So Many Projects! When You’re Swamped With Creative Inspiration

January 8, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Sometimes we can get creatively blocked – our current projects have been completed we have no ideas for new projects to undertake. That’s alright. We don’t have to be “on” all the time.

But sometimes – at least I hope you’ve experienced this – there are so many ideas going through your head – so much inspiration – that you don’t know what do with it all and you can’t decide what project to actually focus on. That’s not a bad problem to have. J I’m actually in the process of releasing an ebook about how to keep those creative juices flowing – I regularly have several ideas a day and I want to help others have the same type of flow -so keep tuned for that.

Anyway, realize that you can be working on more than one project at a time. You don’t have to spend eight or ten hours a day on one book – it’s alright to spend the morning on one story and the afternoon on another. You may think you won’t make as much progress but your attention can only be sustained for so long. There comes a point when you think you’re working but what you’re putting out is, well, how shall I say it – gobbleygook. So it’s probably a good idea to split your time up a bit to keep things fresh.

Understand that all of your ideas may not come to fruition – perhaps they were never meant to – and those that do won’t necessarily happen at the same time. Some projects may have to be put on the back burner for a while. You have to trust that the projects you chose to undertake are the right projects for you for some reason or another.

Alright – enough with the preamble. Here are some tips to help you decide what to work on and when.

First of all, you can narrow down the projects that actually inspire you. Some ideas are just random passing fancy – you see a butterfly and you think you should do an art installation about butterflies. And maybe you should. Maybe it’s going to be your signature piece. You can certainly keep all ideas on tap, but some things hit you in the gut and keep coming back to you. Those are the ones to go for because they will keep you working. Keep in mind, however, that this is a creative industry so, if you do want to make a living at it, some projects may be more marketable than others. But , even if it doesn’t make you millions of dollars, you can still be learning something from the process – maybe it’s a new technique, maybe it connects you will something that can help you in the future.

Is there a deadline of some kind? Even if you’re not hired to work on a project with an expected turnaround time, there can still be better or worse times to put something out there. For example, if you are interested in composing some Christmas music with the hopes of having them licensed for holiday movies, you’re not going to start the process in November and expect to hear your handiwork on your TV screen in December. I mean, the following December maybe but these things are set in motion months ahead of time. Books discussing trending topics need to be finished rather quickly or they will no longer be relevant by the time they are published. If you’re writing a play for a specific situation, like a fringe festival, it has to be completed before the start of rehearsals, not before the start of the festival. Kind of obvious, I know, but it had to be said. 😉

While we’re on the topic of deadlines, if you are interested in obtaining grants to fund your projects – something many artists do – you have to be mindful of deadlines for applications and when you are allowed to actually begin the project. If you have an idea for a grant-worthy project, you will likely need to do preliminary preparation well ahead of time so you can submit your plan before their deadlines – depending on the funding organization, some programs are always open to submissions, others accept a couple of times a year. And, even when you are accepted – which would be awesome – you may not be allowed to begin your project for another several months, according to the agreement. So, with the long-term preplanning involved, you want to get started on it as soon as possible while having other projects to fulfill you in the meantime.

In fact, it may not be a bad idea to always having one short -term and one long-term project on the go. That way, you can scratch that itch that wants the immediate satisfaction of completing something – and might make you some money in the process – and still have that magnum opus, that masterpiece they will be talking about for generations to come. You can be submitting articles to your favourite magazines while you’ve got your epic novel on the go.

So, those are some tips if you are in the blessed situation of finding yourself overwhelmed with inspiration. Have a fabulous day and keep on creating!

Tiffany

Learn how to get over stage fright with MuseTV

September 2, 2014 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Stage fright – that moment before your performance or presentation that can seem like hours – and sometimes it does last hours! – where you find yourself shaking with sweaty palms, thoughts of doom running through your head.

You tell yourself it’s going to be a total disaster and you can’t go on. You would rather die!

Getting up in front of a group of people doesn’t have to be a terrifying experience – really, it doesn’t! But what can you do to get over these nerves so you can still go out and rock that stage?

In this episode of MuseTV, I offer you four tips to help get you back on track.

If you found the video helpful, feel free to share with your peeps, add your thoughts in the comments section below and subscribe to the Mews and Moos Blog for more fun stuff!

In other news, with the approach of fall, I am happy to be starting another season of vocal instruction this week! Yay! Always a fun time of year! If you or someone you know is interested in learning to sing, check out the Music Education video from the last post and don’t hesitate to contact me. With the advances in technology, not only can you take lessons with me in person if you live in Winnipeg but you can also study online via Skye.

What will they think of next?

Well, have a great day everyone! Carpe diem!

The Flowers Are Popping Up – Along With Some Great Musical Deals And Not One But Two New Directions For STM!

May 1, 2014 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Happy May Day!

It`s Tiffany here! How are you doing? Enjoying the spring so far? We had a pretty rough winter over here – as many of us have – but it’s so great to see things growing again, or at least wanting to grow – it`s a late start but I can feel it happening! 🙂

So, I thought I would set Mews and Moos in a bit of a different direction. I want to use this blog to share things that are beautiful, inspiring and feed the creative spirit. I want to share videos and stories that will help you in your creative pursuits, make you laugh and maybe even make you think differently about life.

I`ve got a bunch of ideas in the works – things about dealing with stage fright, tips for music teachers, inspiring musical stories – but I want to hear from you. What would you like to read or hear about? What would help you along your creative path? I’m ready to do the research so comment on this post and let me know what you want to see!

Okay, so a couple of updates in tiffanyprochera.com land. I’m currently working on creating a whole new website full of awesomeness – inspiration, fun and, of course, great music! It will take time but I’m so looking forward to sharing it with you when it’s all done! This blog will be incorporated into the site so I’ll let you know when the switch-over happens.

Last month, I provided the voice for a Spanish/English video narration project – mucho fun and the folks I was working with in the studio were barbaro!

I recently returned from my first trip overseas – a week at the International Harp Festival in Edinburg, Scotland and a week seeing the sights in London – and I had a blast! I met amazing people, learned a little harp and a little Gaelic, was mere yards away from Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle ( though I didn’t actually see her) and had the chance to face some fears – of things like long flights and haggis – which was awesome!

And – drum roll, please – it just so happens that May is my birthday month and I wanted to celebrate by offering to you my two song collections – Bad Moods and Seven Other Super Reasons To Sing A Silly Song and Dreams, Magic and Other Realities – for over 25% off until the end of the month! I’ve also made some of the most popular songs from Bad Moods available as individual downloads so if you wanted Mr. Willywallywolowitz on its own without the rest of the collection, you can get it! Just head to www.tiffanyprochera.com to check them out!

Okay, so I’m so looking forward to hearing about what you want on the blog. Bring it on and have a fabulous day!

Ciaoski!

STM On Soundcloud

February 23, 2014 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Hello everyone!

We sincerely hope your 2014 is getting off to a rousing start! We’ve been busy creating more music and finding more tools and more ways to bring you that music!

We have recently opened up a page on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/swimmingtigressmusic with lots of new vocal and instrumental music from Tiffany Prochera for licensing for media projects. Jazzy and funky, inspiring and toe-tapping, if you’re looking for music, check it out!

Along with Soundcloud, we’ve posted several videos of the tracks on the Swimming Tigress Music YouTube Channel. Here are just a few!

And there’s lots more! Subscribe to the STM YouTube Channel today to check them all out!

Tiffany also had a pleasant surprise on the Valentine’s weekend when she was volunteering at the Musicthon held by the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers in support of the children’s charity, Variety. A fellow music teacher announced that one of her students was singing Mr. Willywallywolowitz, a song from Tiffany’s Bad Moods And Seven Other Super Reasons to Sing A Silly Song collection. The singer did a wonderful job and the audience seemed to really enjoy it! If you’re a teacher looking for new music for your students, click here for information about the book!

And Tiffany has also been busy with voice work. She has provided the voice to several training presentations for clients such as Citizen and Leon’s over the past few weeks and she’s been having a blast! If you’re looking for a voice for your media project, check out Tiffany’s voice over showcase on YouTube!

Well, that’s all for now! Have a great day and we’ll see you again soon!

My Mind Is A Wishing Well

May 28, 2012 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Here’s another poem that’s being set to music for Tiffany Prochera’s upcoming song collection.

MY MIND IS A WISHING WELL

My mind is a wishing well

Every day I deposit wishes and dreams like coins of copper

Nickel or silver for added consideration

As the metals disintegrate, mingle

Percolating in the joyfully burdened waters

The dreams discuss amongst themselves how they shall appear

How they may join forces

To kill two or three birds with one proverbial stone

Though that would never be a wish of mine

My wishes are for beautiful things

I dream in roses and music

And the well is happy to bring those dreams into the waking hours

They will become manifest in their time

When they are ready

When it will best serve all concerned

For there is a reason my wishes and dreams have come to me

My mind is a collaborator with the cosmos

And every dream I dream keeps a planet spinning in its orbit, a star shining in the heavens

Oh woe would be the hour should those dreams ever fade!

A little poetry anyone?

May 16, 2012 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Hi all!

Here is a poem that is being set to music for Tiffany Prochera’s upcoming collection of songs for intermediate vocalists. Enjoy!

I SHALL NOT IMPOSE A DESTINATION UPON THIS SONG

I will not impose a destination upon this song

Upon its creation or its presentation

Each word shall find a home

No melody is in vain

This song shall reach its own conclusion

A conclusion I may not and need not comprehend

I need only sing with abandon

I need only feel without restraint

I need only share and strive

That is the journey. That is the intention

That is the beauty, to evolve in one’s own time

of one’s own volition

Those who receive are those who are meant to receive

It may be heard once, perhaps many times

It is not for me to decide

I need only release that which desires to be free

Then it is so simple

Then the song becomes that which is wants to be

Joy unhampered by expectation

Thought unimpeded by desired results

Then the truth is revealed

I can be at peace with mystery

– Tiffany Prochera

Tabitha’s Magical Voice – Part 5

May 4, 2012 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Welcome to Tabitha’s Magical Voice – Part 5!

When last we saw Tabitha, she agreed to help the Grenigots if they would set her free and let her go home to retrieve an old tape recorder. But she’s taken the wrong path out of the woods so now she’s lost and has no idea how to get home. Will she find her way and return to Grenotia before Marticus and the Grenigots come looking for her and trap her forever?

While she was looking up and down the street, searching for the friendliest home to approach, Tabitha noticed a familiar sign a few doors down. A bus stop. The routes listed on the sign were the 81 and the 60.

“Hey,” Tabitha thought. “I take the 60 to get home from school. I can wait for the bus here. But how long will I have to wait? If I have to wait too long it could be too late.”

But no sooner did Tabitha finish that thought than a bus turned the corner further down the street and headed straight for her. Thank goodness. It was a 60.

The bus stopped in front of Tabitha and the doors opened.

“Excuse me,” Tabitha began, “but you go down Chatham Street, don’t you?”

“You bet.” answered the driver, a smiley, tall man with white hair.

Tabitha then remembered she didn’t have her bus pass or any money for bus fare at all. She hoped the driver would still let her on the bus. She clasped her hands together, almost like she was praying, and braced herself for disappointment.

“Now, I do have a bus pass but it’s not with me right now. I went for a walk and got lost and I have to get back home. Is that okay?”

The driver rubbed his chin, squinted his eyes and stared at Tabitha for a moment.

“Well, I don’t know.” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “They don’t like me letting people on the bus when they haven’t paid.”

“Oh, okay. I understand.” Tabitha thought the driver meant what he had said and she could feel tears coming but she managed to hold them back.

She turned and was about to step off the bus when the driver tapped her on the shoulder. “But in this case I am willing to make an exception.”

And when Tabitha turned around, he gave her a big smile. She was so glad he was just joking because she really didn’t want to have to go into a stranger’s house. She took a seat and kept her eye on the street so she would know when to get off.

When she arrived home, Tabitha dashed into the house, hoping no one would see her. But as she started up the stairs to her room, her sister, Caitlyn, came out of the kitchen with a piece of licorice sticking out of her mouth and screamed.

“Tabby! You’re back!”

Caitlyn skipped over to Tabitha to give her a hug but Tabitha put a finger to her lips. “Shhh! Don’t let Mommy and Daddy know I’m here. I just have to get something from my room and then I’m leaving again for a while.”

Tabitha and Caitlyn’s mother came out of the kitchen holding a cup of coffee. The cup shook a little when she saw Tabitha but she didn’t want to let Tabitha know she had been worried.

“Ah, you’re back.” she said calmly. “Did you have a nice walk?”

“Can’t talk about it now.” replied Tabitha as she ran up the stairs. “I have to get something from my room and go back.”

“Go back where? It’s going to be dark soon.”

“Mom, I can’t take the time to explain. The Grenigots will kidnap me if I’m not back in their village soon.” Tabitha opened her drawer to the little table by her bed and took out the recorder and an extra set of batteries.

“Grenigots? Kidnapping?” her mother asked. “What are you talking about?”

Tabitha started back down the stairs with her mother close behind.

“Not now, Mom. Please. I have to go.”

“Well, I should come with you. I don’t want you out there alone in the dark.” Tabitha’s mother started to put on her shoes. Tabitha looked down at her mother’s feet, which were a surprisingly large size 11 considering she was rather petite, and shook her head.

“No, you can’t. Your feet are too big. You could wipe out an entire family with one step.”

And with that, Tabitha shot out the door. Her mother stood in the doorway, trying not to cry though her chin did quiver a little. She was very sensitive about the size of her feet and didn’t like the idea that they could cause harm to someone, let alone an entire family of someones, whoever they were. Then, it occurred to her that Tabitha must just be joking. She was probably over at her friend Nadia’s house playing a game where they were creating an imaginary world full of fun and adventure. “What imaginations these children have.” she thought, and she laughed to herself.

The light was beginning to fade as Tabitha rushed through the woods and the trees were casting eerie shadows on the ground. She was afraid to think of how dark it would be on the journey home but she hadn’t had time to find a flashlight to guide her way.

When she finally arrived back at the clearing, the whole village of Grenotia was waiting there for her.

“Well, it’s about time.” Marticus hissed, his hands on his hips. “What took you so long?”

“I’m sorry everyone. I got lost on my way back to the house. Then, my mother saw me going up the stairs to my room and tried to stop me from leaving. But I got the voice recorder.” She held up the recorder in her hand. The villagers marvelled at the sight and wondered how it worked.

“Is your singing on it?” asked Bornoden.

“Not yet,” replied Tabitha. “but I’ll do it right now.”

She hit the record button and sang Happy Birthday three times into the recorder because it was a rather short song.

Tabitha could hear the villagers commenting as she sang. “Oh, she has a lovely voice!” “I wish I could sing like that.” “It truly is magical, isn’t it?” She was very pleased.

When she was done, Tabitha brought the recorder down to Marticus and started to explain what they had to do.

“Now see, you press this button here to rewind to the beginning.” She pointed out the reverse arrow. Marticus had to press hard with his whole body to push the button in. The machine whirled and then stopped with a click, which scared some of the villagers a little. “Then, you press the play button here with the big triangle to make it start.”

When Marticus pressed the button the villagers oohed and awed. As “Happy Birthday” played they would look at the recorder, then at Tabitha, then back at the recorder, amazed that they were hearing Tabitha’s voice when her mouth was closed.

“Gosh and golly! This is wonderful!” Bornoden exclaimed, slapping his leg with his hand. “You have saved us!”

The villagers cheered. Tabitha clasped her hands together.

“Oh, I am so happy I could help!” She looked into the forest and remembered the long walk home, “But now I have to go back. My mother will be worried.”

“Thank you so much for all you have done for us.” Marticus stretched out his hand and Tabitha bent down to shake it. “You know, I never did get your name.”

Tabitha smiled a big smile. She was flattered that Marticus was now asking her name, when he didn’t care who she was before.

“It’s Tabitha.” she answered.

“Well, thank you, Miss Tabitha. We right appreciate it.”

“My pleasure.”

The twilight was descending on the forest and Tabitha could see the blue twilight taking over the clearing.

“Well, I should get home before it gets completely dark.” she said. “It has been delightful meeting you all and I wish you the best of luck with the nados. And have fun at the Fronkernic Festival.” She looked down at Kishinae. “I’m sure you’ll be great in the play.”

Tabitha waved at the villagers as she walked into the trees and they waved back and blew her kisses of gratitude.

As she walked through the woods, Tabitha was beside herself with wonder. She had no idea that her singing had any worth at all, let alone that it could save an entire village. Did that mean she should start singing again? Were there other villages she could save from the nados? Did she have any other powers she didn’t know about? 6

By the time Tabitha reached the edge of the wood, big dark clouds were taking over the sky. The wind, which was barely noticeable before, was becoming quite strong, blowing the skirt of her green dress in all directions. It certainly looked like a storm was approaching.

As Tabitha came closer to her house, she could see her father watching through the screen door with a concerned look on his face. When he saw her in the distance, he sighed with relief.

“Tabitha!” he called out, “Get inside the house! The storm is coming!”

Tabitha ran through the yard straight into her father’s arms. He gave her a big hug, covering her in his bright red jacket.

“I’m so glad you’re okay. Your mother thought you had gone to Nadia’s but we called and you weren’t there so we didn’t know where to look for you.”

Tabitha went over the conversation with her mother in her mind and didn’t recall mentioning anything about Nadia.

“But I never said I was at Nadia’s.” she explained. “I was in Grenotia saving the Grenigots from the nados.”

Tabitha’s father didn’t understand a word of what his daughter had just said. “Well, you can tell us all about it but we have to go down to the basement.”

Tabitha and her father went into the basement where her mother and sister were waiting.

“Tabitha! You’re safe!” cried her mother as she saw Tabitha come down the stairs. She grabbed her in her arms and hugged her so tightly she could hardly breathe. “Don’t you ever take off like that again, okay?” she whispered in her ear with a tear coming down her cheek. “Don’t you ever do that again.”

“I’m sorry, Mom.” said Tabitha.

In a corner of the basement, Caitlyn was playing with the big purple teddy bear she had received as a birthday present from her Aunt Tracy. She was mad at Tabitha for leaving and didn’t want her to know how much she had missed her and how scared she had been.

Tabitha walked over to her and kneeled down on the carpet, picking up one of Caitlyn’s dolls and began stroking its long black hair.

“So, did you have fun at your birthday party?”

Caitlyn didn’t look up at her sister. “Yeah.”

“I’m sorry for leaving like that.”

Caitlyn was quiet for a moment. Then her eyes met Tabitha’s with a most serious gaze. “You didn’t sing for me, Tabby. Then you made me get scared when you ran away.”

“I know I did, Caty. Do you forgive me?”

“No. Not yet.”

“What do I have to do to get you to forgive me?” asked Tabitha.

Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. “You know what.”

Just then, the wind started to howl and the rain started to pour, making a terrible racket. Just as quickly, the sound of rain became even louder and heavier. They could see the trees swaying and bending through the tiny basement window as hail the size of grapes, then plums began to hit the ground. A crack of lightning, followed immediately by a deafening rumble of thunder made Caityln jump. She started to cry.

“I’m scared, Tabby.” She confessed as she grabbed Tabitha’s hand.

“That doesn’t sound good.” Tabitha’s father whispered in her mother’s ear.

Then, Tabitha picked up Caitlyn and sat her on her lap. She wrapped her arms around her little sister and began singing the song Caitlyn had been waiting for all day. She started off softly at first but her voice got stronger as she continued. And when she finished the ‘How old are you now?’ part of “Happy Birthday”, she didn’t stop.

As the wind howled and the hail fell on the roof, she kept on singing almost every song she knew, from lullabies to Christmas carols to songs she had heard on the radio. Caitlyn would join in when she knew the words and they laughed and clapped and had a wonderful time.

Tabitha’s mother and father looked on, very pleased, wondering what had happened to make Tabitha want to sing again but afraid to ask in case she would stop. She seemed so happy and it was so lovely to hear her.

Well, the story’s almost done but we can’t give it all away! To find out how Tabitha’s journey ends, download your copy of the Tabitha e-book at www.tiffanyprochera.com or listen to the audiobook on the Swimming Tigress Music YouTube Channel!

Stay tuned more for more stories, poems and more!

April 30, 2012 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Happy Monday Everyone!

Here are some updates from STM/NP land!

Tiffany had the pleasure of being a guest solost at the Joie De Vivre Singers spring concert on April 28th. The audience was wonderful and she thoroughly enjoyed singing a couple of Ukranian folk songs arranged by W.H. Anderson as well as her very popular Magical World.

She’s also busy working on a new collection of songs for intermediate vocalists and a musical for young people, Mocha and the Moon, about a jersey cow named Mocha with some astronomically high aspirations!

We thought we’d share with you a poem of Tiffany’s that is being set to music for the song collection, the dramatic I Have Lost My Bottle of Faerie Dust. Enjoy!

I Have Lost My Bottle Of Faerie Dust

I have lost my bottle of faerie dust

All seems grey now
The memories are fading of a time when the world was sparkling
Once passions ran wild and free, my heart was alive
I can scarcely feel it beating
Once these feet were caressed by the dewy grass in the glow of morning
Like shards of glass the grass seems now
These eyes fixed on the curves of a leaf that had fallen to the ground.
The scent of jasmine would make me shiver with delight
These lips were enraptured by the sweet taste of a berry’s juice.
Now, tis so bland it is sour.
Laughter that once tickled my ears is tainted with a sinister tone
How cruel it sounds! It mocks me.
The stars don’t sing me to sleep.
The music is gone! The music is gone!
I no longer see my wings in the water’s reflection
I no longer feel their weight
I search in vain for the circles of stones and flowers where I used to play
How have I become separated from my kin, my home, where all was joy, all was love
Where springtime was eternal?
Oh where, where is my bottle of faerie dust?
Before all the memories disappear.
Before all colour and light is extinguished.
I must know that magic again

In NP news, we’ve put up Part 4 of Tabitha’s Magical Voice on our new Notalotabull Press Storytime Blog. When the Grenigots discover that Tabitha’s voice can save them from the dreaded nados, they want to hold her captive forever. How is she going to get home? Download your copy of the ebook at www.tiffanyprochera.com.

Tiffany as also submitted a poem to the CBC Canada Writes Poetry Contest this week so keep your fingers crossed! We would totally post the poem for you all to read but the rules say we can’t, so…

Well, that’s all for now! Have a great day and keep posted for more!

https://tiffanyprochera.com/683/

Tabitha’s Magical Voice – Part 4

April 30, 2012 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Welcome back to Tabitha’s Magical Voice!

In Part 3 – Tabitha discovered that her voice can stop the dreaded nados from distroying the tiny village of Grenotia. Now, to keep themselves protected, the Grenigots want to hold her captive forever! How is Tabitha going to get home?

Marticus gave Tabitha a little smile. “We cannot let you go. Our people have been dying for as long as we can remember and, if you can stop it, we will do whatever it takes to keep you here. You’ll have to keep singing so the nados don’t come back.”

The villagers were gathering around. “Alright people,” Marticus ordered, “Tie her up.”

The villagers hooted and hollered and started throwing ropes around Tabitha’s ankles, using the sticks to anchor them. Others started crawling up her legs and tried to tie up her arms. Even Kishinae pitched in. Tabitha could hear some of them apologizing as they threw ropes around her wrist, explaining that they didn’t want to hurt her but they had no other choice. Tabitha tried to pick them off and place them on the ground again but there were too many.

Tabitha started crying uncontrollably. Marticus looked at her with disgust.

“Oh, stop that business right now.” he demanded. “It is such an awful sound, worse than the meowing squibbers, and you’re going to get us soaking wet.”

But the tears were pouring down her face like it was raining.

“I’m sorry. I just can’t seem to stop it.”

Tabitha felt for the Grenigots and didn’t want any harm to come to them but she certainly didn’t want to be tied up and forced to stay in the woods forever. She thought of her family and how much she would miss them even if she was angry with them right now. She pictured her home, the swing set in the yard she used to play on, the big oak tree she loved to climb. She pictured the comfy chair she loved to read in that sat by the window in the living room. She pictured her treasured doll collection on top of her dresser in her bedroom. Hmmm… her bedroom.

Suddenly, in a flash of inspiration, Tabitha came up with an idea. She suddenly stopped crying. As her tears started to dry, her eyes became bright and big again. She was sure her plan would work.

“Wait! You don’t have to keep me here. I know what we can do!”

“What?” asked Marticus suspiciously.

“Yes, what?” echoed the villagers.

“Well,” Tabitha began, clearing her throat. “I think you are a fine people, even if you are trying to kidnap me, and I don’t want the nados to come back any more than you do. If it really is my voice that’s keeping them away, I have a voice recorder in my bedroom. I can record my voice and then bring the recorder here so you can play it over and over again whenever the nados come and I can go back home. My parents can always buy me another one.”

Bornoden looked shocked. “So, we can hear your voice even when you are nowhere in sight?

“Of course!” Tabitha replied, still surprised at some of the things the Grenigots didn’t know about.

“Gosh and golly, that’s amazing!” Kishnae thought it was like magic.

One of the other villagers didn’t think it was such a good plan. “But what if we let you go and you don’t come back?”

“He’s right.” Tabitha thought to herself. She knew she would return but how could she prove it to the Grenigots?

While Tabitha scratched her head with her one free arm, trying to think of a way to show she would be true to her word, her fingers touched the perfect solution. She was wearing a lovely hair clip, a butterfly with stones that looked like emeralds and diamonds on it. It was her absolute favourite. So, she took the out the clip, with strands of hair falling to the sides of her face, and held it up for all to see.

“This is my absolute favourite hair clip.” she announced. She handed the clip to Marticus, who had to hold it with both hands it was so big. “If you promise not to let anything happen to it, I will leave it with you until I return with the voice recorder. That way you’ll know I’m sure to come back.”

The villagers were awed by the hair clip and could only assume that it was incredibly valuable because of all the sparkle. Kishinae couldn’t stop staring at it and wished she were big enough to wear it in her own hair. They all nodded to each other that this was an acceptable agreement.

“Alright. We’ll let you go.” said Marticus. Then, his eyes got squinty and he pursed his lips. He shook his finger at Tabitha. “But if you don’t come back with this recorder thing by the time the sun goes down we will come and find you and we won’t let you go.”

Tabitha knew her footsteps would look big enough to the Grenigots that they would easily be able to follow her.

“Don’t worry. I will come back.” she promised.

Marticus called out to the villagers. “Okay. Untie her!”

Tabitha breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!” With her arm and legs freed, she turned around and started running in the direction she thought was home. “I’ll be back as soon as I can!”

“Before the sun goes down.” Marticus warned. “Or we’ll find you.”

Tabitha made her way through the woods, seeing the world around her in a new light. She thought, if there were all those Grenigots in one clearing, how many other people, perhaps even smaller that the Grenigots, might there be lurking around in the woods that she couldn’t see? She had never considered it before but she was beginning to realize there was so much she wasn’t aware of. Could there be entire families of Winigoes or Hibogineets, whatever they were, right underneath her feet at that very moment? But Tabitha couldn’t think about that. She couldn’t slow down to check under her feet at every step or she would never make it back to Grenotia in time.

Tabitha could see the light at the edge of the wood and ran faster than she had ever run before. But when she reached the end of the trees, she was greeted by nothing she recognized. None of the houses were her house. None of the swing sets were her swing set. None of the trees in the yards were the big oak tree that she loved to climb.

What was she going to do? How was she going to get to her house? Should she make her way back to the clearing and try again? Perhaps if she went up to the front of the houses, where the street was, she might recognize another house or building and find home that way. That seemed like the best idea.

Through the windows of the houses, Tabitha could see families around the dinner table or watching TV. She hoped nobody would mind her walking through their yard or there were no vicious dogs to attack her. She had had enough adventure for one day. Thankfully, the only animal she saw

was a white cat that was actually quite cute and fluffy. It started rubbing up against her leg, wanting to be friends with her, but she had no time for such things. Besides, she remembered Bornoden’s story about what cats would do to the Grenigots and it didn’t seem so friendly.

“Go away, you mean old thing!” she hissed at the cat. And it took off.

When she got to the road, Tabitha found that none of the houses were familiar and there were no other landmarks. It was just one big line of garages and driveways. She was completely lost.

“Where am I?” she wondered out loud.

No one was outside to ask. The sign at the end of the street indicated she was on Billings Street but she had never heard of it before so that wasn’t much help.

Tabitha was trying to muster up the courage to go knock on someone’s door and ask for assistance. Knocking on doors made her nervous because she couldn’t tell if the people would be nice or not from just looking at their house.

She also didn’t know exactly what she would ask for. Tabitha wasn’t supposed to accept rides from strangers so asking someone to drive her home wasn’t smart. If she asked to use the phone to call her parents to come and pick her up they might not let her leave the house again. Then the Grenigots would come in the middle of the night and carry her away and lock her up on the outskirts of the clearing to do nothing but sing for the rest of her life. But she had to do something. She needed help.

Stay tuned for Part 5! And don’t forget to download your copy of the Tabitha e-book at www.tiffanyprochera.com or listen to the audiobook on the Swimming Tigress Music YouTube Channel!

Tabitha’s Magical Voice – Part 3

April 24, 2012 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Welcome back to Tabitha’s Magical Voice – Part 3

When last we saw Tabitha, she had found herself in the land of the Grenigots – a group of bright-haired little people who had made a home in a clearing in the woods behind her house. She has met Marticus, Bornoden and his daughter, Kishinae, and learned about how the Grenigots came to the area. Now, there is some unknown danger approaching that threatens to destroy the village. Can Tabitha save it?

All of a sudden, an even littler little person with peacock blue hair dashed by, arms flailing wildly in panic. “They’re coming! They’re coming! Save yourself! Find shelter now!” he screamed.

“What’s coming?” Tabitha asked. “The cats, I mean, the squibbers?”

Bornoden looked towards the western sky, worried.

“No. Worse. The nados. They show up when the weather gets hot. We have lost so many of our people because of them, my dear wife, Kishinae’s mother included. She was swept up and never heard from again.” He held his daughter close to him but didn’t want to make her anymore afraid than she already was.

“That would be awful to lose your mother.” Tabitha thought. She didn’t even want to think of what that would be like. She could see white, black and red funnel clouds, about ten of them, appearing out of the trees, blowing into the clearing and heading towards the village. They were spinning with tremendous speed and, while they didn’t reach any higher than Tabitha’s waist, she could see how dangerous they would be for the tiny Grenigots.

“We get things like that where I’m from but not a whole bunch at a time.” she remarked.

Marticus gasped and leaped straight up in the air without any warning. “Merrylynn! I have to reach Merrylynn!”

He turned to run but Bornoden grabbed his arm. “It’s too far and too dangerous to go all the way across the village. The nados are already here. We have to find a safe place and hope for the best for our families.”

Tabitha thought for a moment, then realized she was wearing the perfect hiding spot. “I’m big enough so the nados can’t hurt me. You can hide in my pockets. You should be safe there.”

Tabitha picked up Marticus, Bornoden and Kishinae and placed them in the front pocket of her green dress. The two men poked their heads out just above the fabric so they could still tell what was happening.

Tabitha could see little people of the village being sucked up into the nados and their little cries for help terrified her. She picked up a few more people close by her and she wished there were more she could save. But she couldn’t fit the entire village in her dress pocket and moving any further into the clearing could be just as dangerous.

“This is terrible.” Tabitha said. “I feel just awful. Now I wish I was still at Caitlyn’s birthday party.”

Kishinae poked her head of out of Tabitha’s pocket and looked up at her with a curious expression. “What’s a birthday?”

“It’s the time when you celebrate the day you were born. My birthday is March 7^th.”

Marticus searched his brain for a moment while he scratched his head but he didn’t understand. “Hmmm… March. Never heard of it. I don’t think any of us remember when we were born. We don’t really keep track of the days here. So, is that what you were doing all your thinking about? Is that what got you all flustered and made you step on Shamabus’s house?”

Kishinae gasped. “Gosh and golly! You stepped on Uncle Shamabus’s house?” She looked down at the ground and noticed bits of broken twigs and crumpled leaves peaking out from under Tabitha’s feet. “I thought something was missing.”

Bornoden loved a good party. “Why wouldn’t you want to be at a party?”

Tabitha lowered her head a little. “My little sister wanted me to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.” she answered shyly, embarrassed to admit her petty little problem while such terror was befalling the Grenigot people.

Bornoden still couldn’t make sense of it. “But we sing here all the time.”

“Singing is my favourite thing!” Kishinae exclaimed.

“Yeah, what’s the problem with this ‘Happy Birthday’ song?” Marticus asked. “Does it conjure up some nasty monsters or something? How does it go?”

‘Well, you know.” and Tabitha started to sing. “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear – ”

She stopped suddenly and put her hand in front of her mouth when she heard the sound of her voice, remembering that she had not wanted to sing.

Marticus gazed up at the sky and shouted at Tabitha, “No, don’t stop! Do that again!”

Tabitha shook her head in resistance. “No. I’m not singing.”

“Just do it again and watch the sky.”

Tabitha’s head was swimming again. Should she remain silent? She did promise herself she wouldn’t sing anymore. But she was curious as to what Marticus was talking about. What was he seeing in the sky?

“Well, do it!” Marticus commanded again impatiently, stomping his foot. “Hurry, before more people die!”

“What?” Tabitha thought. “I can’t be responsible for people dying. What is going on?” As much as Tabitha wanted to keep her mouth shut, her compassion and curiosity got the better of her and she started the song again.

Marticus, Bornoden, Kishinae and the other villagers in Tabitha’s pocket stood there with their mouths gaping open. Tabitha was dumbfounded, too. After the second ‘Happy birthday to you’, the nados had already stopped spinning and started moving further towards the trees, away from the village. Tabitha kept singing while the distance between them and the nados got bigger and bigger until they disappeared.

Marticus pointed a finger up at Tabitha. “Your singing. It chased them away.”

She had seen it but she didn’t believe it. “No, it didn’t. How is that possible?”

“I don’t know but your voice is like magic.”

For the longest time, Tabitha had thought her voice was awful and here was Marticus telling her it was somehow magical. How could that be?

“Gosh and golly! You must stay with us forever and protect us from the nados.” Bornoden declared, as though that were a perfectly reasonable solution to their problem.

Now that the threat was gone, Tabitha took the Grenigots out of her pocket and placed them back on the ground.

“But I can’t stay here.” she explained, feeling bad that she had to let them down. “I have my own home outside of the woods.” She pointed in the direction she thought her house would be in, though she wasn’t quite sure anymore. “I should really be getting back there now, as a matter of fact.”

Just then, Marticus picked a leaf off the ground and shaped it into a cone. He faced the large end towards the village and spoke into the small end.

“Attention, villagers!” he called. The sound echoed throughout the clearing, “This girl here has saved us from the nados but now she wants to abandon us. We must make sure she can not leave Grenotia.”

“What?” cried Tabitha, who was starting to get scared. “You have to let me go back.”

The villagers of Grenotia started to come out of their houses, carrying ropes and sticks and whatever they could find. As they moved closer, Tabitha didn’t know what she could do without hurting anyone.