Category: Martial Arts

May 26 . Issue #155

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date May 26, 2023

Hello all, and welcome to my monthly journal. This is a place for me to share 5 points of interest. This month’s journal includes book festivals, love festivals and artisan markets, book promotions, and more …

1. My promotion for Samba on a Snowy Day, book 1 in the Samba Dog series, has ended. Thank you to all of you for checking out my book and for downloading it. If you liked the book and can leave an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads, that would be most helpful.

I have been writing reports/reviews on shows that I have enjoyed seeing. My most recent was published in That Canadian Magazine under my pseudonym, Paul J. Youngman.

Look at my page, “Writing a Review,” for how to prepare a review if in doubt.

2. Regarding promotions, my new children’s book in the Samba Dog series, Samba in Switzerland, is part of an Amazon Kindle Countdown Deal.

Starting May 24th, the ebook price will be set at $1.99 and run until May 27th, 8:00 AM. The price increases to $2.99 and will run until May 31st, 8:00 AM reverting back to $4.99 after that time.

3. If you are out and about in June, stop into the Newmarket Farmers Market, the WCYR – The Bookshelf is hosting a book festival on June 10th. I will be there with all my books, which are on sale. They will sell for 10% less than online or at your local bookstores.

The next book festival for me, Sunday, June 11th, much more than that actually, is the The New Earth Village Love Festival and Artisan Market, it’s up north Loretto way. Featuring a reading by me of my new book, Samba in Switzerland, all my books will be on sale. There will be a drum circle, some Tai Chi, and a guest appearance by musical maestro Chris Assad and much more. Hope to see you there too.

4. Have you seen these little libraries on residential streets? They’re all the rage in Toronto. Well, I have found some great books in them. My most recent, Blacklist by author Sara Paretsky, is my evening read.

As a way of paying it forward, I have been leaving my book Scratchy the Squirrel: A Time for Friends in the libraries close to where I’m staying when I am in Toronto.

5. I love teaching kids and learning from them. It’s the reason I started writing children’s books. When I returned from Costa Rica this spring, I stopped in at one of my old training grounds, Dynamic Martial Arts. Paul sensei, the head instructor, allowed me to teach the kid’s class.

I enjoyed it so much that I asked if we could make it monthly. So, now it is, and I look forward to my once-a-month visit to Dynamic Martial Arts to share my passion with the students. The featured photo is of one of the students. Photo credit, by Daniela sensei.

Thank you for reading, and if you know someone who would like to read my journal, please share it with others. 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, enjoy the beautiful days. Visit an artisan market, a farmers market or a book festival. If you’re looking for a great early reader chapter book get my book Scratchy the Squirrel: A Time for Friends. For the younger ones, my picture books are perfect, Samba in Switzerland, Samba on a Snowy Day or Samba in Brazil.

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

Tags Amazon, Dynamic Martial Arts, Goodreads, New Earth Village, That Canadian Magazine, WCYR - The Book Shelf

Martial Arts Music Reading

December 31 . Issue #124

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date December 31, 2021

Hello all and welcome to my weekly journal. This week I share with you a karate master, music from home, books and more…

1. Goodbye, 2021, hello 2022; this is my last newsletter for 2021. I must admit I feel accomplished: I managed to put out a weekly journal, as in I actually got it done every week for a complete year. Bravo!

I also published one new book Samba in Brazil and I had Samba on a Snowy Day and Samba in Brazil translated to Brazilian/Portuguese and I published those two books with their new names, Samba em um Dia de Neve and Samba no Brasil.

Let’s hope that 2022 brings with it health, peace, love and prosperity for one and all.

2. I found myself immersed in the world of Steve Ubl sensei this week. I searched out all of the videos I could find online featuring him at karate seminars. Ubl sensei teaching a couple of kids, Basai Dai kata, nice.

I’ve had many chances to train with Ubl sensei but have never managed to actually attend any of his seminars. Hopefully one of these days I will be able to train with him.

I was invited to train with Ubl sensei at this last seminar in San Diego but could not get away from my previous commitments. Some of my friends wrote about their experience at this training session for the Shotokan Karate Magazine, ‘A Karate Adventure‘.

3. My ear candy this week was all about NPR and their Tiny Desk at Home concerts. I especially enjoyed, Michael Kiwanuka.

A short solo performance, just Kiwanuka on guitar for a few songs and on keys for one of the tunes, “Solid Ground”. Another great performance was from the tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia and her dynamic band of keys, bass, drums and backing vocals.

As the Tiny Desk folks mention this is a first in their history of at home concerts as the band is performing from a boat. Check out the swinging plant above the keyboardist’s head.

My final concert was the uplifting Dua Lipa.

4. This week I celebrated Christmas with my immediate family, we had some wonderful meals and some good times. We had great fun watching my granddaughter open up presents and explore new and exciting experiences. There is so much that is new when you’re three years old.

This was the year of books, I gave books as presents and I received lots of books that I will be reading well into the new year.

5. The folks at Awesome Gang Books interviewed me and last week I shared their site and the week’s interviews, that included a few other authors. My individual interview link is posted here.

I ordered a book online, a couple of weeks ago, as a family gift, a present for my partner and I – Benvenuti a Casa Pappagallo – an Italian cookbook. I received it yesterday and I can’t wait to start making some fantastic meals.

Thanks for reading. I am wishing you all the very best for the holidays and have a super safe and happy New Year.

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

Art Creativity Karate kids Martial Arts Reading

February 26 . Issue #79

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date February 26, 2021

“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.”

Salvador Dali (11 May 1904 – 23 January 1989)

Hello all and welcome; in this weeks newsletter, surrealists, antiques, karate and more …

1. Dali is one of my favourite surrealist artists and one of his most popular paintings is his rendition of the last supper. This article from artnet.com reveals some interesting details on his design technique.

For more Dali, you can visit The Dali Theatre-Museum, take a virtual tour. I found it fascinating.

M.C. Escher is another favourite surrealist artist of mine. The featured painting or in this case print hangs in my recreation room, home-dojo. A gift from a close friend.

2. I taught karate all this week, 4 different children’s classes and about 3 hours each day. Great fun, good exercise and a chance to do something different for a change.

How martial arts, especially karate, can improve your child’s life according to this report in Psychology Today Magazine.

Wednesday, February 24th is Pink Shirt Day and I did my part to help with anti-bullying during my karate class. The dojo-kun is a good start.

3. Press releases, advertising campaigns, virtual book tours, book readings and promoting my new books. Books, yes I have two new books that I released this month. Samba in Brazil and a translated version of Samba on a Snowy Day entitled Samba em um Dia de Neve.

4. Have you noticed antiques are not what they once were. It used to be solid wood, old furniture, could hold its original value.

My partner Nina and I have put our dining room suite up for sale. Some folks are giving them away. The age of downsizing.

We have relocated temporarily to Toronto. Now we are walking the beltline and it is a new extraordinary experience.

5. My reading this week a couple of children’s book. Great fun! More Harry Potter and something new. Milo and Cat, Right Before Sleep by Miro Tartan.

Thank you for reading. If you think someone would enjoy the newsletter please share it with them.

If you are looking for a fun children’s book check out one of my books. Samba on a Snowy Day, Samba em um Dia de Neve or my new book, Samba in Brazil.

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

Tags Pink Shirt Day, Psychology Today, Surrealists