Gruber Media - Author, Writing Coach, Consultant
  • Home
  • Books
  • Writing Coaching
  • The Vision Project
  • About Brian
  • Blog
  • Contact
Home
Books
Writing Coaching
The Vision Project
About Brian
Blog
Contact
Gruber Media - Author, Writing Coach, Consultant
  • Home
  • Books
  • Writing Coaching
  • The Vision Project
  • About Brian
  • Blog
  • Contact
Write Night•Writers of Koh Phangan

Writers of Koh Phangan Holds Final Write Night of Series

June 14, 2021 by briangruber No Comments

Tuesday night at 7:30pm Bangkok Time, we do our final Write Night of the current series. Then, we go on hiatus as we rethink our current slate of programs and roll out new initiatives (interested in writing with a wine and chocolate sampler overlooking the beach?).

Also, our dear Sarah Seymour is leaving the island so we will see what happens with the current “Rise & Write” Wednesday morning writer meetups. In recent months, we went to Kali, Footprints, and other local cafes to write, meet, and connect. 

Here is the posting for our last Write Night of the series. 

 

Writers and storytellers of any and all skill levels gather regularly to learn, write, share, and meet fellow travelers.
 
All Writers of Koh Phangan events are free. We share some social time, watch a master class video from a famous author about one aspect of the writing process, discuss our experiences and perspectives, then write stories using what we’ve learned.
 
Then, if you’re bold, share your story with the group.
 
FINAL WRITE NIGHT OF THE CURRENT SERIES:
 
June 15: Exploring Taboo and Darkness
Joyce Carol Oates on committing to what you want to write; and how to break your craft out of your comfort zone.
Non-native English speakers especially welcome (frequently half the group). We start on time, and end by 9:30.
 
Join our 600-strong Facebook group for event news, tips and new writing from members.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/writersofkohphangan
 
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89121534627
Share:
Reading time: 1 min
Books•Coaching•Writers of Koh Phangan•Writing Coaching

Writing Client Satyama Ratna Lasby Launches “The Tao of Tantric Yoga” at Phangan Event

May 26, 2021 by briangruber No Comments
I’m privileged to co-host a conversation with writing client Satyama Ratna Lasby launching her book, freshly published on the Amazon platform. Below is the invite.
———-
 
Join us for a celebration of LOVE this Wednesday, May 26th from 3-7pm at Buddha Cafe for the book launch of Satyama’s new release:
 
“The Tao of Tantric Yoga”
 
We are happy to invite the community of Koh Phangan to drop in with great consciousness for on-the-spot tantric exercises to go with the theme of the book and for a visit.
 
You are also invited for
? snacks,
? a raffle
? a reading by the author, some background of the process on KPG.
? a special invitation to a Tantric Yoga masterclass with Satyama will be given to those attending the book launch, so you can experience this style of yoga, her teachings, and get a glimpse into some of the topics she introduces in the book.
? to purchase the book in paperback form signed for 500THB
 
Entrance: 200THB
 
Buy the eBook on the following link:
https://www.amazon.ca/Tao…/dp/B094H2386Y/ref=sr_1_1…
 
And join the FB group: Open to Bliss for those who like to be happy, do yoga meditate and love.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/opentobliss
Share:
Reading time: 1 min
Writers of Koh Phangan

Write Night Resumes: May, June Session Topics Set

vt
May 6, 2021 by briangruber No Comments
Write Night returned from hiatus last night with an evening of learning, writing, and sharing. Novelist Walter Mosley was the featured Master Class video presenter, and the importance of vivid, descriptive language was the subject.
 
Bangkok-based journalist, author, and publisher Tom Vater (pictured here) expounded on the subject after the video, followed by group discussion. 

Here are the next Write Night subjects for our Tuesday night, 7:30pm Indochina Time events on May 18, June 1, June 15, and June 29. 

Finding the Time to Write

David Baldacci on how to become a writer while holding down a separate job. How to plan a text.

The Elements of Story

Dan Brown on how to build a story; the use of conflict as a basic plot element.

Intrigue your Reader

James Patterson on creating scenarios that pull your readers along.  

Exploring Taboo and Darkness

Joyce Carol Oates on committing to what you want to write about; and how to break your craft out of your comfort zone.

All levels of writing welcome. As Walter points out in his video, we are all writers and storytellers. All Writers of Koh Phangan events are free, non-native English speakers welcome, and sharing is optional. Join our 600-member group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/writersofkohphangan
 
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89121534627
Share:
Reading time: 1 min
Billy Cobham•Books

WGBH Boston Jazz Critic Picks “Six Days at Ronnie Scott’s” As One of Year’s Best Jazz Books

by briangruber No Comments

Missed this one.

Tessil Collins, Managing Producer of Jazz 24/7 from WGBH Boston, one of the most respected jazz shows in the United States on perhaps the country’s leading producer of original music content, selected by “Six Days at Ronnie Scott’s” as one of the best jazz books of the year. Here is the complete list, quite an honor roll of the country’s top jazz authors and journalists. 

Tessil Collins


    • Jazz and Justice: Racism and the Political Economy of the Music by Gerald Horne Monthly Review Press (April 22, 2019)
    • Arthur Elgort: Jazz by Marianne Houtenbos Damiani (September 25, 2018)
    • Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon by Maxine Gordon University of California Press (November 6, 2018)
    • Why Jazz Happened by Marc Myers University of California Press (February 26, 2019)
    • The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire by Ted Gioia Oxford University Press (July 6, 2012)
    • Jazz/Not Jazz—The Music and It’s Boundaries by David Ake, Charles Hiroshi Garrett and Daniel GoldmarkUniversity of California Press (2012)
    • Diggin’—The Afro-American Soul of American Classical Music by Amiri Baraka University of California Press (2009)
    • Definitive Jazz & Blues Encyclopedia: New & Expanded Edition by Jeff Watts, Howard Mandel Flame Tree Publishing (March 15, 2019)
    • How to Listen to Jazz by Ted Gioia Basic Books (May 17, 2016)
    • The Jazz Pictures by Stanley Crouch and Carol Friedman Arena Editions (1999)
    • Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday by Angela Y. Davis Vintage (January 26, 1999)
    • The History of Jazz by Ted Gioia Oxford University Press (May 9, 2011)
    • Miles by Miles Davis Simon & Schuster (September 20, 2011)
    • Concise Guide to Jazz (7th Edition) by Mark C. Gridley Pearson(January 6, 2013)
    • Jazz: An Introduction to the History and Legends Behind America’s Music by Bob Blumenthal Harper Perennial (December 18, 2007)
    • Six Days at Ronnie Scott’s: Billy Cobham on Jazz Fusion and the Act of Creation by Brian K. Gruber CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 28, 2018)
Share:
Reading time: 1 min
Koh Phangan

CNN Does a Feature on My Home Koh Phangan (I’m Quoted)

March 30, 2021 by briangruber No Comments

CNN’s Bangkok-based Hunter Forgan did a thoughtful long-form piece on the economic and social prospects for my home island of Koh Phangan, Thailand this week. He and photographer Aidan Dockery stopped by my house for an extended afternoon feed. My dear Supansa Boonmatum whipped up a feast, which Hunter said was the best Thai meal he had had for weeks. Of course it was. 

Here is an excerpt, with my short quote. 

 

“There’s Far More to Koh Phangan than the party”
 
While a “same, same, but just slightly different” attitude appears to prevail (for now at least) in Haad Rin, Koh Phangan as a whole has witnessed a more nuanced evolution in recent times.
 
The party has, in the past, tended to define the entire island, with many regarding it as a feral wild child, especially in comparison with more polished Thai tourist destinations like Phuket or Koh Samui.
 
A blissed-out counter-culture-friendly vibe remains. But the island has broadened its appeal beyond backpackers to attract high net worth holidaymakers, families, yogis attracted by a vibrant wellness community centered on the village of Sri Thanu, digital entrepreneurs and Bangkokians seeking refuge from city life.
 
“The image of the island presented by the Full Moon Party is potent,” admits island-based author and writing coach Brian Gruber, one of the administrators of the Koh Phangan Conscious Community Facebook page, an online hub for island-relevant events, information and discussion with over 50,000 active members.
 
“But I think that the message that there’s far more to Koh Phangan than the party has been filtering through for a while.”
 
The economic pain caused by the pandemic has, of course, been acute for many people. But in some ways, Koh Phangan appears to be not just surviving but thriving.
 
 
Hunter promises to pick up my bar tab next time I am in Bangkok. 
Share:
Reading time: 1 min
Koh Phangan•Phangan Forum

First PHANGAN Forum Event Slated for Earth Day, April 22 at Jaran’s

by briangruber No Comments

I launched Koh Phangan’s public forum Phangan Forum in February after getting 500 responses to a post.  On Earth Day, 22 April, 2021, we will hold our first program, a 3-hour event at Jaran’s.

We will use the TED format, all talks under 18 minutes, focused on one brilliant idea, artfully presented. A license application to TED for a TEDxKoh Phangan event in July is pending. 

The theme of the event is focused on Koh Phangan’s ecological future:

How do we help keep our gorgeous island protected, pristine, and unpolluted? What are the rich eco-initiatives deserving attention and support? How do we live a life contributing to rather than despoiling Phangan’s natural beauty? Who are the eco-heroes doing the work, and how might we participate?

For more on Phangan Forum, go to our Facebook page, 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/phanganforum

Share:
Reading time: 1 min
Books•Surmountable

My Article in YouTango on the History of Women’s Protest Movements

March 16, 2021 by briangruber No Comments

YouTango, a popular website focused on women’s issues and interests, solicited and published my article on Ashli Babbitt and the history of women’s protest movements. Here is an excerpt, with the full article available here.

“Why History Will Not Look Kindly Upon Ashli Babbit & The Women Of The Insurrection”

The images of Ashli Babbitt’s violent death shocked the nation. Owner of a San Diego pool supply company, she led a crowd of rioters to the Speaker’s Lobby of the United States Capitol on January 6, in snow boots, sporting a Trump flag as a cape. She was shot dead by a Capitol police officer as she tried to intervene in the congressional validation of the 2020 presidential election. 

The crowd of protesters, invited to D.C. and directed to the Capitol by the President of the United States, was heavily male, adding a poignant, unsettling dimension to the scene. A suburban businesswoman, traveling from California to the people’s House, shot by a government agent during an act of political expression. 

What to make of Ms. Babbitt? Women have been in the vanguard of social and political change since the country’s founding. Was Babbitt a model of political protest, laying her body on the line for truth, justice, and the American Way? And how, after all, do we choose our battles, ensure that we achieve what we pursue, and evaluate success?  

FOR MORE, click here. 

Share:
Reading time: 1 min
Billy Cobham•Books

Glyn Phillips of UK Vibe Reviews “Six Days”

March 9, 2021 by briangruber No Comments

An astounding and quite generous review from the esteemed UK Vibe. I had a nice chat with reviewer Glyn Phillips today, thanking him for the review. Here are some excerpts. Please do check out UK Vibe and the full review here. 

The review of this book has given me problems like no other. Not from a dearth of things to say, but a very surfeit of them. I wanted to deliver a well-structured review with a natural flow and a coherent overview. However, just like it’s subject matter the style and structure of this book is like no other. But, after all, we are talking about the long musical life and successful career of the living legend that is Billy Cobham here – and if you think you know everything there is to know about him then think again, because this book will almost certainly make you reappraise it all.

… it is rich in anecdotes, colour and insight and is a real labour of love.

The first thing to say is that if you’re a fan of Billy Cobham, then you must read this book. If you’re a fan of jazz and/or jazz-rock, jazz-funk, fusion, Latin or any of the myriad popular forms that Billy Cobham has performed in over the last 60 odd years, then you’ll find masses of first-hand anecdotes and observations to pique your interest within this book. If you’re a drummer of whatever persuasion, you’ll get a lot out of it too – the sub-title might make it sound like a lecture, but it’s not, you will widen your mind by a process of osmotic narrative(!). And finally, if you’re a muso of almost whatever kind then you’re bound to instinctively recognise the descriptions of gigs (big and small), rehearsals, band dynamics, bandmates, agents, promoters, venues, recording studios, money issues and touring that this book so graphically brings to light…

You will feel like you are front row in the audience at Ronnie Scott’s as the hush descends and you’re about to be bathed in musical ecstasy…

This is a very accurate insight into the life of musicians that most fans never see, illustrating both the excitement of creating exhilarating art in the moment and the sometimes comic contrast with the utter banality of a musician’s day and concerns at other times…

To aid with further investigation there’s a Billy Cobham Discography at the back stretching from 1973 to 2016 and each chapter is linked to a Spotify list to illustrate it musically (Billy Cobham 1, Billy Cobham 2, etc)…

But, overall it is packed to the gunwales with anecdotes about all kinds of jazz legends that are almost household names and the editing always assures that another “Wow! Really?” moment is always around the corner.

 

Share:
Reading time: 2 min
Page 2 of 26«1234»1020...Last »

Brian Gruber is an author, writing coach, and marketing consultant living on the Thai island of Koh Phangan. He has spent 40 years studying, leading, and founding new media companies and projects.

TELL ME MORE

Follow Me

Recent Posts

Remembering Todd Gitlin

Remembering Todd Gitlin

February 25, 2022
Full House for “Full Moon” Book Launch at Orion

Full House for “Full Moon” Book Launch at Orion

February 16, 2022
My Fifth Book FULL MOON OVER KOH PHANGAN is Published

My Fifth Book FULL MOON OVER KOH PHANGAN is Published

February 14, 2022

Popular Posts

“Surmountable” Kickstarter Campaign is Funded at $15,001 With 83 Backers

“Surmountable” Kickstarter Campaign is Funded at $15,001 With 83 Backers

2018 JazzTimes Readers Poll Names “Six Days at Ronnie Scott’s” One of Year’s Top Four Jazz Books

2018 JazzTimes Readers Poll Names “Six Days at Ronnie Scott’s” One of Year’s Top Four Jazz Books

On The Road to Mosul: Iraqi Soldiers on The Origins of ISIS

On The Road to Mosul: Iraqi Soldiers on The Origins of ISIS

Search

Categories

  • Afghanistan
  • Billy Cobham
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Cambodia
  • Coaching
  • Conference
  • Full Moon over Koh Phangan
  • Guatemala
  • Interview
  • Iraq
  • Koh Phangan
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • Phangan Forum
  • popular
  • Sand Scribes
  • Surmountable
  • Thailand
  • The Vision Project
  • These Three Things Are True
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Vietnam
  • War: The Afterparty
  • Write Night
  • Writers of Koh Phangan
  • Writing Coaching
  • Writing Workshop

© 2019 copyright Gruber Media | All rights reserved