me to write this book,” he added.

Key aspects of “The Magic Slice” book include:

Learning to apply the Six-Step Magic Slice Process, where the stories you tell resonate perfectly with your audiences and get them to act in a way that will drive your success.

How to lock in creativity and use it every day.

Discovering the science behind storytelling.

Walking step by step through the process of coming up with a story idea, applying key story elements, and structuring your story to give it impact.

Case studies and examples from Hiut Denim, Patagonia, and Dubarry Shoes.

Murray works as an entrepreneur, story consultant, speaker and author. As the CEO of both MediaHQ—a media contacts database and press release distribution tool—and the storytelling agency All Good Tales, he helps companies define their storytelling strategies, train their staff as storytellers, and share their stories through innovative technology.

He lives in Dublin with his wife, Alison; his daughters, Matilda and Gwen; and a dog called Maxi Lopez.