Category: Entertainment

February 24 . Issue # 151

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date February 24, 2023

Hello and welcome to my monthly journal, where I share 5 points of interest. Things that catch my eye, things that tantalize the senses or create joy and happiness.

This month an update on my new release, Samba in Switzerland , and my continuing adventures in Costa Rica. News on what I’m currently working on and more.

1. The new book Samba in Switzerland is live on Amazon and getting great reviews. They’re all great, but I particularly like this one:
“5 Stars – Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2023.
This book is great. The story is interesting, and the book as a whole is fun to read. The illustrations are very colorful, and they are so well done that the reader feels like they are actually taking part in the story. The inclusion of facts about Switzerland at the end allows the reader to learn even more about the setting of the book. Overall, an extremely cute book!”

2. I am in San Jose, Costa Rica. My next project, Entitled Dojo in the Woods, has been my main focus. My editor has gotten the copy-edited manuscript back to me. I’ve completed my revisions and am now formatting it into InDesign to make it into a middle-grade children’s book.

3. I enjoy the San Jose lifestyle when I’m not working. I’ve joined a karate club that runs out of a fitness studio, The Escazu Fitness Centre. The fitness club offers yoga, and I’ve participated in a few classes. The teacher is great. The karate teacher, Roberto sensei, is great as well.

4. Flamenco in San Jose. My partner, Ninetta, and I saw a flamenco show El Tablao Flamenco, at Casa De Espana. A great show with excellent food, Tapas, and delicious Sangria to drink. I wrote about the show, and hopefully, my report will get published, El Tablao Flamenco.

5. I’m going to the beach this morning, to Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park. A marine park. Hopefully, we can book a whale-watching tour and see a whale. I’ll report back in next month’s issue.

Thank you for reading; if you think someone you know would be interested in my newsletter, please pass it along.

All of my books are now available at your favorite bookstores; support local bookstores with your online purchases. Make sure you get out and about but do stay safe. Visit a book store, or the library and pick up some books. If you’re looking for a great early reader chapter book get my book Scratchy the Squirrel: A Time for Friends. Or one of my picture books, Samba in Switzerland, Samba on a Snowy Day or Samba in Brazil.

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

Art Entertainment Music

July 30 . Issue #102

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date July 30, 2021

“The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.”
― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

Hello all and welcome to my weekly journal. A place to discover something new, something interesting or even something a little different.

1. This week I tried something a little different, a kundalini yoga class. I have done yoga before but have never experienced this style. The session took place at Toronto’s Harborfront close to the music garden, a stone’s throw from Lake Ontario.

2. I appreciate art in all its varied formats. This week seemed to be all about bikes. On a late evening stroll through the park close to my Toronto home, a group of 20 bicyclists rolled by and took a twenty-minute rest stop in the basketball court.

The members of the group ‘Toronto Cyclers’ had decorated their bikes with colourful lights and some members had mounted speakers and I was sure I heard “Life is a Highway” among other catchy tunes, like Billy Gibbons, “Hot Rods”.

The next day I was at a Lowes lumber store in the neighbourhood and saw the featured photo. This head-turning piece of artwork on wheels. The owner of this masterpiece, Eric, told me he entered his custom bike in some shows and that he has placed well.

3. Speaking of Billy Gibbons, that brings me to ZZ Top. I recently watched the documentary; ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas.

RIP – Dusty Hill – July 27, 2021. Thank you for the music maestro…

4. My new book about a squirrel and a bee is soon to be a reality. You know it’s going to happen when you put together an Illustrator/Author agreement.

We, illustrator Joshua Miller and me have a schedule, some draft illustrations, a completed manuscript and good faith that we can get this done by November 2021.

5. I mentioned that I was at Lowes this week, I was picking up lights for a house I’m renovating. Well, during the renovation plenty of cleaning and removing of accumulated stuff.

Years of stuff, that has no good use. We found plenty of stuff with life left in it and this was donated to Goodwill. Two van loads of recyclable stuff that Goodwill seemed happy to take.

In the removal of books from all over the house, I found an interesting book, The Nickolaus Technique-What it Takes to Feel Good, by Benno Isaacs and Jay Kobler. And that is what I am reading in my spare time. Mostly at night. Then I steal some ideas and incorporate them into our park training.

Thank you for reading. If you think someone you know would enjoy my newsletter please share it with them. If you are looking for a great children’s book check out my new book, Samba in Brazil; Paperback version, on sale for a limited time.

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.

Creativity Entertainment Writing

April 30 . Issue #88

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date April 30, 2021

“circles of trust — are a rare form of community –
one that supports rather than supplants the individual quest for integrity – that is rooted in two basic beliefs.
First, we all have an inner teacher whose guidance is more reliable than anything we can get from a doctrine, ideology, collective belief system, institution, or leader.
Second, we all need other people to invite, amplify, and help us discern the inner teacher’s voice.”
– Parker Palmer –

Hello all and welcome. This week I share with you some great music, my take on the Oscars, the movies worth watching and more…

1. The Oscars; the 93rd annual Academy Awards happened on Sunday and it made history. Some notable firsts included the first all-Black producing team nominated for best picture. The first time two actors of Asian descent got the nod for best actor and the first year two woman were nominated for best director. For all the details: read about it at Oscar Central.

2. The above quote from Parker Palmer resonates with me. I have listened to his podcast and like what I hear, An Undivided Life.

3. My children’s creative writing workshop went well. There were about twenty-five children and they were super engaged. I had them creating characters, settings, themes and plots. The children came up with some fantastic ideas.

I came up with a couple of ideas for stories. Combining my reading of the Samurai and the Dragon King and the inspirational comments from the kids. My next book is in my head, with some key points on my notepad.

My next workshop, May 6th, 4:30 – 5:30 P.M put on by East Gwillimbury Public Library.

This workshop will give children an opportunity to come up with some ideas for their own stories and they can submit them to the library as part of the EGPL annual Write On, 2021 – competition.

The workshop is open to all children between the ages of 7 – 12. Email: sharrison@egpl.ca to register.

4. What I was watching this week, more of Oscar winner Francis McDormand – no, not Nomadland — Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It is a movie I had not seen and McDormand shines.

I was thrilled about the animated film from Pixar, Soul– a winning film; three Oscars, best film, best sound and best music. Yea, for my man Jon Batiste for the excellent music.

5. I have completed my marketing course, Starting From Zero by David Gaughran. I recommend the course as it gives you some good ideas, insights and techniques to help you sell more books. I used the information in the course to set up my first Facebook ad for one of my books.

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.

Tags David Gaughran, EGPL, Francis McDormand, Jon Batiste