A new adventure!

In a few short days I will be heading off to Europe to see some of my old friends from my backpacking adventures, and you will know many of them from stories in my book!

I will be meeting up with Luke and Esther, from the last chapter, who are now married and have a new baby, who will be 1 year old just after I arrive!

I am hoping to meet up with Sarah, whom I met in Chile and I will be going to Italy to visit Elisa and Stefano and their 4 year old (almost!) before heading down to Rome. I have never been to Italy so am really looking forward to it.

Still have to pack, so the excitement is only starting to build !

Detti and Lizy.

One of the best things about writing a book, is the feedback you receive from the public!

I received a heartwarming email from Detti and Lizy, out in Nevada. Lizy is in a wheelchair and communicates with a stick, in both English and Hungarian!

Her friend Detti, wrote to me that they found my blog and website, and started reading some stories. Detti helps Lizy to get out and travel and they are so motivated now, they have started their very own blog!! Here it is...

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Lizy-and-Detti/

It is just new but I hope that there will be lots of new adventures for these courageous and true friends!!

Abilities Magazine wants an article

Jennifer, from Abilities Magazine, has contacted me about writing an article about some of my travels.

I suggested an article on a few of my favourite places to visit and some of the reactions I get when people meet me. Additionally, we decided to also include some travel tips to make it easier for others to benefit from some of my experiences.

I had been included in a previous article for the magazine about various books available which are written by disabled authors.

Look for my article in the autumn issue. I am really looking forward to it!!

This year's Party in the Park.

Over the last few years I have really enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Party in the Park here in the west end.

Unfortunately this year I will be unable to attend as I am heading out on some more adventures overseas. 

If you are in Mimico in late June, please attend the event and support the organizers and authors who all lend their support.

I hope that I can attend again in 2011 !!

Disability Studies

One of the interesting things about publishing a book is that you get to see the area in which readers purchase their copies of "Travels in a Blue Chair".

I am always amazed at how many people in the UK are especially enthusiastic!

I still think I need to make a better effort to try to get the word out to professors of Disability Studies programs, and I will be working to that end.

I hope that all the new readers enjoy the stories!

YouTube - almost 2000 channel views !!

It is amazing to see that I have now had almost 2000 channel views on my YouTube account!!

There are lots of people who come to watch the videos of my interviews to learn more about "Travels in a Blue Chair", and listen to me talk about my adventures.

It is nice to read a book by an author, but probably just as nice to be able to hear some of the stories in my own words!

Keep watching, and keep subscribing ...Thanks!

Local enthusiasts.

I was at a local community meeting this week and the lady who was checking in the participants recognized me! She had a copy of "Travels in a Blue Chair" and was telling everyone who would listen how much she enjoyed the book.

Today, I was participating at a local clean up day for our neighbourhood park. One of the main organizers had seen an article about me in the local paper and asked if I had a copy that he could ask me to sign. I did.

Wow, it is great to receive lots of positive feedback from all over the world but even nicer to get some in your own backyard!!

The Morning Show on ITV in the UK

I will be visiting some friends in England this summer and have been researching some of the local "chat shows" telecast in the United Kingdom.

One of the biggies is "The Morning Show" on the ITV network. I will be contacting them to see if they would like their viewers to learn more about "Travels in a Blue Chair".

The program airs at 10 am each weekday morning, so since my plane arrives in London at 6 am, it could work out quite well.

I hope that they think it will too!

An email from British Columbia

Recently I received a wonderful email from a young college student in Victoria, who had recently become disabled.

She was struggling because her parents were reluctant to support her in planning a trip to the US, even though she had travelled extensively prior to the onset of her illness.

I was asked for advice, and  I simply told her that she should go for it.  Her friends at the other end would be waiting to meet her and help out, if necessary.  I explained that things would certainly go wrong, as they always do,  but that was just part of the fun.

It is always great to meet new travellers looking to take up the challenge, and it gratifies me that "Travels in a Blue Chair" is really making a difference out there!!

TTC Wheel Trans - Disabled Adventurer

I ride the TTC, which is the local mass transit system here in Toronto, each day into the downtown part of the city.

A few weeks ago a woman working for the TTC asked to take some photos of riders using the system, for their newsletter.  I had my picture snapped and hopefully I will be included in the next edition.

I explained to the reporter that they could point out that "North America's Disabled Adventurer" rides the TTC !!

Here's hoping!