Who Led Santa's Sleigh? "Hey Gertrude"...

I Did It!   My friend, (amazing author, publisher, film producer, creative guru, and more) Ann Jagger (see references & links below), started an annual series of short story collections a few years ago.  Every month each year from February through October, she would post a "prompt" to get us started.   Folks (18 years or older) can give it a try and submit their stories.   Ann selects the best stories to include in that year's volume at the end of each year.   There are currently 5 volumes in print.  If you want to rise to the challenge, the next story prompts begin February 2024!

I participated in Ann's "I Did It" challenge each of the last two years.   In 2022's "I Did It" (Volume 4), Ann published my story "Hey Gertrude" (The Real Truth).  The story prompt was "Rewrite the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from the point of view of Vixen, or any other reindeer on the team."  In my story, Dancer, the reindeer, affectionately dispels myths about Rudolph, and tells her own version of how Santa’s sleigh is guided on Christmas Eve.   Click here to read "Hey Gertrude" 

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays Everyone!

More links:  

• About Ann Jagger...
• Participate in Ann's "I Did It" Project!  (Greywinds Productions Facebook page)
• I Did It - Volume 3  (released on 2022) for sale on Amazon - My cliffhanger "The Visitors" (prompted by a photograph of an old castle with a river nearby) was published in this volume.  (Maybe I will write the sequel?)
• I Did It - Volume 4 (released in 2023) for sale on Amazon - includes "Hey Gertrude" and other fun stories.
• Other collaborative projects I've participated in are listed here on my website "Mixed Media" page.) 

Original Music for the season: (recorded at Studio 415, Clayton, NC, Paul G Barton – co-producer, sound engineer & mastering).   The links below will take you to my YouTube channel to listen.  CDs & Downloads are available for purchase on my website.  You can stream my music under the artist "Paula C Snyder" under most streaming platforms.

• Not So Far Apart (released 2023, from album “Sing Me – 3 Ways”) – a song for peace, acceptance, and coexistence.  (My Lyrics/Music, Performance -Vocals, & Rhythm Guitar, Paul Barton on bass, Michael Pelz-Sherman on keyboards, Jeff Abate on drums)
• Like Christmas Morning (released 2010, from EP “Seasonal Sentiments”) “Wake the day, just like it’s Christmas Morning, every single day of the year…” (My Lyrics/Music, Performance on vocals & Keyboard/Synth)
• Your Place Christmas Eve (released 2010, from EP “Seasonal Sentiments”)  A bittersweet love story about letting go.  (My Lyrics/Music, Performance on vocals & Keyboard/Synth)
• This Christmas Cactus (released 2010, from EP “Seasonal Sentiments”)  A bit of created “folklore” based on a true story.  (My Lyrics/Music,  Performance on vocals, & Keyboard/Synth)
• Next Year (I Will Promise You) (released 2007, from album “Renewed”) -  A New Year’s Eve Promise & Wedding song.   (My Lyrics/Music, Performance on vocals & Keyboard/Synth, Paul Barton created electronic percussion tracks)

Final mentions:   I enjoyed working with Unsplash.com & Unsplash+ (in collaboration with Getty Images) photographs to compile my own graphic arts creation (pictured above).   If I follow with a Christmas song next year, called "Hey Gertrude" - I picture the above graphic for a fun album cover or song art.Image Shoutouts:  I used pieces of each of these photographs:

• getty-images-krpTrkNXpE8-unsplash - White reindeer & antler "extensions" (Unsplash+)
• Deidre Schlabs: (deidre-schlabs-xhY0_j02ZWE-unsplash) - Candy cane
• Madi Schwemer: (madi-schwemer-GqXN6UXmUw-unsplash) - Red bow