Travels in a Blue Chair: Alaska to Zambia, Ushuaia to Uluru

A disabled adventurer backpacks the world - alone!! This book makes a great holiday gift or corporate prize! See my TV interviews... http://www.youtube.com/user/bluechairwalt








Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Cineflix UK, and available at Chapters online.

"Travels in a Blue Chair" is available online now at Chapters/Indigo. It took a lot of emails and phone calls, and took a mere month, but it is up now. Not sure if the actual book will be available at stores if you ask for it.

Received an email from Mfanwy at Cineflix in London, they want a video of me to see what I look like. An exec. got interested when I emailed them regarding a travel program they are recruiting stories for. So who knows?

The flu made a comeback this week.....yeccchhh!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Sounds like Canada.

I received an phone call from CBC radio today...they mentioned that they thought my original emails got lost in cyberspace. The lady calling, named Marg, said that she had forwarded my info to the program "Sounds like Canada". YEAH!!

I emailed "The National" for TV today again too, after not receiving a reply from a few weeks ago. Also, I haven't heard from NewsWorld's Morning Show in a loooong time.

CHCH doesn't seem interested in interviewing me anymore, as I have not received a reply to my scheduling email.

I was put up on
http://www.rollingrains.com/
a great disabled travel blog, by Scott Rains. Thanks Scott! Please check out his fabulous site.

Finally semi recovered from the flu....aarrrggghh!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

CHCH emailed me about an interview...

..on the Morning Show, but I haven't heard back from them. Hopefully I will get on, after all, I spent 5 years in the hospital in Hamilton!

CBC, CTV, Global and BBC are still AWOL, but you never know?

I'm under the weather today, so this post will be short.

Friday, November 16, 2007

The medium is the message?

Still not much success getting anyone interested in media exposure for the blue chair....but maybe next week some good things will happen!?

Rotary International called me back and will look at putting my book in their magazine. I hope that they do as a portion of the sales will go toward Rotary's polio eradication program in the developing world.

The local Rotary club in my hometown phoned and want me to do a speech at one of their upcoming lunch meetings, so that was a real boost! YEAH!!!

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Some Testimonials.

Got some wonderful feedback on my book from some readers.... I didn't solicit this stuff, but it sure keeps me plugging away!

"Just finished reading your book... loved it... really makes me want to travel and experience some of the adventures you have."

Becky in Ontario

"I'm about half way through your book and loving it. It so reminds me about my travels it's unbelieveable, and just makes me want to get out there again."

Johnny in the U.K.

CBC says they have to "sell" my story to their superiors to get me on NewsWorld....so all of a sudden things on that front are not too encouraging. Is a disabled backpacker who has travelled the world alone in a blue chair a tough sell? I guess I'll never understand how to motivate the media.

I sent some info to 680 News, an all news radio station....so maybe that will prompt something.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Rotary Club local interest, Int'l interest not so much

I have been trying to contact the Rotary Club International to let them know that a portion of the book royalties are going to be donated to their program to eradicate polio in the developing world. Unfortunately, my emails have gone unnoticed. However, I got word that my hometown Rotary club wants to have me speak at one of their lunch meetings. I will be contacting them tomorrow to see when our schedules cross paths.

On my next trip I really hope to participate in one of Rotary's immunization clinics. For me, it would be full circle (to borrow a Michael Palin reference!), as I had polio when I was only 12 weeks old and it would be great to have a hand in preventing others from getting it too!

Left messages with Canada AM and Global TV's morning shows....but still no phone calls.

Also emailed David Onley who is Ontario's new Lt. Governor. David is disabled and a great role model for me and all others of us, as he was for years a successful broadcaster on CITY TV and CP24, mostly in the area of science and technology. I am hoping he can pull some strings to get the word out. Hey, we have to stick together!! Who knows? Now that he is in government, he may not even get to read his own emails anymore.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Attack of the tacks!

Anyone who has read my book knows how much I hate tacks!! They are forever lying on the ground, pointy side up, and invariably find my blue chair's inflatable tires....well, yesterday was no different. Luckily the tire is still inflated, as I haven't removed it, but when I do.....ppppfffffttttt!

CBC said they were glad to know I am available this week for an interview, and lots of U.S. libraries are showing interest.

Still finding it very hard to get thru to the media moguls, but I'm trying. ;-)

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Contact from a physiotherapist.

I received an email from a physiotherapist today who felt that the book would have benefits for physios. I am hoping that by reading the stories they would really be able to see the positive impact that my physio, Judy, had on my life and how physios in general instill a good work ethic in the disabled and help promote physical improvement not just during therapy sessions, but throughout a lifetime.

CBC contacted me again regarding my availability for the TV interview.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

I'm the new boob on YouTube!

I got the video up on YouTube, some of my friends like it, but the windy day distorted the audio. In any event, it will do for now...at least until I have the chance to record another.....thanks to Frank and Sue for their help with it last weekend! You can view it here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkoswvqNGp0

Still nothing from the CBC on getting onto the NewsWorld program, but the U. of Hawai'i is interested in reviewing the book for their Disabled Studies program!

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

I could have had a HULL of a review!

The interview with the CBC got put off due to the clampdown in Pakistan. The woman at CBC emailed me to ask for my availability this week, so hopefully it will still come off.

The newspaper article drew a total of about 20 visits to my site on the weekend, not as much as I had hoped but still something!

I received an email from a bloke in Hull, England, who does reviews for websites. He had found my site on the Michael Palin website's travel blog discussion forum and wanted some more info on the book, but after responding to him a few times, I haven't heard back!

Friday, November 2, 2007

Front page news!

My hometown paper put the article on the first page, with a picture of me holding the book! I can only hope that didn't inhibit sales too much. It was a nice article, though they don't have the picture on the website. I was a bit nervous about the interview, but I think it was a good experience and a dry run for the CBC interview on Monday.

Today I received a preliminary questionnaire for background info from the CBC. I just finished writing my responses and sending it back.

Next week, I am going to try to make some headway in the US with some publicity there. Still no word as to whether the webmaster of Michael Palin's website, ever forwarded on my message to him.

YEAH!! The weekend is here.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Interview with my hometown newspaper!!

I was down in Niagara for a few days for a friend's milestone birthday, and today was interviewed by the Tribune for an article in tomorrow's paper. The reporter was a nice young guy who seemed really enthused about the book and writing the article. It will be neat to see and read the result when it is done.

My brother and his family and some of my friends were really happy that the book was out and they liked the cover and layout, so that is a boost.

Also, the CBC is still wanting me for the news next week, so hopefully we can get that scheduled before the weekend.

I drove home to Toronto and picked up a video CD that I did a week ago. I will have to review it this weekend, and hopefully get some video editing done shortly. I came home to a voice mail from another enthusiastic friend who just received the book, so that put a smile on my face!!