Welcome to 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.
I want to extend a warm Välkommen to our Swedish wielder of words, Tina Downey. Follow Tina’s writerly escapades over at Life is Good.
* Listen to the inspiring track from Audiomachine’s Tree of Life album featured in the sidebar music player
Inspiring Soundtrack: Audiomachine – Cry Freedom – Tree of Life
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As the tree withered, Zoe felt herself begin to really live, as the roots her feet had become grew deeper and deeper into the increasingly colder earth.
The change happening to her physically was excruciating, but her heart was elated as she felt herself being propelled towards the sky, growing branches and shoots and more branches. Leaves appeared where her hands had been, and she felt the breeze ruffling them all over her body. It felt right.
The feeling of completion left her wanting more. A voice whispered in her soul, “Freedom! Take the freedom!” As she had before, she willed it to happen, and the freedom came easily, smoothly.
She no longer felt the pain, instead she seemed to shrink even as she ascended further. The fluttering leaves were now far below her as she allowed the transformation to take her body once more.
The thin man smiled as he watched the eagle, appearing as from nowhere, soaring quickly away from the new tree.
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© 2013 Tina Downey
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!
TREE OF LIFE is available NOW! Click on the following links:
Purchase a CD from CD Baby
Download it from iTunes
Stream it on Spotify Download it from Amazon Purchase a CD from Amazon
WriterlySam 
It’s simply amazing to see this story unfold with the spirit of the music.
Great job everyone. (:
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Thanks, Elise. I love the music, especially my piece. This is such a fun project!
Tina @ Life is Good
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smiles…very cool little short tina…love the close with the man watching the eagle…the zoom out is a great touch…cool music too…it fit inspirationally…
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Thanks, Brian. It was hard to keep the word count down…you know how chatty I am…
Tina @ Life is Good
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This story is taking such sweeping twists and turns…amazing, and beautiful imagery with the music Tina!
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Thanks, Lisa. When I heard my piece I thought of transformation and something “big” happening in the story. Shannon set me up perfectly yesterday!
Tina @ Life is Good
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She turned into an eagle! Now that is freedom. Well done, Tina.
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Yeah, I’d love to soar like an eagle one day.
Tina @ Life is Good
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Fly to the freedom! Good reading
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Thanks so much, Jin. I had fun writing it.
Tina @ Life is Good
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Great job, Tina, lucky thirteen! This was an fantastic edition to the story.
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Wow, djinnia, what a nice compliment!
Tina @ Life is Good
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This is so much fun to read. Can’t wait til the next installment!
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Me neither! So excited about the scope of what we’re doing here! Thanks for reading.
Tina @ Life is Good
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Yet another great contribution to this symphonic prose. I loved that she morphed into an eagle and soared to freedom. That’s in the music for sure.
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Thanks, Lee. I loved my piece of music and I’m glad you heard it like I did!
Tina @ Life is Good
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A great contribution!
I like the idea of an eagle soaring… up and away… to freedom.
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Thanks, Michelle. I’m Swedish-American and an eagle just says freedom to me in my adopted country.
Tina @ Life is Good
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This was an ahhhmazing interpretation of “Cry Freedom”! Absolutely love where you took this tale, Tina!
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Thanks so much for inviting me to be a part of this. Very glad you liked it.
Tina @ Life is Good
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I like this a lot. Very imaginative 🙂
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I had that wonderful music for inspiration! Thanks, Carole.
Tina @ Life is Good
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Dear Tina,
Beautifully, thoughtfully written, Tina. And beyond the pain, the freedom…Thank you for your contribution to this collaboration. You did a brilliant job 🙂
Gary
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Thanks buddy. And thanks for re-sharing it on facebook!
Tina @ Life is Good
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I love that taste of freedom at the end!
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Thanks, Shannon. You set me up perfectly!
Tina @ Life is Good
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quite lovely Tina, a lovely contribution!
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Thanks so much, Susan – what a nice compliment!
Tina @ Life is Good
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