Mark Winkler

No matter what kind of career you want in music, learning how to write good song is the foundation of the music industry.Platinum award-winning singer/lyricist Mark Winkler has a long, flourishing career in pop, jazz, cabaret and special material songwriting with over 250 songs recorded and/or sung by major vocal luminaries. Mark also has enjoyed an equally-successful career as a songwriting instructor at UCLA Extension and the Los Angeles School of Songwriting. In this book, he adapts his classroom curriculum with sound information, advice, witty anecdotes, and exercises for songwriters of all skill levels.The book includes:Highlights of great songwriters and their songsExercises that focus on storytelling and rhyming, while adding specificity and color to one’s songsMark’s top ten tips for writing great lyrics with accompanying templates Annotated examples of songs written by Mark’s students to illustrate exercises Information about people you need on your creative and business teamSteps for what to do after you’ve written a great songTips on being a successful live performerStories of Mark’s professional experiences in the trenches as a working songwriter in Los Angeles, on Broadway, and as a touring performer

No matter what kind of career you want in music, learning how to write good song is the foundation of the music industry.Platinum award-winning singer/lyricist Mark Winkler has a long, flourishing career in pop, jazz, cabaret and special material songwriting with over 250 songs recorded and/or sung by major vocal luminaries. Mark also has enjoyed an equally-successful career as a songwriting instructor at UCLA Extension and the Los Angeles School of Songwriting. In this book, he adapts his classroom curriculum with sound information, advice, witty anecdotes, and exercises for songwriters of all skill levels.The book includes:Highlights of great songwriters and their songsExercises that focus on storytelling and rhyming, while adding specificity and color to one’s songsMark’s top ten tips for writing great lyrics with accompanying templates Annotated examples of songs written by Mark’s students to illustrate exercises Information about people you need on your creative and business teamSteps for what to do after you’ve written a great songTips on being a successful live performerStories of Mark’s professional experiences in the trenches as a working songwriter in Los Angeles, on Broadway, and as a touring performer

My Daughter's Keeper is the compelling story of a father's journey to strive against mounting odds to be present in his daughter's life. The story reveals the complexities of parenting as the author wrestles with his past to face self-imposed challenges in order to transition from a man given to selfish leanings to an open-hearted and dutiful father.My Daughter's Keeper tugs on the heartstrings of any parent who has endured the pain and challenges of co-parenting, custody disputes, or separated families. Written with accountability and compassion, this book has been crafted to challenge readers to consider the ways our circumstances, including the painful ones, set us up to develop into better versions of ourselves.

How far would you go for your best friend? If she begged you to, would you kill her? Nathan Lucius, 31, is an ad salesman at a Cape Town newspaper. Disaffected, hard-drinking and plagued by blackouts, Nathan lives alone and has only one true friend, a woman named Madge. But Madge is dying slowly of cancer, and when she asks Nathan to end her pain, she sets off a shocking string of events. A modern-day answer to Crime and Punishment, My Name Is Nathan Lucius is a taut and unforgiving exploration of the intersection of violence, trauma, social responsibility, and memory. Stylish, intense, and unforgettable, this glittering noir gem will appeal to readers of Irvine Welsh and Chuck Palahniuk as well as fans of Thomas Harris and Dennis Lehane.

Musical Comedy 3 m, 2 f Too Old for the Chorus is a smart, funny musical revue about men and women who find themselves suddenly 50! Set in their neighborhood retro coffee shop, five characters express in 18 musical numbers the gamut of their frustrations and joys - from troublesome relations with still demanding parents and cutting edge technology to finding delight in second careers (and second chances), getting smarter, and finally knowing that "Age is just a Number." The title celebrates life, finding fulfillment and being appreciated for exactly who you are - all while getting a senior discount. For more information on the show, please visit www.toooldforthechorus.com. "The show hits a marketing sweet spot. It plays to the vast baby boom generation ...but its appeal isn't limited to that audience. As with Avenue Q, the topics here are universal...Time and again, ache gives way to good humor and renewed determination...you'll leave rethinking 50 as 27, with 23 years of experience." -The Los Angeles Times. "Uproarious! Show Biz bliss!" -San Diego Union Tribune. "Musical theatre doesn't get much better than this. With literate lyrics that rival Cole Porter and Noel Coward." -Get Up and Go. "A little show with a big heart...The numbers reverberate with wit and humanity" -LA Weekly. "...a smart, funny and sometimes touching exploration of the challenges and joys of aging." -San Diego.com. "Baby Boomers will find resonance and uplift...in this unpretentiously enjoyable valentine to aging contentedly." -Back Stage West. "A lively musical revue...the evening just flies by!" -Jewish Times