Felix The Storyteller» Inspirational

THE SILENT FLUTE

Felix Mayerhofer — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:37:44 +0000

The courage of a 10-year-old girl, who knows she’s going to die of cystic fibrosis, is the subject of this poignant true story. With the short time left, Jennifer’s greatest desire in her weakened condition is to be able to play the flute.

Play Story

Check Out The Bookstore!

Click here for print editions of your favorite stories.

Inspiration

I found it difficult to write this true poignant story, as it was one of the most emotional experiences I’d had during my years of teaching. Tears welled in my eyes more than once as I was writing, causing me to stop until I’d regained my composure. This is not really a children’s story, but I wanted to make young people aware that in this world, there are many children who are courageous and an inspiration.

THE OLD HOUSE ON THE HILL

Felix Mayerhofer — Mon, 10 May 2010 01:34:12 +0000

Did driving by an abandoned and weathered old house in the countryside ever arouse your curiosity? The anthropomorphic house in this story and his two companions, a mouse and a Bluebird, spin a mighty tall yarn to satisfy your curiosity, one you’ll enjoy.

Play Story

Check Out The Bookstore!

Click here for print editions of your favorite stories.

Inspiration

When we were traveling in our motorhome throughout the country, we used to see old abandoned farmhouses, many on hills, and were curious what happened to the families who had lived in them. Here’s the way I imagined it might have been.

THE LAMPLIGHTER

Felix Mayerhofer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:58:13 +0000

Shortly before the birth of Christ, an angel appeared before a handicapped shepherd boy named Luke, who was told to collect old and damaged oil lamps. This request presented problems with Luke’s friends, townspeople, and was also of concern to his parents. On Christmas Eve he followed a bright star directed towards a stable in Bethlehem, where the reason for the oil lamps is revealed to him.

Play Story

Check Out The Bookstore!

Click here for print editions of your favorite stories.

Inspiration

When I was trying to come up with an idea for another children’s story, my son David said, “Dad, why don’t you write the ultimate Christmas story?” I laughed! Hundreds of stories if not more had been written about Christmas, but his suggestion stuck in my mind. A few weeks later as I was watching an old black and white TV movie, one of the characters was a handicapped boy walking with a crutch. It suddenly occurred to me that using a boy with a crutch could be introduced as part of the Nativity story during the birth of Christ. Ideas began flowing through my mind as if an angel was guiding me. In no time at all I had written the basic plot with a boy on a crutch named Luke being the main character.

SLUSHY THE TROMBONE – Book 1

Felix Mayerhofer — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:05:52 +0000

Slushy, a talking trombone, relates the sad plight of his master, Slide Hooper, a professional trombonist who becomes ill. One of Slide’s compassionate young students takes it upon himself to help him in his hour of need. Young readers will learn from this story that “life is not a “bed of roses.” The next Slushy story will be more uplifting and humorous, but read this first.

Play Story

Check Out The Bookstore!

Click here for print editions of your favorite stories.

Inspiration

I was burnt-out and hadn’t written any prose for quite awhile realizing I had “writers block,” as ideas just wouldn’t flow. After six different attempts at writing this story, I thought I ended up with a version I could use. After letting it sit a few months, I read it again and it was terrible. My wife, Shirley, suggested I write it with Slushy telling the story. It worked, but when I restarted the story, my mind took a different track. I began writing about experiences I had witnessed, including my own, where I had a devastating case of Bells Palsy that ended my professional playing career. A trombone friend of mine contracted M.S. (Multiple Sclerosis), which slowly decreased his ability to earn a living. Other talented musicians with whom I worked became addicted to drugs, such as marijuana, heroin, alcohol, and a few died at an incredibly young age. Slushy in the story is an integral part of this, but I still tried to keep it entertaining. It is written almost totally in narrative style. I take a more humorous tack in the next Slushy story where he’s involved in different escapades that are funny. When you finish this story you’ll have a better understanding of the problems that can seriously affect musicians and their careers.

Related Posts

Slushy Beats the Odds

SLUSHY BEATS THE ODDS – Book 2

Felix Mayerhofer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:30:42 +0000

What a nightmare for Slushy the trombone! Going from the All-Star City Band, then to a bunch of hoodlums, and finally to a pawnshop where Slushy finds it’s almost too much to handle. Could this situation get any worse? Will his new master, Tony, show up in time to save the day? Start reading now before it’s too late!

Play Story

Check Out The Bookstore!

Click here for print editions of your favorite stories.

Inspiration

I’ve always been fascinated with pawnshops, stopping and looking at all the instruments and other objects hanging in the display windows. I thought using this colorful scenario would be a good way to start my second Slushy story. Another thing I decided to bring in was my experience with a spit and polish air force band during the Korean War in 1951-1952. We worked on close order drills and marched for hours and weeks during the intense heat of the California desert. Our first parade was a spine tingling experience as the band stood tall, with shoulders back, walking with military precision. It was a proud and memorable moment.

Related Posts

Slushy The Trombone

REACHING FOR A STAR

Felix Mayerhofer — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:53:18 +0000

Who would turn down an offer of free lessons from Madam Gulenka to learn the graceful moves and artistry of a ballerina? This opportunity extended to an intelligent but overweight 7th grade girl with psychological problems reaps great rewards.

Play Story

Check Out The Bookstore!

Click here for print editions of your favorite stories.

Inspiration

I was so inspired with my wife’s former career as a professional ballerina that I decided to write a children’s story about ballet. I only had a smattering of knowledge about the terminology and positions used in this art form, but with Shirley’s expertise, the problem was soon resolved. With vivid memories of her graceful performances, I’m happy to say that my 23rd children’s story was a pleasure to write.

JAMIE GETS A SECOND CHANCE

Felix Mayerhofer — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:39:21 +0000

To his mother’s consternation, Jamie, a future Louis Armstrong, hung out with the wrong type of friends. He’s forced to join band by the school principal, and with the help of his band director, Jamie becomes enamored with an old beat up trumpet, changing his life forever.

Play Story

Check Out The Bookstore!

Click here for print editions of your favorite stories.

Inspiration

This story is based on how I began my music career in 1944. Mr. Forsyth, principal of Port Chester Junior School, came into my 9th grade study hall and told me to step outside. Waiting in the hallway was Mr. Jacobs, our new band director, who remembered me from 5th grade as a singer with a “good ear” (I used to harmonize every song when he came into our class to teach music and singing). The story line is true up to the point where Mr. Jacobs teaches me the fingerings to the C scale. He loaned me a school baritone horn (not a trumpet as in the story), which I played the next two years. When I entered Port Chester High School, I bought my first used professional Olds trombone with the $.25 an hour earned from baby-sitting for Mr. Paul Weckesser, our band director.

THIS WAY TO HEAVEN

Felix Mayerhofer — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:51:10 +0000

Seated in a glittering chair was the Divine One waiting to give the signal to His representative, the Archangel Gabriel, whose angelic group would make an announcement of gigantic importance. To attract the attention of the people on Earth, the world would be exposed to thunder and lightning with torrential rain, whipping winds, rolling waves, and trembling grounds. The inhabitants of the world would have a one-time opportunity to get a glimpse what heaven was like. An orchestra of angels would present this musical drama, using various instruments to influence all humanity and animals of the world, including sea-life. Each instrument of the orchestra would convey to the world’s inhabitants the ecstasies of Heaven, giving them a preview of what life would be like in God’s domain.

Play Story

Check Out The Bookstore!

Click here for print editions of your favorite stories.

Inspiration

I felt truly blessed when I was inspired to write this narration. As I was doing my morning prayers while strolling in our large back yard, a miraculous idea for a story came to me from the deepest recess of my brain. It described what heaven was like. The whole story took form in my mind like a flash, as I ran inside the house and began to type with a fury. I didn’t stop writing until I had completed the entire narration. I worked on it for a few weeks until I felt it was ready. The ideal way to present this story would be with a full orchestra and narrator, which would make it a heavenly production. Since I wanted this work to be read, I placed the narration in a book made for my son, compiled entirely of all my children’s stories, even though it was basically written for adults. You’ll find this a higher reading level, but I think the young ones will enjoy it, because it’s all about musical instruments and filled with feelings of goodness.