Another year comes to an end.

It is hard to believe that another year of this bloggiary is coming to an end soon!

This year has been quite eventful with appearances, interviews and even some travels! My travel experiences this year were quite interesting in both a good and a bad way. More to come on the bad part later on.

I will say a special "Thank You" to each of you who have read this page and those of you who have supported "Travels in a Blue Chair" over these last 4 years!

Happy New Year!

GoodReads.com - author page

Serge, a buddy of mine who is a great reader, recently told me about the website GoodReads. He is an avid reader and urged me to participate as an author to try to spread the word about the book.

I have set up an "Author's Page", although it is quite sparse just now. I am trying to determine the best approach, and will be updating it regularly. The website urges me to run a contest to raise interest so I will be considering that.

Here is a look so far...

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6933375-travels-in-a-blue-chair

Gretzky is a great guy!

I recently attended an event for the local hospital last night, and the guest speaker was Wayne Gretzky! Wayne is only the greatest hockey player of all time and does quite a lot of charity work now that he is in his retirement.

As I was enjoying a glass of wine and some sushi, someone to my left stuck out his hand for me to shake. Since I am in a chair, I didn't see who it was at first, as his head is at a different level than mine, but I shook the hand without thinking. It turned out to be Wayne!!

I told him my "Gretzky story", about how I was in the old Buffalo Aud when he scored a natural hat trick in the third period to win the game 3-2, and in doing so, he broke Phil Esposito's NHL goal scoring record. He laughed when I told him I was annoyed with him, because he scored all the goals at the other end of the ice, since I was behind the Oilers net that night.

I gave him a signed copy of my book, Travels in a Blue Chair, and he was really interested. Later, when it was time for my picture to be taken with him, he even remembered my name, likely because it is also his dad's name. On the way out he again called my name and said he looked forward to reading it.

Wayne is well known for his mild mannered demeanor and being a nice guy. He really is too!

Toronto Public Library - speaking @ Pape and Danforth

I have been contacted by Alice at the Pape and Danforth branch of the Toronto Public Library about speaking about "Travels in a Blue Chair" in the spring!

One of the great things I enjoy is being able to reach out to readers and travellers alike, especially at libraries. One of my most memorable was in Haldimand-Norfolk, when I packed the house with enthusiastic readers!

I am really looking forward to getting out there and meeting the group at the Pape and Danforth branch in a short while. Thanks Alice!

The library and the written word

One of the great things about writing a book is the fact that many libraries, all over the world, will pick up your book and allow a wider audience access to my adventures!

Interestingly, I have been informed that I will be receiving an entitlement to royalties based on the number of times "Travels in a Blue Chair" was checked out.

I hope that some of the people who read the book will tell others about it and continue to spread the word!

Four years of Travels in a Blue Chair !!

It is hard to believe, but this month marks four years since publishing my book. I have had so many positive experiences over that time, and many struggles too! Somehow the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

I have received emails from people all over the world telling me that the book has helped get them out of their towns and explore the world. I have spoken to numerous groups both disabled and not, telling my stories and then receiving positive feedback. The book, "Travels in a Blue Chair" is now in libraries all over the world, and was even read aloud into a talking book!

I have appeared on a few morning talk shows and then received lots of feedback from them. It also took me four years to write the book, and 20 years of travel before that too!

Many thanks to each and everyone of my friends and family who have helped along the way, and to all my new friends, from all over the world, whom I continue to meet!

The next chapter has yet to be written!

Attending weddings.

I had the great honour of attending my niece Jessica's wedding last month and there is another one coming up next month. When I attend such events, I am invariably introduced to people as an author and it always seems to boost the interest of the book.

I will really have to think of a way to attend more public events and who knows? Maybe the word will really spread and we can more disabled people interested in travelling this great planet.

Spread the word!

Winners are announced for free copies on MaiTravelSite !!

Many thanks again to Federico over at MaiTravelsite.com who has really promoted "Travels in a Blue Chair" on his website these last few weeks.

Drum roll please....and the winners are.

1 softcover copy - Lindsay (from Toronto, ironically!)

4 eBooks - Amber, Abbey, Diana and Michel

Congratulations to all the winners! I really hope you enjoy your copy and I hope to hear from you in the near future!

Travel contest - win a copy of Travels in a Blue Chair

Federico, has initiated the contest to win a copy of "Travels in a Blue Chair". In my previous post, I included a link to his great travel site, and my interview.

Here is the link to the contest page....

http://www.maitravelsite.com/tips-and-more/travel-contest-win-copy-travels/

So, get on there and post your comments! Both about the book, my travels and Federico's MaiTravelSite website. Get in there and win!!

Interview is up on MaiTravelsite - contest next!

Many thanks to Federico for putting up the interview with him on his great backpacking/travel website!

http://www.maitravelsite.com/latest-posts/walter-balenovich-interview-world/

The interview and pictorial layout look great, and has already generated lots of feedback and traffic on the site.

Federico will now be announcing a contest this week, for a soft copy of "Travels in a Blue Chair" and 4 copies in an eBook format.

I can't wait to help him judge the contest!! Will the next winner be you??

MaiTravelsite - interview complete.

I have received an email from Federico in Mexico, who stumbled across my website while surfing the 'net. He runs a travel website for backpackers who love to travel....

http://www.maitravelsite.com

Federico has forwarded me a list of questions about my travels, and even wants to run a contest for some copies of "Travels in a Blue Chair", both softcover and e-format, to the readers of his blog.

I have just forwarded the responses to his questions and will keep you posted on how it turns out.

Thanks so much!! I will post a link to the interview once it is up on the website.

The word continues to spread around the internet and beyond!

Welland Eastdale Graduation - guest speaker

After the great time I enjoyed with all my schoolmates from high school days at the reunion last month, I was honoured to be asked by the principal of the school to be the guest speaker at this year's edition of the graduation.

I had a bit of a blip getting there, as I left work a bit early to drive down for the mid-week, 6 pm event. Unluckily for me, I only got as far as Burlington before the car died. I had only one hour to get there, so had to take a taxi to my hometown of Welland.

The grad was at an Italian banquet hall, which is a much better venue that the gym, where we had received our diplomas. I was a bit nervous, but once on stage, I remembered some good times at Eastdale, and how my classmates had left me on top of the table in the old Grade 13 room. In the end, it was all the girls from the Physics class who came to my rescue! I also spoke about "Travels in Blue Chair" and how my days in the school helped me in my travels.

I received lots of great feedback from teachers, graduates and their families. It was so heartwarming to be allowed to speak at the event and watch the next generation of young adults take their first step into the future.

Many thanks to Ed, the principal, who invited me and even offered to drive me home! Luckily, my brother John did that.

Visit to Holland and England.

I have been working really hard for the last 9 months, so it was time for a bit of a holiday earlier this month. Of course, I went backpacking!

First stop was Holland, and Amsterdam actually. I had emailed some Dutch friends to see who could meet up for a drink, and Seline, a girl I had met in Cape Town, South Africa said she would be around all week!!

We had a great time, exploring Amsterdam, Den Haag, and Rotterdam, in her fast, little Citroen. I was staying at a hostel, and shared a dorm room with 5 German guys, who enjoyed coming in around 3 am., and then turning on all the lights to laugh and taken drunken photos of each other!

Seline, really knew Holland, and she is such a sweet person. We renewed our friendship easily and enjoyed each other's company.

In Den Haag, we met Esther, my Dutch friend who lives in England. Esther was in the country for her niece's birthday, and so we met for pancakes at the beach in Kijduin beach. Great fun, and her little daughter, and mom were also there. We ate, exchanged stories and walked on the promenade so that the baby could play a little.

Seline and I later toured The Hague and Rotterdam, with Seline handling my chair like an expert. It was a real treat for me, as usually I am wheeling around on my own.

Afterwards, I headed to England to meet up with Esther and Luke in Hampshire. It was Luke's birthday that night and later on the weekend, we enjoyed a visit to Farnham, so the munchkin could visit the playground and we could enjoy a nice brunch!

I had a short visit in both countries, but it was so great to meet up with good friends I have met while travelling!!

Eastdale Reunion

This past weekend I attended the reunion for the 50 years that my old secondary school has existed. The events ran for three days and I was able to attend 2 days worth.

It was very surprising and humbling to see how many former classmates and friends had heard of the book, and the event organiser, Barry, even had a copy of "Travels in a Blue Chair" that he asked me to sign. Barry confessed he hadn't had time to read it, due to all his great work on the reunion, but promised to relax with it after things settled down.

It was so great to see so many friends from my youth. The favourite quote of the weekend, would be a fellow stopping, pointing at me, smiling and yelling "I carried you up those stair for five years!". Great stuff. Now they have an elevator for the students who need it and they have wheelchair friendly washrooms too! That's great, but in a small way it is sad too. With no elevator in those days, I sure met lots of other students who assisted me, and I am sure I would never have interacted with them otherwise.

Hats off to Barry, Debbie and their committee for all the great work! And hats off to the class of 77/78, as we were the largest, friendliest and loudest year at the events!!

I hope we all meet up again at the next reunion too!

Kim and Nick are going to Europe!

This week I received a wonderful email from Kim out in Victoria, who said that...

"Your undaunted enthusiasm to travel is motivating me along with my husband in his electric chair and our three kids to train through Europe this summer and visit friends."

Can you imagine how great that makes me feel? To know that someone who has read "Travels in a Blue Chair" wants to get out and see the world, after reading my short stories....makes me really happy!

I can't even imagine what it would be like to go to five or six countries with 3 kids, while being in a chair, but I do know one thing...it will be quite an adventure!!

I have urged them to write a blog and keep everyone up to date. I know I will want to know what experiences they are enjoying! Bon Voyage!

Travel with a Mate - writing an article

I am in the process of writing an article for the website "Travel with a Mate", which is geared to all different forms of travel.

I was alerted to this website, but a blogger whom I follow, and who has written for the site. I browsed their inventory of articles, and couldn't find anything about travellers who are disabled.

Of course I will be writing about what it is like to backpack alone across the world, and hopefully there will be some extra exposure for "Travels in a Blue Chair".

What goes around, comes around - the world, that is!

My friend Harvey

On the weekend my good friend Harvey passed away suddenly. He is a great loss to his family and friends who loved him.

Harvey and I travelled around Ontario quite a bit when I played sledge hockey for 10 years. He was the coach of the team, and I was one of the players. We had similar likes and both of us loved topical conversations about sports, travel and life.

When I wrote the book, Harvey was one of the first to order it and read it. He was a great reader, and he was so encouraging to me. He liked the book, because he had been a backpacker in his younger day, all over Europe and in Israel, where he met his wife. I was always in awe of his stories and the things he experienced during the days of the Cold War, and he loved listening to my stories about my travels.

In these last few years, we camped together with our other buddy, John. We camped each September, once the camping season was quieting down, and the weather was still nice. Originally we camped in a tent, then for a few years in his camper, and finally, after John and his wife bought a condo up north, on the couch or floor in his new place.

We all had fun, and became a part of Harvey's life and family. Harvey, you were a wonderful friend and I will miss you.

Accessibility Conference in Cambridge

One of the best things about writing a book is the fact that it really impacts people.

My friend Lynn, out in Cambridge, was attending an accessibility conference this week and informed me that she was passing out information about "Travels in a Blue Chair".

YAY Lynn!

I know that access is very important and we have made great strides in the last two decades, but there is still a long way to go. Here in Toronto, most of the subway stations are not even wheelchair friendly!! Can you imagine that in the 21st Century?? Terrible.

My own problems with access in the Third World has somewhat hampered my travels, but not much, as I always ask for help (as you know if you have read the book!!).

The more access, the more travellers in chairs, no matter what colour they are!!

eBook is a the new way to read...

One of the things I have noticed is that eBooks, seem to be really taking off as a new way to read "Travels in a Blue Chair".

The cost is quite nominal, and you get all the same stories, adventures and laughs!!

Here is a link to those who are taking advantage of this new way to enjoy a new book.

http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookSearchResults.aspx?Search=balenovich

Download and enjoy!

Accessible Travel Netherlands - website story.

A short while ago I was contacted by Veroniek, from Holland, who has a great website for all travellers who are interested in visiting the Netherlands.

Veroniek was interested in putting up a travel story from "Travels in a Blue Chair" on the website, especially if I had one about Holland. Of course I did. Here is a link to the story from my book, on her great website.

http://www.accessibletravelnl.com/articles/message/title/A-wheelchair-adventure-in-Amsterdam-and-Alkmaar-

Here is some further info on Veroniek's great website, on what the aim is...

"This website provides all people wishing to visit the Netherlands with information about accessibility. If you are looking for information regarding the accessibility of accommodations, transport or tours, click on one of the buttons above to find out more. If you can not find the information you are looking for, Accessible Travel Netherlands is happy to find that information for you! Find our e-mail address at the Contact section."

Congrats on this great initiative, and many thanks again for including TIBC on your site!!

A long lost friend

I have had the pleasure this month to receive an email from a former co-worker, who moved away out west to Calgary, after the company we both worked for many years ago, closed down.

Jean had thought of me and searched my name on the internet. In doing so she found out about "Travels in a Blue Chair" and was excited to contact me to revive our friendship!! We had always chatted at work about various topics, including our mutual love of cabbage rolls.

I will be seeing some of our mutual friends at a Super Bowl party next weekend and it will be nice to update everyone on how she is doing.

Also, I learned she now has a copy of the book. I only wish I could sign the copy for her. Who knows? I hope our paths will cross again in the future!

You never know what good things will come out of being an author?

A British Library

One of the aspects of writing a book is trying to get it into libraries. Many people cannot afford their own copy of "Travels in a Blue Chair", and I am gratified that many libraries in North America, and even Australia have multiple copies available to lend out.

Unfortunately, there are no copies in any British library (at least that I know of). If you live in Britain, could you please request that your local library pick up a copy to put on the shelves? I think it would be a great way to start off the year!!

And please let me know if you are successful ....Cheers!