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








Friday, November 28, 2008

The Rotarian magazine - Rotary International - Polio

I have learned a bit more info from my friends at the Welland Rotary club, who are assisting me in the hope of appearing in an article in The Rotarian, which is Rotary International's worldwide magazine.

The district council would like to interview me about Travels in a Blue Chair, and then submit the interview along with some photos from my trips.

Hopefully we can conduct the interview in the next few weeks and have some feedback shortly!!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Ask your library to get this book!!

I just found out that my local library has ordered 5 copies of Travels in a Blue Chair. The book has not arrived yet, but 3 of the copies are on hold already!! I am hoping that many more libraries will also get interested in acquiring my book too!

You can help! Even if you already have a copy, why not contact your local library and asking it to get the book for their section on disability?!

My next task is to try to ask a librarian to review the book for a librarian magazine and then librarians all over will become more aware!

Friday, November 21, 2008

The Hour on CBC - George Stroumboulopoulis

I left a voice mail with Liz, the segment producer for the popular program The Hour on CBC. This is a follow up to the email that I sent out just over a week ago. I am hoping to interest Liz and George into doing an interview with me about the the book "Travels in a Blue Chair".

Recently they had Super Dave Osborne on the program! Heck, I can't fly out of an imaginary cannon, but have travelled a fair bit in my time too! I think that the viewers would really enjoy listening to some of my adventures and stories.

Let's hope that I hear back from the gang at CBC!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Out of Mongolia.

I received an email on the weekend from Gregory, who has a blog about accessible design, and was teaching it in Mongolia!

Greg, an Australian, has now completed his work in that country and has relocated to the UK. He was asking if I had any pointers about publishing some of his findings or how he could continue his work by making some contacts.

Sadly, I know very little about universal design formally, except for the fact that I use it, and it is great that people (including the disabled) are advocating for it. It will certainly make tourism a lot easier!

Cheers to Greg, Scott of the Scott Rains report, and all working in this new industry, for all their continued efforts!

You just never know who you'll meet by writing this book or publishing this blog!!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Disability Studies

One of the great things in education these days is the relatively new program available at universities called "Disability Studies" !! The type of program didn't exist in the old days and is great for both disabled and average students who aim to work with the disabled in their working future.

I have noticed quite a bit of traffic to my website recently from educational institutions and am hoping that the book "Travels in a Blue Chair" is generating some enthusiasm on campus!

It would be great if the book could be adopted as required reading material in one of the academic programs. Hey, then I would be back in university! Hopefully, some professors and students will find that this book has some value in showing how disabled are able to get out and interact in the big, blue world!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Amazon.com up to 12th place in sales rank !!

One of the greatest ways these days to get hold of a book on the internet is through the online retailer Amazon. In addition to Amazon, most of the book stores themselves have online shops where you can search for the name of a book or an author to find and buy a book.

I try to keep track of where Travels in a Blue Chair is doing in relation to some other books about the disabled. I just noticed that the book has recently "skyrocketed" up to 475,672 nd place in overall ranking!!

I know that doesn't seem to impressive, but when you think about it, there are lots of books that have been printed over the years. Not too long ago this book was well past 1,800,000 th place.

So this book must be making some inroads into the public awareness! I am also happy that the book is up to 12th place in the sub-category Book/Travel/Specialty Travel/Special Needs !! YAY!

UPDATE: Oops back to 1.89 millionth place! lol

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

thestar.com and the US election

I have been trying to interest thestar.com in doing a human interest piece on my travels around the world in my blue chair. Still early to hope for some feedback but I forwarded some background information and my bio to the City Desk, the Weekend Edition and Specials Section. Here's hoping for some contact ;-)

Now that today marks the end of the U.S. election, I am hoping to receive some publicity in the U.S. I will be ramping up the media blurbs to outlets across the country in the hopes of reaching a friendly editor.

There are many disabled, friends and families, and average people who still haven't heard of Travels in a Blue Chair !!?? My job is to keep spreading the word.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Steve Pakin TVO - still no response?

Still no luck getting any feedback at TVO. I have forwarded them an email with my info and a background on my book of travel stories. I know the viewers would be tremendously interested.

Steve Pakin is one of the premier interviewers on public television and his program The Agenda, hits on important topics in today's society.

In addition to my email, I created a topic about my book on their discussion forum, however it has elicited no response.

Interestingly, on the website of the show, they list topics to discuss, many of which are minority related...aboriginal etc.

However, a topic about minority issues related to the disabled is not present? Maybe I can help change things!!?? I'll keep trying and we'll see!!