Long Branch Public Library, book group 2010

It was a great afternoon on Sunday, down at Tatsu's Bread here on the lake shore in the west end of Toronto! I met so many new friends and they all asked about "Travels in a Blue Chair", and many asked me to sign a copy of the book for them.

Also, many thanks to Tatsu, the baker and owner of the bakery, who was so welcoming. Tatsu introduced me to this wife and little daughters and all the staff kept me supplied with great coffee all afternoon long. One of Tatsu's daughters is named, Kaete, which is Japanese for "maple leaf" ! Isn't that a wonderful name?

One of the people who came in to meet me and discuss the book, was Dorota, from the Long Branch Public Library, near the border with Mississauga. Dorota had learned about my book via the posters some of my friends had put up around the neighbourhood. She asked me to sign a copy and invited me to a book discussion group she hosts at her library branch!! We are aiming for early next year.

Many thanks to all my friends who came out to talk to me that day as well as Cy and Isabelle, who worked on the posters. You guys are the best !!

Book signing on Saturday.

Don't forget to stop by Tatsu's Bread on Saturday from 1-4 pm, just one block west of Kipling on Lakeshore Blvd W in Toronto. 

I have already received lots of great feedback from people interested in coming out to have a book signed. 

See you there!

Tatsu's Bread - book signing Sat. Nov 28 1-4pm !!

Great news.  The bunch at Tatsu's Bread are going to host a book signing for "Travels in a Blue Chair", the following Saturday afternoon, the 28th from 1-4 pm.

Tatsu's is one of the best bakeries in the west end, and are famous for their artisan breads, baked with organic ingredients.  Here is their website...

www.tatsusbread.com

3180 Lake Shore Blvd W. (north side, one block west of Kipling)

Tatsu's are very well known and loved in South Etobicoke, so please come out to Tatsu's for all your holiday baked goodies!  I am a frequent customer of their great coffee and delicious pastries.

I am really looking forward to seeing lots of friends come out in a little over a week!

The positive energy rolls on...

A great Christmas gift book idea !

Don't forget to remember "Travels in a Blue Chair", as a great gift idea for all the readers on your holiday shopping list.

It is a series of over 55 funny, short stories. The reader can read a story or two before bed and then put it away until next time.

The book is light reading and is widely available on Amazon, or other online retailers. At bookshops, you can order "Travels in a Blue Chair" and it will arrive in short order!

That's one less gift you have to worry about for that hard to buy person on your list!

Disability Studies programs

I have started to email faculty members of universities which offer degree programs in Disability Studies.

So far, I have sent out about 17 messages, as a test. I am quite surprised to have received quite a bit of positive feedback with many of the professors thanking me for letting them know about the book and promising to follow up.

I will continue sending out these messages over the next few weeks to help spread the word.

Let's get all the students out there reading "Travels in a Blue Chair"!!

13 Questions - OUCH ! BBC website for disabled

I have contacted the BBC in England about possibly being interviewed on their great website for the disabled called "OUCH!".

Here is a link to the site,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/

One of their great sections is called "13 Questions", which as you might guess, is a web text interview with a disabled personality.

Earlier I did a similar interview with the CBC website, and it really motivated a lot of disabled people to at least think about travelling, where they may not have tried before.

I am hoping to hear back from OUCH! soon.

John Derringer Q-107 radio interview up now on YouTube !

Thanks to my buddy Brad, who is a technical whiz, my latest radio interview, with morning personality, John Derringer, is now available for you to hear on YouTube!

Here is the link to the audio file...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpgPF1gvJoI

Many thanks to the morning gang at the Q !!  I hope this helps spread the word!

Boston Book Expo

I have been invited to participate in the Boston Book Expo, early next year, by my publisher, iUniverse.

I have been told that this is an important expo for libraries looking for new additions to their collections, with the new budgets for the upcoming year.

I am not sure whether I will ultimately be able to participate, but just to be invited is a great thing.

On the air this morning !

The radio interview on John Derringer's show has just aired, and by the looks of things it has had a great impact!

Hits to my website have jumped dramatically and it is apparent that many people a quite interested in "Travels in a Blue Chair".

If you would like to listen just click the link below and in the audio box, look for the "interview with Walt Balenovich"...

http://www.q107.com/DJsandShows/DerringerInTheMorning/Home.aspx

Thanks again to John, Ryan and all the gang at Q-107 !!

Q-107 Interview airs this Thursday at 7am !

I received some great news from Ryan at Q-107.  The interview recorded one month ago will be aired on Thursday at 7 am.

It was  a 6 minute interview and went quite well, here is the link...

http://www.q107.com/index.aspx

You can listen over the internet too, that would be 12 pm in Ireland and the UK, and 1 pm in Europe.

I hope it reaches out to disabled and travellers alike!