Posted on May 9, 2009 - by MG

Summertown Arts Festival, again

Summertown Arts Festival, again

Originally uploaded by mgharris

Hurray for the artisticness of Summertown which even now sprawls across the main street.

The coffee shops are filled to bursting, too. I’m in Joe’s café right now, about to tuck into French toast and maple syrup. Yum.

Here’s my little video of capoeiristas in Summertown, recorded in 2006.

It seems such a long time ago that I wrote a scene where Josh performs in the Summertown Arts Festival with his capoeira group. In retrospect, capoiera may not have been the most effective martial art with which to equip a teen action hero. Capoeira is meant for fun and play, not for combat. Although there are tales of its use by slaves fighting in a war, as well as in the streets of Rio.

The film ‘Only The Strong’ was my introduction to capoiera. There was talk of using the sport in anger there too.

But some capoeirista will look at you very funny indeed if you tell them it’s for fighting. Youtube vids of capoeira are full of comments from rival martial arts practicioners dissing the Brazilian dance fight.

For readers who enjoy the fighting and action sequences in Joshua, I hope you’ll be pleased to see lots more in Zero Moment, book 3. Unlike the first two books, books 3 and 4 are not quest plots…they are more traditional action/adventure.

I’m blogging less frequently btw, because Twittering is fulfilling much of my urge, well, to witter. If you are interested in the everyday life of a children’s author, jump aboard!

www.twitter.com/MGHarris

MG Harris

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Related posts:

1. A Brush with Cuba in Summertown
2. Summertown is getting a Starbucks!
3. Capoiera in Oxford
4. Fin de ano in Summertown Costa
5. Capoeira Boys on a Beach in Brazil