Category: Book Launch Party

January 28 . Issue #128

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date January 28, 2022

“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” Thich Nhat Hanh (October 11, 1926 – January 22, 2022)

Hello all and a warm welcome to you. This week I spent time with one of my teachers, Thay, as he was known to his students. There are so many beautiful tributes to this great Buddhist monk – I share with you here a very special one, from Marilyn Lamoreux Photography.

1. My first encounter with the teachings of Thay was at a Toronto documentary film festival, for his new film ‘Walk With Me’. For me, this was the start of a great learning experience.

I spent time enjoying a beautiful four-part documentary about Thay and Plum Village from the good folks at Plum Village, entitled ‘Gone With the Wind‘.

2. You may have come to realize I love good documentaries. I found a few wonderful documentaries this week. Do you recall the recent challenge of a group of students from Thailand trapped in a cave?

They were rescued, thank goodness and the rescuers made a documentary about this amazing rescue. What else could you name the documentary, but The Rescue!

3. My ear candy this week came from an obscure source, yes another documentary. Summer of Soul by none other than Questlove, all about a music festival that coincided with Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969.

Some of the best musical performances I have ever heard are featured in this film.

4. Winter Book Fairs – I look forward to the time when I can get out to attend in-person events, to share my love of reading and writing.

In the meantime, I am happy to share with you this amazing promotion that features a fantastic array of children’s books; Great Kids Books, including my book Samba in Brazil. Enjoy!

5. Finishing a book and putting it out into the world is really satisfying. I certainly could not do it alone and there are many people to thank. I thank you all very much.

Most of them know who they are, but just to reinforce my appreciation I have added their names to the dedication in my new book Scratchy the Squirrel: A Time for Friends.

The featured photo, an illustration actually, is by the illustrator of my book; the wonderful artist Joshua Miller.

Reviews are coming in and there is high praise for Scratchy – check out this 5 star Reader’s Favorite Review.

Thank you for reading, if you think someone you know would like to read my newsletter please share it with them. If you are looking for a great children’s book check out one of my books, including: Samba in Brazil; Paperback version, on sale for a limited time. And the Portuguese version, Samba no Brasil, is now available as a set.

Or one of my other books, Samba on a Snowy Day or the Brazilian/ Portuguese version Samba em um Dia de Neve.

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.

Book Launch Party

Book Launch Party Postponed

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date March 14, 2020
1 Comment on Book Launch Party ***Postponed***

Book Launch Postponed – The featured Rose expresses promise, new beginnings, and hope.

Dear Friends & Family,

With the mounting escalation of the COVID-19 crisis, we carry an important responsibility and concern for the protection of our guests, our visitors, guest artists of Dance Migration, as well as the management and staff of our venue, Sovereign Espresso Bar on Davenport in Toronto. We have therefore taken the decision to postpone – yes, postpone – our Samba on a Snowy Day Book Launch this coming Wednesday 18th March in order to avoid unnecessary exposure to health risk.

Thank you for your understanding and for your continued support of my book and in the meantime please stay safe and healthy.

Best wishes,

Paul

Tags Dance Migration, The Sovereign Cafe

Book Launch Party

Newsletter 28

Newsletter 28

Hello all and welcome. In this weeks newsletter I look forward to spring as we get to set clocks ahead by an hour. I reminisce about Dr. Seuss, A.A Milne and E.H. Shepard. And I prepare for my official book launch of Samba on a Snowy Day. Here are five things I thought you might find interesting.

1. March 2, 2020 is Dr. Seuss’s birthday, he would have been 116 years old. CBC Books has complied a list of 60 facts you might not know about the children’s author. I especially like this one, “Seuss was voted “Least Likely to Succeed” by his classmates at Dartmouth.” And did you know he was a sculptor, check out some of his awesome art.

2. Haru Matsuri – spring festival at Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (J.C.C.C.) where I spent time this week enjoying performances of Jodo, Iaido, Kenjutsu, Japanese dance,

Sumie-é and a Chado tea ceremony. All making me believe that spring is just around the corner.

Another sure sign of spring- daylight savings time starts this Sunday, 3:00 AM remember spring ahead. We lose one hour, where did this ridiculous idea spring from, pun intended, it seems this is an energy saving initiative. I believe it is loosing steam and it’s only a matter of time until we Ontarian’s pull a Yukon.

3. I am preparing for the official book launch of Samba on a Snowy Day. You’re all invited, we have a limited amount of space though so make sure to reserve by going to Eventbrite to get your free ticket. Your way of assuring entrance for this fun party, featuring book reading meet and greet and even a Samba show, not the dog – dancers.

4. The Royal Ontario Museum is going to host a Winnie The Pooh exhibition just in time for spring break. A.A.Milne author of Winnie The Pooh, and E.H Shepard the illustrator. “Winnie-the Pooh brings to life the story behind the creative partnership of author A.A. Milne and illustrator E.H. Shepard. Finally, have your own Heritage Minute and find out how a black bear from White River, Ontario, inspired the honey-loving, yellow-furred bear of very little brain in this exhibition exclusively at the ROM”. I love this quote, borrowed from the ROM.

5. I’ve been listening to Branford Marsalis this week and it just so happens he is in town, a sold out show at Koerner Hall on Saturday. Who knows, I may get tickets to review the show as I did back in 2012. So far though that’s not happening. Marsalis and the quartet are in nearby Kingston at the Isabel Bader Theatre March 6th and tickets are available if you happen to be looking for some musical inspiration. The singer who has captivated me this week, Snoh Aalegra: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert a wonderful voice reminding me a little of Alicia Keys.

Don’t forget to check out my book promo, available only for another week. If you are searching for your next favourite story? Look no further! This group of bestselling authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books. Available for free, my book Samba on a Snowy Day is included.

Thanks for reading. If you like what you’ve read forward this to someone you think will enjoy it. Remember to check out my book, Samba on a Snowy Day available at your favourite book store. A fun children’s book for children to read to adults or the other way around. I hope to see you at my book launch where you’ll get to hear me read the book out loud. Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the weekly newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags A.A.Milne, Branford Marsalis, E.H. Shepard, Isabel Bader Theatre, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Latin Jazz Network, Paul J. Youngman, Royal Ontario Museum, Snoh Aalegra