Spun Into Gold- A Tale of Magic, Dreams and Never Giving Up is a brand new book written by our columnist and professional magician Romany.

But what is it about you ask … Here’ s a snippet from the first chapter.

( You can see a larger preview of the book at www. romanymagic. com / blog)

If you ' re wondering whether this book is going to be your cup of tea, let me be upfront.

This book is about magic: stage magic, real magick and whatever other sort of magic you fancy. It contains golden-wishing dust; pink fairies; God; a Voice – probably belonging to that aforementioned God but who knows? Cosmic adventures; love and mar-riage; un-marriage; meddling angels; a purple-haired priestess with one leg; a

swirling sa-cred Fire; a whole heap of personal trouble; a helpful Egyptian lion goddess; and forty years of trying, trying, trying to inhabit a dream of Light. This book is about keeping hold of your vision for as long as it makes you squeak with excitement any time you come close. It’ s a book to convince you to ignore anyone and everyone who says“ you can’ t”. It’ s a book about ignoring the even louder voices in your head that tell you in a million nasty ways that you’ re never going to be or do what you’ ve always dreamed of doing. This book is about deciding that you ' re going to walk stubbornly towards your heart’ s desire and not stop until you’ re there. Where? There. Then deciding that same thing over and over again, damn it, until it’ s done. Or you are. Hopefully it. Still here? So let ' s get started.

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Romany says,“ After Paul got me writing for Vanish, I couldn’ t stop! 87,000 words and eighteen months later, my book is ready to have a final professional edit, website and audiobook. I’ m asking my friends and fans to get involved in my Go-FundMe campaign to make that possible. Any donation will get your name in the book and $ 30 will get a signed & shipped copy of the book when it’ s out.

This book is not just about my journey to becoming a magician. It’ s also an honest account of overcoming major mental health issues and finding my way to joy. I hope that it will inspire and encourage other people to do the same. I’ d like that.

If you would like to help me bring this inspiring tale of magic, adventures, misadventures and dreams to the world, please click on the link! THANK YOU!!!!

https:// www. gofundme. com / romanySpunIntoGoldBook

A Profile Of Dai Vernon For Canadian Television By David Ben

Nearly twenty years ago, I was able to collaborate with my friend, filmmaker Daniel Zuckerbrot, on a profile of Dai Vernon for Canadian television. At the time, I believed that Vernon was the most influential magician of the twentieth century. I have since reconsidered and now think that he is the most influential magician of all time. This project became an important stone along the path to Dai Vernon: A Biography, published in 2007.

In addition to the insight provided by performers who knew Vernon, including Max Maven, Herb Zarrow, John Carney, Jackie Flosso, Ricky Jay, Steve Freeman and Persi Diaconis, it was an important opportunity for Vernon ' s children, Edward and Derek Verner, to share their own thoughts and feelings about their father, the magician. It also featured black-andwhite silent footage of a younger Vernon demonstrating sleight-of-hand which we had converted and professionally retouched for the film.

While the film was very well received, it was only available briefly for purchase as a VHS cassette, which was subsequently pirated. The film pops up regularly online, always low-quality copies of copies shared without any credit to those who made the project possible.

Watch: www. magicana. com / spiritofmagic

8 VANISH Magazine www. VanishMagazine. com