As we approach Christmas, lighting advent candles and preparing to gather with family near and far, it is a time when we often remember loved ones from our past. Although they have entered the greatest adventure of all, in the life beyond this one, we remember their lives with us.
My grandma Pearl, one of the storytellers of my family, enchanted me with tales from her childhood and teen years. Although she started the great adventure of heaven a little over 26 years ago, I still remember her voice - the cadence and tones rich with meaning and thoughtfulness.
My favorite story of all of her stories was "The Horse in the Well," a story of heroism and gentleness. When I went to rewrite it a few years ago, I found that although I had a sparsely written version by my Grandma Pearl, it wasn't as full as I remembered it and I realized that without meaning to, I had filled it in with my imagination based on what I knew of her as a child. So, I rewrote it, as if I were her voice, as if I could walk in the same paths she walked.
For Christmas this year, and for my family, I've revised that story and added a few notes about that process to a short e-title that's releasing today for kindle readers. (I'll work on releasing it for nook, smashwords, and kobo next year.) It's not a Christmas story, but it is a family story, and so, for me, it is part of the family gathering for Christmas.
It's just a super short story, and it will be one of my rotating #fridayfreebies for the next few months, so although it is 99 cents today, it will be free this coming Friday, if you would like to download it.
It's the start of The Storyteller Series - a series of stories from my family that I plan to publish over the next few years which will eventually make their way into a larger book. It might be a slow process, among all my other projects, but I have a plan to follow.
When a young girl with no voice of her own witnesses a tragic accident, who will save the day?
"The Horse in the Well" for Kindle
Do you have storytellers in your family?
14 comments:
My dad's brothers were all great story tellers but they're all gone now. They had so many stories of growing up in the mountains and of WWII. I bet your family loves that you're putting those stories into 'keepable' forms.
Awesome you remember your grandmother's stories and and rewriting them. I'm sure your family will treasure them.
It's great that her stories touched you and it's a great way to spread the love.
I hope they like them. I know I have my own personal look at them . . . just from hearing them from her as a kid and all that meant to me.
I hope so! :)
That's a really nice thing to share with others.
I hope they like it. :)
What a sweet idea. I wish I could remember stories told by my grandparents.
That is an awesome idea, Tyrean! What a great way to share those stories with others!
Thanks, Cherie!
Thanks, Diane! I am thankful for their stories and the memories I have of them.
This is a great story about the story - your grandmother's character shines though, so clearly. It's a great idea, especially for the holidays!
How wonderful to turn your grandfather's story into this. Super idea.
Sounds intriguing. Interesting point you make about oral tales and the listener filling in details from their own imagination to make it their own.
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