(audiotape by Marni Gillard)
"Fed by these stories..."
Dear Friends,
I wanted to let you know about a new audio tape that is really worth
checking out. It is a wonderful example of autobiographical
storytelling.
Without a Splash: Diving into Childhood Memories, a double cassette
tape by Marni Gillard is oral biography at its finest.
The five
"interlocking stories" on her tape begin in early childhood and weave
themes of relationship, religion, life lessons, loss and love into a
journey well worth taking again and again.
Marni's masterful ability to
give voice to each character and emotion brings the listener into her
world, while simultaneously transporting us back into our own early
lives.
Marni's honest and vivid depictions of childhood were balm for my
soul, returning me to an experience of community, and reminding me of
the resiliency of the soul that has been loved.
My seven year old
daughter has also been fed by these stories, and asks to hear the "Marni
tapes" over and over again.
Elisa Pearmain
"I had to pull myself away"
Thank you so much for your generous spirit, for sharing your stories by
recording them. When the package arrived I was on my way to my YOGA class. I
popped in Tape #1. Twenty minutes later when I arrived at the Yoga class, I
had to pull myself away from you.
Marni, what can I say...it was as though
you were sitting right next to me - the stories, the images you evoked in my
mind's eye were exquisite and "real..." not to mention the extraordinary
quality of the recording. BRAVO!
I know what a challenge it was to put this collection of stories together on
a recording and I rejoice and celebrate with you! "Without A Splash" is
indeed a gift for parents, children, teachers, storytellers, story listeners,
one an all.
Barbara Aliprantis, NYC storyteller
"Your words...reverberate through everyone's soul"
Dear Marni, I've listened to the first story on the tape five times so far. I
can see Jimmy tapping you on the shoulder and crying with you....I love
seeing your big brother acknowledge the pain you felt...that's so
heartening...I wanted to listen over and over to the story and tell you
something that had meaning for me.
That part where Jimmy brushed you off and
gave you cursory instructions for the swan dive, and your feeling of being
high over the whole town, and then falling down into such hardness and losing
your breath...and Jimmy was there! Wow!...............
Now I have listened in depth to all the stories. Marni, you have
the ability to touch people's minds and souls....you have such a gift...don't
procrastinate any longer...get these stories written....
I didn't know that you had the gift of being able to speak in so
many voices....it's as if you became the different people...you somehow did
that....and I don't know how.....from the mean kindergarten teacher to the
young priest to the old priest with "my pearl of a girl" to your dad's
voice...to your mom's....all so redeeming...Marni, please don't be afraid or
shaken from your resolve. I am shaken to hear your words, and I know they
would reverberate through everyone's soul....
Johanna Shogan, 7th grade teacher, Bethlehem Middle School
Top of page
Marni Gillard, storyteller
833 Parkside Ave.,
Schenectady , NY 12309
(518) 381-9474
You can email Marni at marnigil@aol.com
http://www.storypower.com/gillard
All materials © Marni Gillard. All rights reserved.
Questions about this site? Contact the
Webmaster
|