New CD of adult stories: MOVING.

Click here to purchase Moving at CDBaby.

Three chapters from a dancing life: Mythical realism, magical realism, and realist realism

In Search of Olympus deftly populates a Greek island with gods, goddesses and nymphs sprung full-blown from the teenaged head of the author as she experiences life there with sailors, fishermen, farmers and her sister dancers. In The Treasure Ms. Hruby relates the magical story of her odyssey into an international career as a dancer in pursuit of the golden fleece of success and the no less elusive funds for it that magically appear, disappear and …. One World returns us to earth with the joy and wonder of nature in stories much like those of Virgil in The Georgics.

Ms. Hruby hilariously relates this myth, magic and reality in a voice that moves with the grace, energy and surprise of dance.

New CD of adult stories: Out of Control

• Corn Relish (for my father and brother) - a story about the difficulty of giving the right gift
• Out of Control - a story about crying and laughing
• Body Hair (for my mom) - a story about my legs, Thor & Esmerelda
• Driving - a story about marriage

Click here to purchase Out of Control at CDBaby.

Hans & Gret: The Rap and Other Stories From Around the World

Retold folktales by Patricia Hruby Powell with guitar accompaniment composed or adapted by David Onderdonk. Additional accompaniment by Patricia on frame drum, finger cymbals, bead drum, and mbira (thumb piano).

• Why the Possum's Tail is Bare (Cherokee)
• Why the Rooster Never Got Back to Paradise (Arab World)
• The Goat Who Couldn't Sneeze (Mexico)
• Why the Snow is White (Germany)

• The Lion and the Mbira (Zimbabwe)
• Bella & Beastly (Europe)
• Hans & Gret: The Rap (Germany/USA)

Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Grandmothers stories by Patricia Hruby Powell

With incidental music played by Dan Anderson (bass), Irene Anderson (harmonica), Dorothy Martirano (violin), Maria Merkelo (accordion) , Jeanne Dayton Sasaki (piano)

• Veronica Vodicka: the Green Umbrella - a story about Patricia's great great grandmother who, at the age of 15, came alone to America from Bohemia to avoid an arranged marriage with a red haired man; only to meet a red haired man (from Bohemia) during the great Chicago Fire of 1871, lose him, find him, and marry him.
• Gramma Lilac - a charming story about an eccentric, urban, world-traveling grandmother who remains the author's muse.
• Black Sheep - how an adopted sister can supply the diversity that a family needs.
• Recipe - a story about an adored musician/mother.