TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is excited to introduce to all our readers an historic novelist from Canada whose writing ability presents a new approach on historic fiction. Graham Clews originated from York, England and brings his own memories of that land brilliantly into his novels. Graham, tell us of your early childhood there and of your family’s move to Canada.

GC- I was very fortunate when my parents moved to Canada in 1956.  This was time when Canada was experiencing its postwar boom, and Britain was still struggling with an unstable economy (1956 also saw the Hungarian revolution, and the Suez crisis).  For my parents the move was one of economics, as management and labour unions slowly adjusted to a new balance of power— not always peacefully, and not always for the best.  For a tradesman—my father was a blacksmith turned auto body man—the opportunities were far greater in North America.

To a thirteen year old boy, however, emigrating to Canada was the greatest adventure of his life.  It was also a move that brought with it a complete contrast of cultures:  the fresh, wide-eyed sense of a young and rapidly growing country, Canada; and the more staid, history-filled memories of the ancient City of York.  And while considering the move to Canada as being one of the most fortuitous events of my life, being born and raised in York in the earlier part of it was yet another one.  Those thirteen years instilled more than just an appreciation of the rich history of the old city, they also fired the imagination with the drama of what had happened to the people who lived there over the past two thousand years. (more…)

TAEM- The literary field is vast and has many facets to it. One such area has to do with wellness and empowerment which has become a recent phenomenon. The Arts and Entertainment Magazine has decided to explore this book genre and the name of author Jillian Bullock had immediately popped up. Jillian your writing career has spanned several decades, and you are a freelance writer who was a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Tell us about your career here and your choice to develop into the world of freelance writing.

JB- Freelance writing gives me the freedom to write about issues I care about, i.e., health, fitness, women’s issues, self-defense, martial arts and boxing. When I was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal I only wrote about business, which wasn’t where my love was, but it definitely helped me become a great writer. I had to focus on deadlines and interviewing skills, and of course grammar, AP Style of writing, and much more. I also had to do extensive research on the person or company I was covering for a story. These wonderful skills carried over to freelance work. I write for various on-line publications including, Flourish Over 50, Divine Caroline, TheMMAZone.con, ProMMANow.com, and others. I also have two of my own blogs – fightingspiritwarriors.net and hereistandthebook.com. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazines revels in the music entertainment field and we are thrilled to present a top recording artist, Woodson Michel, to all of our readers. Woodson, how did you start down the road in your musical career, and what training did you receive for it?

WM- I started I guess by hanging around my boy Marc Celestin Jr. and some other friends that where musicians and, honestly, that I guess is when I started falling for music. From then on I recall senior year I was working with some other friends. (Marc Celestin & Jordan Scott)  The training I got at first was being around musicians and seeing how they work. Second was me being around my other friends whom where writers and seeing how they formulate they’re words. Third training was me saving enough money for 1 month of vocal training (too expensive but back then I had the biggest crush on the teacher)

TAEM- When did you first play before an audience and tell us about that first event for you?

WM- The first time I played in front of an audience was with my group “lowkey” It was scary at first, nerves and tension and all that but as soon after we hit the harmony at it was easy. I guess I was over thinking it.  Your first performances always stay with you. (more…)