Tag: Toronto Music Report

Newsletter 41

Newsletter 41

Hello all. Welcome! I want to share with you 5 things that interested me this week and might bring you some revelation, and perhaps even enjoyment.

1. This week Toronto announced an initiative that fast tracks the building of modular housing for homeless people. The COVID-19 Pandemic has hit the homeless hard. Well done city of Toronto. The city of Vancouver B.C started the modular trend back in 2019. I took a virtual tour of Naomi Place one of the facilities Toronto has modelled their initiative on.

2. When COVID-19 began in mid-March and Ontario started cancellations, I took in a live show. Chieko Kojima and Ten Ten by Nagata Shachu Japanese Taiko and Music Group, I had not planned to write about it, but I did. I put together a report on the show using my pen name and it has now been published in Toronto Music Report.

The group Chieko Kojima and Ten Ten has kindly shared their performance on line and this week I had the pleasure of revisiting their fantastic performance.

3. As one of my American friends put it; from hoarding toilet paper to civil war in 3 months. Any suggestions from my Canadian friends? After my 21 second pause, I would just like to point out that this is a very good reason why everyone should get out and vote — in all the elections.

Reading Helps

Reading is helpful and so very important, from Eula Biss who puts it well in her New York Times featured article “White Debt” to this excellent resource on how to be an ally. Six things you can do to be a stronger ally.

4. Eye candy for this week has been the stimulating art of Degas, The Dancers, and watching ballet that is reminiscent of these troubling times. Revelations by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

The Ailey All Access site gives you permission to watch special performances for free. I took in the Robert Battle’s “The Hunt”.

5. This week I have been reading George Selden and his wonderful, award-winning book The Cricket in Times Square. This is a book for all ages, although it was written for children age 6 – 9. The illustrations by Garth Williams are fantastic.

Over the last few months, I have been working on a young adult book, for ages 9 to 90. The young characters I have created are training deep in the woods. They train in martial arts and are guided by a bear of a teacher who pushes them to the maximum. After class, the students listen to stories that high light martial arts virtue.

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.

Please consider a contribution to our next book project by buying me a coffee, swing by Ko-fi.com. Every coffee really helps out during these times.

Don’t forget to check out my youtube channel. Get my weekly newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags Paul J. Youngman, Toronto Music Report

Books Free E-Book illustrators New Year Reading

Newsletter 19

Newsletter 20/20

My first newsletter this year and I am offering you all a free gift. Happy New Year! In this weeks newsletter I let you know about five things that interested me and I thought may be of interest to you too.

1. Happy New Year to all, 2020 – and my prediction, I see a free E-Book in your Epiphany stocking. A book for the children in all of us, my book, Samba on a Snowy Day for you, or for your children. I have joined a group of children’s book authors and we are sharing our books. Follow the link Children’s Books Give Away and get my book, it’s yours – as simple as that.

2. I was asked to recommend books as a part of my author platform at BookBub. My recommended books, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) The Cat in the Hat and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. I shared my recommendations on my social media Facebook page. In this day and age of algorithms wouldn’t you know that by the next day I had this popping up on my Facebook page.

The algorithm worked I found out something that actually interested me and off I went to the Liss Gallery to check out the exhibit, the cat behind the hat. As a keepsake I picked up this beautiful coffee table book The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss. The exhibit at the Liss Gallery is excellent and I highly recommend it.

3. New years and resolutions, I’m sure the gyms and fitness places will be filling up with folks jumping on the resolution band wagon. Nothing wrong with that and I wish all those folks well. Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something. Goal: the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result. I have decided that for year 2020 I will be setting goals, there is a difference. Resolution is so final. I resolve to quit smoking by such and such a time. This resolution plan almost never works, you have set the bar too high. When you don’t reach your desired goal you get frustrated and likely give up. At least that’s what happened to me all those years ago when I tried to quit smoking. This year I have set goals in specific areas of my life. A financial goal, a health and wellness goal, a relationship goal, a spiritual goal and a personal goal.

4. My favourite moments of 2019, finding a new dojo to practice and teach at, Shingikan Dojo. Connecting with old and new friends and spending quality time with family. Time spent surrounded by nature, up north in Gravenhurst, living off the land, exploring and swimming everyday. Continuing to pursue my dreams of writing and teaching martial arts and last but certainly not least, being with the one I love, Nina; Wife, partner, mother of our children and my best friend.

5. On the topic of love, I have been entertained recently by a show on Primevideo – Modern Love, it is an excellent show. I have only viewed the first three episodes, great story lines and wonderful acting in each of the episodes. And for your listening pleasure a little Wayne Shorter, Emanon. Wayne Shorter is one of my favourite musicians and someone whose performance I have been fortunate to have witnessed. I have also written about his performances on a couple of occasions under my pen name Paul J. Youngman, check out my take on his Toronto performance at Toronto Music Report.

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. Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the weekly newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags Dr. Suess, Emanon, Gravenhurst, Liss Gallery, Modern Love, Paul J. Youngman, Shingikan Dojo, Toronto Music Report, Wayne Shorter

Book Publishing

Newsletter 16

Hello all!

Some things that interested me this week, and I hope will be of interest to you too.

Here are my five items, links or suggestions that should get you some inspiration and information.

This week has been all about publishing a book. I have gained plenty of experience in the publishing process and I am really happy that I listened to the advice of my friends who recommended professionals when self publishing. Getting the best editor, Jennifer D. Foster – Life on Planet Word and the best design team, Kim McDougall – Castelane Inc. really made the process much simpler for me. The completed book files are with the printer. In this day and age of print on demand, it is just a matter of time as the printer reviews the files to insure the book will print properly. I have requested a paperback and a hardcover copy. Samba on a Snowy Day, in print and premium colour, is one step closer to a reality. Yeah!
This is my 16th newsletter. For 16 weeks, four months, yes — a third of a year, I have been posting 5 things that have been of interest to me. Things that have peaked my interest — by way of music, art, literature, nature or activities for the whole family. Hopefully a small bit of inspiration for you too in this world that is so full of wonder and beauty.

3. Time magazine has announced the person of the year and I am very happy that they chose Greta Thunberg. She has done some incredible things, she has not only helped to mobilize youth, she has given the whole world a shake. The young are powerful and it is the youth who are the people with the most to lose. What kind of planet are we leaving for them?

4. Everyone seems to be putting out their end of year lists, I have one as well. I have witnessed many musical offerings and this is a list of my five favourite concerts of the year. They are not listed in order of enjoyment, they are completely random: Red Hot Samba Party and Dandha da Hora, Cecile McLorin Salvant and Sulivan Fortner, Figueirido & Valdes, Youn Sun Nah Trio and one of the very best, Mark Kelso and the Jazz Exiles.

5. My daughter Nadia has started down a new path, she has created, with her business partner, a joint venture – “Rise Wellness Collective Canada” . They are hosting a workshop for women and I anticipate it will be a success judging by the opening statement for the workshop that makes me want to get involved. “A workshop where you will be guided to set intentions that help you to connect with living out your joy.” Beautiful!

Thanks for reading. If you like what you’ve read forward this to someone you think will enjoy it. Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags Cecile McLorin Salvant, Dandha da Hora, Diego Figueirido, Greta Thunberg, Jennifer D. Foster, Kim McDougall, Mark Kelso, Toronto Music Report, Youn Sun Nah Trio