August 28. Issue 195
What’s new — I should have my newest book complete. Do I? No, not quite completed.
Schedules and deadlines. Oh, the beauty of being your own publisher — you call all the shots. My deadline is a tentative schedule to keep me on track. Well, it gets the job done, but sometimes we miss the dates.
Last week I participated in my first pop-up market. It was great — the Multi-Use Rec Complex (MURC) in Sutton. A new building with space for lots of vendors. I’m very happy I got in as a vendor selling my original art — well, are words a form of art? Of course, my kids’ books feature the magical artwork of the talented Joshua Miller. We’re up to eight books now. Joshua has illustrated every one, covers included.
My monthly journal is a chance for me to share five points of interest with you — things that have motivated, intrigued, or simply caused me some joy, and I hope will provide delight for you too.
- A European Adventure. I’m in Athens, Greece. The featured photo is of the Ancient Acropolis, courtesy of the site athenstickets.org. A long flight — I spent the time writing a new book, something about a European adventure.
- The itinerary for Europe has me visiting Sifnos, Santorini, Naples, Matera, Cosenza, and Rome — a few smaller places in between, and a chance to promote my new book, Samba in Italy: A Halloween Mystery.
- What I’ve been reading. Well, I’m still working through the heavy novel by John Irving, Until I Find You. It’s heavy both figuratively and literally — I have the hardcover version, and it’s a genuine wrist-breaker. I’m also reading a kids’ book by Lawrence Hill, Beatrice and Croc Harry — a great read by a talented author, highly recommended for both children and adults.
- Music. My favorite radio show is Radio Deluxe — has been for many years, actually, since it first started I was an avid supporter. Hosted by John Pizzarelli and his wife, Jessica Molaskey, the show features excellent jazz, old, new, and upcoming. Jazz, when I say jazz, I really mean a multi-genre form of music built on syncopated rhythm — that might be a good working definition. An all-encompassing form of modern music, mostly not pop or country, though sometimes it leans heavily into the classical realm.
- My life in martial arts — would that make a good book? Maybe! I spent a few weeks in August teaching at a Toronto martial arts dojo, Naka Ima Dojo. I really enjoyed sharing my forty-plus years of knowledge with the students, and I hope they enjoyed it too. I taught on August 22nd, filling in for Chief Instructor Tim while he took some time away to visit family. In between, lots of practice — I practice forms every day except Sunday, a time to let the body rest. Up in the Blue Mountains, I train at a community centre in Craigleith, where the sensei teaches Niten Ichi-Ryu, a sword style built around two swords as its main weaponry. The famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi created this style of swordsmanship. I enjoy the community of martial artists training at the dojo. My partner, Nina, is studying this koryu classical martial art as well.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. Be safe, keep reading and writing and creating. Until next time. Ciao.