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Elaine Ambrose

Bestselling Author, Ventriloquist, & Humorist

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The Fiddler Finds a Family: A Story with Two Versions

July 6, 2020 By Elaine Ambrose

(Note: Does a 50 percent edit help or harm the story? One version contains 900 words, and the other is edited to 450 words.)

(900 words)
It was early spring when Fiddling Freddie finally decided to leave his home near the city. He sold his house and car and used the money to buy a pickup truck and a mountain cabin near a lake. He loaded everything he owned into the back of his truck, placed his fiddle on the seat beside him, and drove away. As his former life disappeared in the rear-view mirror, he felt totally free for the first time in several years.

At the cabin, Freddie carefully arranged his comfortable rocking chair in front of the fireplace, set up a small but sturdy bed in the corner, hung his clothes in the closet, and filled the tiny kitchen with plates, pans, and utensils. He placed an oak table and two chairs beside the window. His fiddle case rested on top a wooden book case filled with his favorite novels and magazines. The only other room was a tiny bathroom with a toilet, sink, and tub. Water came from a stream flowing beside the cabin, and stacks of firewood were ready for the stove and fireplace. Several kerosene lanterns and candles provided necessary light.

On the log walls, he hung a calendar, a poster of himself fiddling on stage, a faded photograph of a young couple holding a baby girl, and a picture of his dear departed wife. Freddie stood in the doorway, inspected his new home, and nodded with approval. He was so happy he took his fiddle, sat on the porch, and played until sunset.

The next day, Freddie traveled to a general store in the nearby village and purchased food supplies, including flour, coffee, butter, and eggs. He also bought seeds and tools to make a garden. He prepared the land next to the cabin and planted potatoes, corn, and tomatoes. He cut a small canal from the stream to water the crops. The garden would provide food to sustain him through the winter.

One morning after working in the garden, Freddie sat on the porch to play his fiddle. A child’s voice startled him.

“I like your music, Mister.”

Fiddler looked up to see a boy standing on the dirt road beside the cabin. “Thank you,” he replied. “Folks call me Fiddling Freddie. Who are you?”

The boy walked over, introduced himself as Steven Cartwright, and said he lived with his family just around the bend. The boy asked the old man how he learned to play music. Freddie told the tale about traveling the country and playing at fairs, barn dances, and town celebrations. At one show, he met a beautiful young singer, fell in love, and they were married more than 40 years before she got sick and passed away.

“Do you have kids?” The boy asked.

“We had a daughter. She’s grown and has children of her own. They moved away and don’t have time for me anymore,” Fiddler said. “They don’t care about my stories.”

“I like your stories,” the boy said. “Can I come back tomorrow and bring some friends?”

Freddie agreed. He was surprised the next day when five children walked into his yard. He picked up the fiddle, tucked it under his chin, and began a top-tapping selection of songs from bluegrass to country to Irish folk tunes. Then he told stories about his adventures on the road playing in isolated saloons, big city jazz bars, and ending at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

“More stories! More stories!” The children begged. Soon more children came to hear his music and stories.

Fiddling Freddie regaled them with tall tales of playing for the Queen of England. That story may have been an exaggeration. He explained how his fiddle once stopped a bullet from a wild cowboy at a boisterous party in Montana. That story, also, may have been embellished. His favorite story was how he got lost in the Idaho mountains and played his fiddle until a magic, flying horse appeared and flew him home. The children clapped and begged for more.

The summer rolled into autumn, and Freddie harvested the crops from his garden. He fixed baskets of produce to trade at the general store in exchange for supplies. The rest of the vegetables were dried and stored for winter.

The children continued to visit to hear his music and stories. One day the boy, Steven, asked Freddie if he could come to their home for Sunday afternoon dinner. He obliged and took his fiddle and a sack of potatoes. Steven’s parents and five siblings welcomed Freddie and gave him the “company chair” at the meal. He shared more stories and played some tunes.

When it was time to go, he thanked the family. Steven’s mother handed him a homemade pie and a loaf of bread. “Do come back often,” she said. “We’ve heard so much about you, and we decided you’re part of the family.”

Fiddling Freddie drove to his cabin as the sun was setting behind the mountain. He lit a lamp, sat on the porch, and gazed at the night sky as the stars began to appear. He felt gratitude for his life and for his new family. Suddenly he thought about an original tale he would tell the children. The story would describe the time he was fiddling on the roof and a stong wind blew him into an enchanted meadow of singing gnomes. He smiled.

The Fiddler Finds a Family

(450 words)
Fiddling Freddie lived in a cozy cabin in the mountains. To celebrate his simple, happy life, he often sat on the front porch and played his fiddle in a spirited medley of songs from bluegrass to country to Irish folk tunes.

One morning after working in his garden, Freddie sat to play. A child’s voice startled him.

“I like your music, Mister.”

Fiddler looked up to see a boy and four other children standing on the dirt road beside the cabin. “Thank you,” he replied. “Folks call me Fiddling Freddie. Who are you?”

The boy walked over, introduced himself as Steven, and said he lived with his family just around the bend. The boy asked the old man how he learned to play music. Freddie told how he traveled the country and played at fairs, barn dances, and town celebrations. He told stories about his adventures on the road playing in isolated saloons, big city jazz bars, and ending at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I like your stories,” Steven said. The other children agreed.

Soon more children came to hear his music and stories. Fiddling Freddie regaled them with tall tales of playing for the Queen of England. That story may have been an exaggeration. He explained how his fiddle once stopped a bullet from a wild cowboy at a boisterous party in Montana. That story, also, may have been embellished. His favorite story was how he got lost in the Idaho mountains and played his fiddle until a magic, flying horse appeared and flew him home. The children clapped and begged for more.

One day Steven asked Freddie if he could come to their home for Sunday dinner. He obliged and took his fiddle and a sack of potatoes from his garden. Steven’s parents and five siblings welcomed Freddie and gave him the “company chair” at the meal. He shared more stories and played some tunes.

When it was time to go, he thanked the family and left the potatoes. Steven’s mother handed him a homemade pie and a loaf of bread. “Do come back often,” she said. “We’ve heard so much about you, and we consider you part of the family.”

Fiddling Freddie drove to his cabin as the sun was setting behind the mountain. He lit a lamp, sat on the porch, and gazed at the night sky as the stars began to appear. He felt gratitude for his life and for his new family. Suddenly he thought about an original tale he would tell the children. The story would describe the time he was fiddling on the roof and a stong wind blew him into an enchanted meadow of singing gnomes. He smiled.

©ElaineAmbrose

(Illustrations are from the award-winning book Gaters & Taters – A Week of Bedtime Stories.)

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: #amwriting, #editing, #fiddle, #music, Storytelling, writingcommunity

Grandma’s Legacy

June 15, 2020 By Elaine Ambrose

A Short Story by Elaine Ambrose

Ella was thirteen years old when she came home from school and found her mother and her Aunt Mary crying in the kitchen.

Ella rushed to her mother and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“We lost Grandma,” her mother sobbed.

“Well go find her!” Ella demanded. She started to run out the door to go search for her grandmother, but her mother gently guided her to the couch and sat beside her.

“I should have said she passed away. Grandma died today.”

Ella realized her grandmother wasn’t lost. She was dead. Ella wept.

Several nights later, Ella couldn’t sleep because she was thinking about her grandmother. Ella thought about the wonderful and happy adventures they had enjoyed. Her grandmother was funny and active, and they often sang songs and made up silly stories. It wasn’t fair they couldn’t be together.

She finally fell asleep and began to dream. In her vision, she rode her bicycle to a strange place. Her grandmother was there, and she was wearing a sparkling purple dress and had flowers in her long, white hair. Other older people were in the room with her.

“Grandma!” Ella cried. “Please come back. I miss you.”

The grandmother smiled at Ella. “It was my time to go,” she said gently. “But I won’t be far away from you. Every time you smell gingerbread and pine trees, think of our winter holidays together. Feel my touch when the warm summer breeze moves your hair. And when you hear the song of the meadowlark, know I am watching over you.”

“I want to tell stories with you again,” Ella said.

“You will, in your own way,” said her grandmother. “You can write or tell me stories and pretend I’m with you. We’ll never be completely apart because you and I share the bloodline of our ancestors. You carry the spirit and creative talents of writers, poets, musicians, and entertainers. You have compassion, goodness, and courage from your relatives who were teachers, caregivers, soldiers, and peace officers. Your pioneer heritage includes farmers, truck drivers, and community volunteers. And, you carry the spiritual faith of generations of strong people who never gave up, even when betrayed or suffering from physical and mental pain.”

Ella was amazed at her grandmother’s words and felt proud to continue the family legacy. “I won’t disappoint you, Grandma,” she said.

When Ella woke the next morning, she remembered the dream. She opened her bedroom window and saw a meadowlark in the tree next to the house. The bird had a bright yellow chest with speckled brown feathers and sang a cheerful song.

“Good morning, Grandma,” Ella said as she reached for her notebook and pencil. “Let’s write a story.”

(Illustrations are from the award-winning, children’s book Gators & Taters – A Week of Bedtime Stories.“)

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: #Grandmother, #tradition, ancestors, Children, death, dreams, family, heritage, legacy, parenting, Storytelling

Granny’s Ungrateful Goat

June 2, 2020 By Elaine Ambrose

A Short Story by Elaine Ambrose

Granny Margarita was a jolly woman who lived in the country on a small farm. One day she decided to go to the store and buy a nanny for granny. She brought the goat home and fixed a cozy pen and scattered fresh straw for a bed. She filled a water trough and offered the goat some fresh apples.

“Baaa!” exclaimed the goat and turned her back on Granny.

Granny fixed her favorite pecan pie using her secret recipe that won a blue ribbon at the County Fair. She brought the pie on a fancy plate and gave it to the goat.

“Baaa!” exclaimed the goat and turned her back on Granny.

Granny thought the goat was bored, so she bought some roller skates and taught the goat how to skate. The goat skated for a few minutes, fell down, and then didn’t like the skates.

“Baaa!” said the goat and turned her back on Granny.

Granny wondered if the cozy pen wasn’t good enough, so she built a bigger pen and added a pond so the goat could jump in the water.

“Baaa!” said the goat and turned her back on Granny.

Granny decided she had an ungrateful goat. She took the goat to obedience school to learn how to become self-sufficient and appreciate life. The goat finished the school but preferred to sit beneath the shade of the apple tree.

Finally, Granny Margarita accepted the fact that her goat was too grumpy and was robbing her of joy. She packed her bags and moved to a community of other seasoned folks who loved to laugh, dance, and enjoy whatever songs were left to be sung.

The Ungrateful Goat sat in her pen and waited for someone to take care of her. No one came. After a few days, the goat walked into the pasture and ate grass and found a stream so she could drink water. She found a dried old apple and eagerly gobbled the wrinkled fruit. The goat was lonely but grateful.

(Illustrations are from the children’s book Gators & Taters.– Winner of 2018 “Distinguished Favorite” for Children’s Literature from the Independent Press Awards.)

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: attitude, goats, gratitude, parenting, Storytelling

Author Page Featured on Kirkus Reviews

May 12, 2020 By Elaine Ambrose

Here’s my new Pro Connect Author Page on Kirkus Reviews. Elaine Ambrose Author Page

Filed Under: blog, books Tagged With: #author page, book review, Kirkus, Pro Connect

New Children’s Book Reviewed as “Joyful, Well-Told Story”

May 11, 2020 By Elaine Ambrose

Melody’s Magical Flying Machine is receiving glowing reviews from across the country. The book will be released in the fall by Brown Books Publishing Group, and preliminary evaluations are above projections.

“Melody’s Magical Flying Machine by Elaine Ambrose features a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome and is a joyful, well-told story that celebrates the power of imagination. Melody is an engaging narrator whose cheerful affection, knack for happiness, and zestful imagination express themselves in every line. Zina’s pencil illustrations are beautifully textured and shaded, with a magical quality that deftly matches the text.” – KIRKUS REVIEWS

In the story, Melody loves to daydream beneath a tall catalpa tree in the backyard. She meets an enchanted bird and they use a 3D printer to create a magical flying machine so she can soar over the playground to amaze her friends and confront a group of bullies. Melody’s energetic talent in storytelling empowers her to educate others about Down syndrome while sharing her tall tales and strong hugs.


Kirkus Reviews has been an industry-trusted source for honest and accessible book reviews since 1933. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the company reviews the nation’s top publishers, small publishers, and independent authors. Qualified professionals review more than 10,000 books annually, and their evaluations include negative and positive reviews.

Other reviews for the book:

“Melody is a delightful girl, small in stature, but with an outsized imagination—who also happens to live with Down syndrome. After a sad day, she becomes a brave warrior and takes on the class bully with help from a new friend and some flying dragons. As a mental health advocate and mother of four, including one child with autism spectrum disorder, I am so grateful for this story of strength, resilience, and joy. We need more voices like Melody’s!”
– Liza Long, Author, The Price of Silence: a Mom’s Perspective on Mental Illness

“One of the primary missions of Family Advocates is to promote the health and well-being of every child and encourage children to reach their true potential by being safe, strong and brave – just like Melody. This book highlights the positive fact that a child with special needs can dream, share, achieve goals, handle bullies, and contribute to the community.”
– Kathryn Seebold, Executive Director, Family Advocates

Other positive reviews came from four children, ages 8 through 12, who read the book and offered expert commentary.

Filed Under: blog, books Tagged With: #Down Syndrome, book review, children's book, joyful, Kirkus, positive, Storytelling

Give Mom Humor and Be Her Favorite Child

May 7, 2020 By Elaine Ambrose

Flowers and candy are lovely gifts for Mother’s Day, but after all the angst and drama of the past two months, Mom wants to laugh! I’d love to help. My award-winning books, eBooks, and audiobooks will cause your mother to smile again and love you more than your siblings.

“Laugh-out-loud funny!” – Publishers Weekly

“Resembles Erma Bombeck.” – Foreword Reviews

Winners of Five National Writing Awards, including Finalist for Book of the Year for Humor with a rare 5-Star Review

Both books were ranked #1 Bestsellers online.

Midlife Happy Hour is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook read by the Author

Midlife Cabernet is available in paperback and eBook

Here’s a sneak peek of the preliminary cover for the final book in the midlife trilogy: Midlife Reboot – Humorous Stories of Rest, Resilience, and Renewal. This book will make the perfect Christmas and holiday present, so you’ll still be the favorite child.

Order the first two books online, from local bookstores, or directly from the author: For personalized and autographed copies, email elaine@elaineambrose.com

Filed Under: blog, books Tagged With: #amwriting, #middle age, cabernet, happy hour, Humor, laughter, midlife, MothersDay

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