Category Archives: music composition

Fair Trade

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Of all things,  “Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you. “  H. Jackson Brown, Jr. 

“Dulcinea, How I Love You!”  Remember that song from “The Man of La Mancha?” For almost 25 years I was fulfilling my love for musical theatre by ushering, voluntarily, at the Weston Playhouse www.westonplayhouse.org in charming Weston, Vermont. Over those years, “The Man of La Mancha” graced the stage once or twice and I was able to hear this memorable song sung live, by actors from the guild. My first introduction to “Dulcinea” was as a teen when I went to the Paper Mill Summer Theatre in Owings Mills, MD www.papermill.org  and saw the play there too.  Oh, how I adored it! 

I know you all are thinking I have lost my marbles.” How in the world did she get on this subject?” our readers must be asking.  I happened to open the Sunday paper and saw a story about the Dulcimer Shop in Mountain View, Arkansas.  For more information on this company and the history of this instrument, which produces exquisite, ethereal sounds, please visit http://www.mcspaddendulcimers.com.

It was the commonality of the root of the words, dulcinea and dulcimer, that triggered my recall of this memorable song. I’ve about worn out my favorite search engines, so I don’t dare inquire through those channels about the meaning of the root dulci. Next time I see, my friend Vesna, from Macedonia, I’ll ask her, she’ll know! She has her PhD, ABD, in linguistics and perhaps she can help me out. 

They say (whoever they is) you should write down what you want out of life, not just think about it. In this present moment, I would love someone to send me the name of an artist with beautiful rendition of “Dulcinea” being played on a dulcimer. It would be such a beautiful pairing of  instrument and song. Perhaps I could listen to a  little bit of heaven right here in my office, as I work.

Since I have been bemoaning the fact that I have neglected the independent recording artists on this website, I’d like to engage in a little fair trade.  For the first person, from anywhere in the world, to contact me through a kind blogsite comment,  with the name of a dulcimer-playing independent artist whose repertoire includes “Dulcinea,” I will write a blog on the  musician.

This could be alot of fun! I’ll let you know how it all turns out! “Dulcinea…….”

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Dwell in Possibility – Move Forward in Surety

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“We all have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do.” ~ Dale Carnegie

Yesterday, I had another opportunity to share with others my love and my passion for the independent (or non-traditional) publishing industry. I shared with the group that what began as my vision of providing stellar customer service for the internet sales of a single art book became a business of my own, dedicated to providing affordable e-commerce and e-marketing services for an industry of independent publishers. It has been from the beginning, my wish for independent publishers to be able to survive, as a sustainable industry, because I believe in the powers of independent thoughts, words and views that our country allows under it’s Constitution.

After the presentation, I began to think what an appropriate place to hold the event! In a library constructed with sustainable building materials and filled with the published works of writers, filmmakers and musicians who dared to step out and take a risk of telling their stories for the benefit of others. This is the basis from which many successful small businesses are formed. Successful business owners have passion, vision, belief and enduring energy that their product and service with be useful to others. And it is the customers and clients that endorse, sustain and support the dreams of the business owners that make them profitable. It truly is the American way.

Thanks to all who came, and I wish you the best in your journey of fulfilling your dreams in business and in publishing!  Thanks to the Bud Werner Library for providing a beautiful, light-filled space for those who gathered to learn more about what I see as a fascinating, fast growing, sustainable industry. www.steamboatlibrary.org.

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Using Stepping Stones

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“Being involved in the well-being and advancement of one’s own community is a most natural thing to do.” ~ Clarence Clemons

 Business people, non-profit organizations, companies selling products and services are not the only people who are jumping on the bandwagon to seize the opportunity to use independent publishing as a stepping stone for fulfillment and success. 

Columnist and book critic Cathy Beck was not to be stopped when dreams of having her manuscript acquired and released by a “publishing giant” were turned to dust. She focused her energies on independently publishing her manuscript “Cheap Cabernet” and marketed it inexhaustibly. The result? Success! She sprung open the doors of opportunity through entrepreneurial prowess and drove herself as an author to even greater heights than she dreamed. Please visit http://bit.ly/hE6FY4 to read her complete story of fulfillment. 

The moral of Cathy’s story:

  • Independent publishing opens doors to opportunity in unexpected ways.
  • Never give up
  • There are no problems, only solutions
  • Stepping stones often lead to bigger things

Cathy’s story is only one example of how the shifts in the publishing industry toward non-traditional publishing have brightened the outlook and led ordinary people to do extraordinary things through the power of books, films and music.

Let this be the year to begin to tell your story of success!

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A New Chapter

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“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting.”  ~ Buddha 

A New Year, a fresh start! Puts me in mind of a story I recently heard about truck driver, turned bounty hunter, turned Metropolitan Opera star. Do you know about the transformative life that Carl Tanner has created for himself by finally fulfilling his dream of becoming an opera singer? There are elements to this tale that movies are made of. It is a chronicle of coming out of the darkness and into the light. To read more about this inspiring story of fulfilling one’s aspirations in life, please visit http://nyti.ms/hc4hgc. 

Each and every one of us has a story of longings. The barriers we place upon our selves are the closed doors in our minds. In this New Year, I will be speaking with all sorts of folks who have dreams of propelling their businesses and their careers to new heights through the power of independent publishing and also through new, creative approaches to marketing themselves and their businesses through the internet. We can steer them in fulfilling  those dreams. 

A New Year is a time for new beginnings.  We can begin to fulfill our dreams as soon as we decide it is time to make the star, in us, more visible to others. What have you resolved to do this year to quench your yearnings and begin a new chapter in your life?

 

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