Virtual Everything Archives

“There is more to life than increasing its speed.”
– Gandhi –

Hello all, welcome to my weekly journal. This week I share with you music, my new books, writers conferences and more…

1. Working on the marketing side of my books, a new release means lots of extra work uploading the book to the sites that will sell it. There is also the marketing side, setting up promotions and doing some advertising. The newest arrival is Samba no Brasil and it’s on sale at Amazon.com for a limited time.

2. Listening to Madison McFerrin this week and all the McFerrin family including Robert McFerrin Sr.

I was notified of a live podcast featuring Madison McFerrin, I checked it out, she is the daughter of Bobby McFerrin. And she carries on a legacy of vocalizing and does it extremely well. During the podcast, reference was made to a performance of her father’s before she was born. It was in 1986 at the Bratislava Jazz Festival.

A solo performance of Chick Corea’s “Spain” was performed by Bobby McFerrin. An outstanding performance.

3. This week the writer’s group I belong to, WCYR is hosting a writer’s conference. This will be my first writer’s conference. It’s a virtual conference, I wish it was an in-person conference. Hopefully, I come away with tons of great information.

I am also registered for my second Yorkshire Festival of Story, I enjoyed the first one and I came away with a wealth of knowledge in the art of telling a story.

4. What I am watching, well this week I watched the final episode of one of my favorite TV shows, Atypical. The show ran 4 seasons, Created by Robia Rashid. With Jennifer Jason Leigh, Keir Gilchrist, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Michael Rapaport. The show focuses on the life of Sam, an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum.

5. Have a look at Chapter 1: Meet Scratchy, from my forthcoming book Scratchy the Squirrel – A Time For Friends, with fantastic illustrations by Joshua Miller. Due out sometime in late November or early December 2021.

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. And the Portuguese version, Samba no Brasil, 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.

“If you build it, he will come.” W.P. Kinsella (1935 – 2016)

Welcome to my Weekly Journal

This weeks 5 things that interested me and I thought might interest you.

1. When we set out to do something and the magic happens; everything magically comes together. Do you get that feeling? Intention! I felt that way this week. This month, I set out to complete my middle-grade novel. I completed the rough draft on Sunday. Thanks to my writing group, “Word by Word” and NaNoWriMo for the motivation.

2. Art Gallery expositions. Where would you like to visit? Gallery hopping to New York; yes, I miss my annual visits to the Big Apple.

This year it seems everything is virtual. A first for many, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. I am looking forward to Alvin Ailey’s Virtual Season.

3. One show I get a kick out of, “Somebody Feed Phil“. On a new episode, Phil finds himself in San Francisco. I learned some interesting facts about this city. A city that I had planned to visit this year. The earthquake and devastating fire of 1906. The rebuilding of San Francisco by A.P. Giannini, an Italian immigrant and the founder of The Bank of America.

The quote above is from “Field of Dreams” a film based on a book by W.P Kinsella, entitled Shoeless Joe.

4. The Kindle Creative writing workshop for children that I host will be finishing up this week. I created a short story from the prompts and examples that I used. A fun story about a Howler Monkey and his friend, who decide to have a celebration.

5. My listening pleasure, remembering the composer, Johnny Mandel on his birthday November 23rd. A Time For Love.

Children’s Books Holiday Sale: Get my e-book for a limited time at a fantastic price. There are some great deals here from some award-winning children’s authors.

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, check out my book, Samba on a Snowy Day.

The paperback version of Samba on a Snowy Day is now available in all York Region Chapters-Indigo stores. Pick up your copy before the Christmas rush.

Please consider a contribution to our next book project; scheduled for February of 2021. You can contribute by buying me a coffee, just swing by Ko-fi.com. You know I appreciate my coffee and in these crazy times every coffee really helps out.

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