Welcome to the first installment of the TREE OF LIFE: Branching Out collaborative writing challenge, where creative minds meet epic movie music. To read the collective story in its entirety as it unfolds and for more details on this groundbreaking collaboration with Audiomachine click HERE.
Today’s featured guest writer is the brilliant Amy Willoughby-Burle. Amy is especially amazing considering she started us off on this incredible journey just days before her fourth child is expected to make his debut:) Let’s give Amy a round of virtual applause and shower her with adoring comments for what promises to be an unforgettable story! You can visit Amy at Three Moons Rising and her official website.
Inspiring Soundtrack: Audiomachine – The Great Unknown – Tree of Life
She crossed the dew dampened yard on bare feet as the sun tried to break itself against the gray sky. At the cliff’s edge, she ran her hand around the trunk of a lone scrub-brush tree—barren as the dead fields in the way off. She felt the scratch of tree bark across her back—the thick morning wind bringing the bare tree branches down around her like a mother’s arms.
In the distance, someone approached, walking a horse at his side. She was accustomed to watching people walk away, but it had been a long time since someone had entered this land.
Something lit into her hair and she reached up to pull a green leaf from just above her brow. The wind yanked the leaf from her fingers. When she looked up to follow it, there at the tops of the dead tree grew bright green leaves, unfolding and reaching toward the sun even as she watched them.
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© 2013 Amy Willoughby-Burle
ATTENTION FANS: You can WIN an autographed TREE OF LIFE Audiomachine album by LEAVING COMMENTS! On August 17th, two lucky readers will be chosen at random from the comments section of the story excerpts. The more you comment–the better your chances are of winning a piece of cinematic history! We want to hear from YOU!
A great start! Can’t wait to see how this all unfolds.
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Me too–this is going to be epic!
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I like the start. We can go anywhere from here!
Tina @ Life is Good
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That’s what I was hoping to do–yay, it worked! Thanks!
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Ah, collaboration–it’s a beautiful thing:)
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Amy, you got me hooked already!
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thanks! I’m excited to see where it will go!
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Oh goody goody! Let the games begin!
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Wonderful beginning!
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I agree–Amy is an amazing storyteller:)
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great start! great music!
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Great group of writers to follow in Amy’s footsteps!
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Great beginning! Terrific imagery! Awesome music! Can’t wait to see where we go from here!! 🙂
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Amy knows how to paint an impressive picture!
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Very inspiriting start. I can’t wait to see how this story will unfold.
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Wherever it goes, it’s going to be an inspiring journey!
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Hi Amy and Samantha,
Finally, my eagerly anticipated, always cherished and dare I say, highly collectable comment is now here. Yay! 🙂
A new life, new leaves at the top of a dead tree. A most thoughtful and provocative beginning, Amy. Hopefully, my posting with mention of you, will help bring further awareness of your good self and this fascinating project.
My best to Amy, Samantha and all those involved.
In kindness and fulfilling writing, your way,
Gary
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Your awesome, Gary! Many thanks for the lovely words and support:)
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Thanks, Gary! Sorry for the late reply, but I’ve been wrapped up in another “life” this last week or so–delivering my fourth child. I’m excited to read all the entries I’ve missed and for all those yet to come!
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I foresee some speculative fiction unfolding. I just might have to jump in to bring things back to contemporary-realistic. Hmm. Thinking here.
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Wow and the voice of reason that is Lee, my writing hero! 🙂 Have fun thinking, Lee!
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I’m keeping your seat warm, Lee! Just say say the word and you can take this tale wherever you choose:)
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What a fantastic start to this collaboration- thank you so much, Amy! You opened it up really nicely and I’m so psyched! I would say I can’t wait for the 28th except that I’m sort-of relying on the time to prepare and figure out where the story’ll be headed once I’m up. Looks to be even more fun that I thought, though. Yeah, super psyched!
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Excellent start. Love the line about being used to seeing people walk away, few came there. Good stuff!
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Loving the love here to what is going to be a great collaboration 🙂
GOOD LUCK everyone, and happy writing 🙂
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It was a total pleasure following Amy. Lovely work and gave me everything I needed to play in the second installment. A very welcoming view of the scenery!
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What a great opening piece! 🙂
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Indeed a great opening and a good turn within. Can’t wait to have the whole story finished 🙂
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Congrats, Amy, on an intriguing start to this mad journey we embark upon!
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Good hopeful story.
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With such a wonderful opening like this, the path to Everywhere, Anywhere and Possibility is wide open.
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What a fascinating start. Thank you – I am looking forward to the ride.
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An interesting start! I look forward to reading your next step.
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