Of Mist And Magic

November 5, 2014November 5, 2014 / WriterlySam / 11 Comments

OF MIST AND MAGIC_RSM album cover

Of Mist and Magic

Enter the world Of Mist And Magic, where fairy tales are reimagined under the influence of Epic Music Vn & Really Slow Motion‘s enchanting music! Submit your own twist on a classic fairy tale, inspired by composer, Phill Lober‘s ‘The Eternal Rest of a Ronin‘ (featuring gifted violinist, Kelly Ryu), and YOU could win a spot in the upcoming Of Mist And Magic anthology! Ends December 1st! Click HERE for details.

Hello writerly gang, thank you for swinging by! As you can see, there’s another exciting composer collaboration in the works! I’m dividing my time between several music events, freelance film work and 3 novels, all due for publishing in 2015, which means my coffee intake has increased exponentially and sleep has taken a back seat to productivity. So, if I seem more slap-happy than usual, you’ll know why:) Feel free to send back up!

While you’re here, help us support Tina Downey’s education fund for her boys by purchasing the tribute anthology, Tree of Life!

IWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!

Tree of Life audiomachine ebook!

September 27, 2014September 27, 2014 / WriterlySam / 10 Comments

Cover designed by the extraordinary artist and composer, Ryo Ishido!

An Amazon Exclusive

This anthology is dedicated in memory of Tina Downey, our dearest friend, fellow storyteller and firm believer that life is good…

Welcome to audiomachine‘s Tree of Life: Branching Out, a cross-industry collaborative writing project featuring 26 authors from across the globe whose collective story is inspired by motion picture advertising music production house, audiomachine’s Tree of Life album.

During the course of 26 consecutive days, each writer contributed a chapter within 24 hours of the previous installment, spinning the tale in whatever direction they chose, resulting in the ultimate collaborative journey of words and music.

The anthology includes a new epilogue, a memorial story I wrote for “T”, entitled, Epitaph.

Contributing Authors (Tree of Lifers)
Tina Downey
Amy Willoughby-Burle
John Wiswell
M. Pax
Al Diaz
Gary Philip Pennick
DL Hammons
Susan Scott
Ruth Long
Djinnia
Daniel Swensen
KC Hunter
Shannon Kenoyer Lawrence
Beverly Fox
Michelle Wallace
Mina Lobo
Gwen Gardner
Angela Brown
Lisa Shambrook
Sarah Wesson
Leighton Williams
Elise Fallson
Vidya Sury
Damyanti Biswas
C. Lee McKenzie

Sunflower by Jennifer Redstreake Geary

All proceeds of the TREE OF LIFE ebook will benefit the Downey Education Fund set up for Tina’s children.

Epitaph

September 8, 2014September 23, 2014 / WriterlySam / 26 Comments

A haunting tribute from the creative minds of film composer Edwin Wendler and Vocalist Aeralie Brighton.

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”
― Shannon L. Alder

A sea of sunflowers bloom in the sprawling fields of Biltmore Estate. I imagine Tina strolling past the radiant rows of upturned faces…her own spirit outshining their collective smiles. I imagine this is what her heaven must be like…the final glowing streaks of her amazing soul penetrating the sky with a brilliance that echoes a life well-lived…a good life. I imagine her heart is bursting with pride over a family she adores…watching them still, as their future takes shape. I imagine her witty banter as she beams down at us, her friends, while we honor her memory in a myriad of creative ways…our own hearts reaching across the great divide to say farväl min vän…farewell my friend…

treeoflife_branchingout_badge

In a memorial tribute to Tina, I’m publishing audiomachine‘s groundbreaking TREE OF LIFE: Branching Out collaborative story, featuring 26 authors (including Tina), in ebook format on Amazon, launching this September! Stunning book cover designed by gifted graphic artist and composer, Ryo Ishido.

All proceeds of the TREE OF LIFE ebook will benefit the Downey Education Fund set up for Tina’s two boys, which you can also donate to directly.

A Movement of Hope

September 3, 2014September 3, 2014 / WriterlySam / 5 Comments

A movement of hope has swept across the globe in the most successful charity event in history! Waves of kindness and empathy have raised over $106 million for ALS–funds that will make the difference between life & death for thousands of souls suffering in the deadly grip of this debilitating disease.

The overwhelming worldwide support shows the remarkable potential for humanity to unite for a common good. With this massive collective effort, the possibilities of what we can accomplish are endless. It is my fervent hope that this phenomena will inspire us all to work together in a common call to action! WE can truly be the change we wish to see in the world!

Peter Frates’ story–the driving force behind the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge”

Support Gregory Kenoyer (Shannon Kenoyer Lawrence’s awesome Dad) in Denver Walk to Defeat ALS

Donate to ALS Association

In the video clip below, where I met the frigid end of a wine bucket in Biltmore’s front lawn (the setting for my YA novel series, Echoes of Olympus), I challenged…

The Entire IWSG

Along with Biltmore Estate, Hans Zimmer AND my fellow IMAGINE team members, EpicMusicVn, Koke Núñez Gómez, Really Slow Motion, Epic North Music, audiomachine, & Two Steps From Hell!

Grab a bucket, donate $$, and join us in this historic movement of change!

Sunflowers for Tina

Join us on September 8th for a community memorial tribute celebrating the spirit of Tina Downey…

Epic IMAGINE ALS Ice Bucket Challenges

IWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!

Many Branches, One Tree

August 7, 2013August 7, 2013 / WriterlySam / 14 Comments

IWSG meets the first Wednesday of every month. A community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Inspiring Soundtrack: Audiomachine – Tree of Life

For this month’s post, I want to send my heartfelt thanks to the talented group of writers that exceeded the Tree of Life: Branching Out challenge I set out before them in a way I never would have dreamed.

Each of these writers possess a unique gift for the written word. They collectively merged their storytelling skills to create an overwhelmingly beautiful saga, wrought with meaning and woven with the essence of music.

With each new voice, the epic tale grew, branching out in unique ways that reflected the individual while honoring the whole.

I am in awe of their abilities, their strength, their enthusiasm and their support.

I may have planted the seed, but it is you who breathed life into it. Rooted in passion, it thrived on your imagination.

You are the branches of this, the Tree of Life.

It is an honor to have worked with you, and on behalf of audiomachine and myself, I cannot thank you enough for the incredible journey…

Amy Willoughby-Burle, John Wiswell, M. Pax, Al Diaz, Gary Philip Pennick, DL Hammons, Susan Scott, Ruth Long, Djinnia, Daniel Swensen, KC Hunter, Shannon Kenoyer Lawrence, Tina Downey, Beverly Fox, Michelle Wallace, Mina Lobo, Gwen Gardner, Angela Brown, Lisa Shambrook, Sarah Wesson, Leighton Williams, Elise Fallson, Vidya Sury, Damyanti Biswas and C. Lee McKenzie

Tree of Life Composers:
Paul Dinletir
Kevin Rix
Danail Getz
Jeff Marsh
Steffan Michael Koch
John A. Graves

Special thanks to:

Marc D’Amour of audiomachine, for his continued support of this project!

Jennifer Redstreake Geary who gave our collaboration a visually stunning logo!

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Tree of Life: Branching Out Featuring Tina Downey

July 27, 2013July 26, 2013 / WriterlySam / 28 Comments

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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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!