Notes From The Field – Austria
Few if any countries solicit the spectrum of emotions and memory that Austria does for me.…
Notes From The Field – Switzerland
Have you ever tasted tear gas? If you have to think about it, the answer is…
Notes From The Field – France
Ever notice how easy it is to come up with a great idea? Starting to put…
Notes From The Field – Germany
Germany is another country I have visited multiple times and I have to say has provided…
Notes From The Field – Bora Bora
It is another one of those names that you’re not sure: Is it a real place,…
Notes From The Field – Rarotonga
Rarotonga is another one of those places not on my must-visit list, but when it appeared…
Notes From The Field – Tonga
It sounds like one of those made up names that is used in a phrase but…
Notes From The Field – Hawaii
I am one of the few people on the face of the earth who is not…
Notes From The Field – New Zealand – Old Friends
I love it when my friends do well. Some people are jealous or find a way…
Notes From The Field – Hobbiton, New Zealand
I have never read any of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, neither has Sandra,…
Notes From The Field – Burnie, Tasmania
I have to admit my first exposure to Tasmania came via Saturday morning cartoons at a…
Notes From The Field – Tahiti
Until we visited this island in French Polynesia, the word ‘Tahiti’ brought two images to…
Notes From The Field – Oz is Big
I am always amazed at people who plan a week long trip to Canada and…
Notes From The Field – Australia, an old friend
There are as many reasons for travelling as there are travellers—or maybe as many reasons…
Notes From The Field – Chile
Travelling along the west coast of Chile on a cruise boat is a photographer’s dream!…
Notes From The Field – Peru
Ever notice how an image of a country comes to mind, and it’s something from a…
Notes From The Field – Galapagos Islands – The Animals
We had committed to a cruise down the west coast of South America and one of…
Notes From The Field – Galapagos Islands – The People
There is probably no place on earth where the old adage “the pen is mightier…
Notes From The Field – Guatemala
A small bus picked us up at the pier where the cruise ship had docked, obviously…
Notes From The Field – Nicaragua
Travelling in South America adds another dimension to the trip—safety. I don’t mean the wear-your-seat-belt kind…
Notes From The Field – Panama
Sandra and I had previously been to Panama. During my days as a travel writer, I…
Notes From The Field – Mexico 2 – The Land of Extremes
History—it is said—is written by the victors. That would be why we in North America…
Notes From The Field – Mexico
We had been to Mexico several times before but always to all-inclusive resorts. I am…
Notes From The Field – Antarctica
Sometimes it is good to try something new, and that was true of our journey to…
Notes From The Field – Iguazu Falls
A Stumble At The Falls I am a firm believer in doing research before I set…
Notes From The Field – Uruguay
It is a lesson I had learned before but I needed a review—not all countries in…
Notes From The Field – Don’t Cry for Me Argentina
It was a couple years earlier that my cousin had called and asked if I had…
Notes From The Field – China
I had some regrets about leaving Ulan-Batar; Mongolia had been welcoming and provided a constant stream…
Notes From The Field -Roatan
I have always said you can learn so much by travelling. I have a friend who…
Notes From The Field – Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands had never been on my Must Visit list. In fact, to me they…
Notes From The Field – Belize
“That was a great day, I am glad we did that!” announced Gerald as we sat…
Notes From The Field – Siberia
It was 2006 and I was a year late; I had originally planned to take the…
Notes From The Field – Scotland
I have been to Scotland three times and every visit was so different each deserves a…
Notes From The Field – China (Breakfast)
A whole chapter about one meal? A fellow named Da Vinci did pretty well with a…
Notes From The Field – Faukland Islands
The Falkland Islands had never really been on my list of “Must Visit” places, it was…
Notes From The Field – Ajman – Uganda
You can learn so much when you travel, it teaches you about the differences and similarities…
Notes From The Field – Ajman – United Arab Emirates
I stepped from the ashtray where my hotel served breakfast into the bright Arab sunshine, and…
Notes From The Field – Dubai
When our daughter was selected to do the practicum for her degree in Uganda, she announced…
Notes From The Field – Morocco
In 2008 I was at the height of my travel-writing career. Realistically that meant I would…
Notes From The Field – South Africa
The promotional material billed the 2009 convention in Cape Town as “The Entire World in One…
Notes From The Field – Ireland
In June of 2008, armed with my brand new book Put Your Stamp on the Global…
Notes From The Field – Brazil (Country)
I landed in Sao Paulo. I was to meet one of the people from our group…
Notes From The Field – Brazil (Political)
The treasuries of the US and European Union were engaged in a battle that appeared it…
Notes From The Field – Thailand
I think it important to make one thing clear at the start of this chapter:…
Notes From The Field – Spain
“Why don’t you fly in to Malaga?” “Where is that?” I asked, and then admitted…
Notes From The Field – North Korea
Was I really in North Korea? Not in the way that I have been to…
Notes From The Field – Korea
It was 1996 and I was fresh off of my Nuffield Scholarship, and spending 6…
Notes From The Field – Burma (Myanmar)
It was 2007 and IDE (International Development Enterprises) contacted me about visiting two countries that they…
Look What I Found
If you are like me you wonder about works published after an author’s death, especially when…
So that’s the Secret
Most of us have had a bit of extra time on our hands the past couple…
A Conversation with “MIKE JANYK” – Episode #33
Mike Janyk is a three-time Olympian and he takes us behind the scenes of the…
Nothing Like a Deadline
There have been gallons of ink spent on the topic of motivation but personally I find…
A Conversation with “Janet Stegman” – Episode #32
From Janet’s new book – Sandcastles – Tools for letting go of the addiction and…
Never Before
I have helped a lot of people turn their ideas into books, more than a hundred…
A Conversation with “Genella Macintyre” – Episode #31
Genella Macintyre is a corporate trainer who lives in Brandon, Manitoba. She is the president…
A Conversation with “Marla Morey” – Episode #30
Marla Morey is a Vancouver lawyer who specializes in monitoring elections. She was recently in the…
Covid takes it’s toll
It was a small but dedicated crowd that turned out for the ribbon cutting ceremony of…
Photographed but no pictures
It is that time of the month when we highlight a project I am working on…
A Conversation with “Marcia Kran” – Episode #29
Following her re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, West Vancouver resident and lawyer…
From the Client Shelf
Actually this one did not have time to reach the client shelf, it arrived in the…
A Conversation with “Joe Messina” – Episode #28
– Joe Messina, from the Second String Leather Company – At Second String Leather Company, vintage…
Smells Like a Postcard
I was not waiting for snow but when it came last week I could not help…
A Conversation with “Jared ‘The Rebel’ Revel” – Episode #27
Mixed Martial Artist Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt from Revolution Martial Arts and Fitness. Langley…
Changing Plans
Not many of us predicted how this year would go, as recently as spring most would…
A Conversation with “KENDRA KINCADE” – Episode #26
Honorary Colonel Kendra Kincade is an Air Traffic Controller and has been with NAV Canada for…
Cathedrals of the Southeast
It is that time of the month where this space is dedicated to a project that…
A Conversation with “Warren Ellis” – Episode #25
Warren Ellis is an actor from Wawanesa Manitoba, playing a part in “Percy” a film…
A Conversation with “MacKenzie Zacharias” – Episode #24
Mackenzie Zacharias (born June 8, 1999) is a Canadian curler from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She currently skips her own team on the World Curling Tour.…
Do the Research, and More
People ask me about deciding a topic to write on, my answer is always the same…
A Conversation with “Sami Jo Small” – Episode 23
Sami Jo has been speaking professionally since she started with the National Team in 1997.…
When will it stop?
When will it stop? Earlier this summer it was Aunt Jemima that was removed from the…
A Conversation with “JANICE L. BLAKE” – Episode 22
About Janice Blake Retired jockey, author, speaker, and passionate animal defender “I love to educate and…
Who knows the long term effects?
We are able to deal with the Covid pandemic on a day to day basis but…
A Conversation with “CLAIRE BOSQ SCOTT” – Episode 21
Who am I? Originally from France, I traveled and worked in the US working at…
Sometimes Restrictions Help Focus
Late last year or about the time Drs. were deciding that this new virus was serious…
A Conversation with “CHUCK ROSE” – Episode 20
Chuck Rose restaurant guru and author of Dishpit to Dining Room.
What a Great Email
I get the nicest emails, sure I get my share of trash and spam and what…
A Conversation with “VICTORIA STUTSKY” – Episode 19
My name is Victoria Stutsky and I am a 19 year old race car driver…
Getting Started
It is the first Tuesday of a brand new month, and time for another writing tip.…
A Conversation with “TIM HAGUE SR” – Episode 18
Tim Hague Sr. overcame the odds when he went from a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease…
A Conversation with “JIM HARRISON” – Episode 17
Jim Harrison is a former NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs He scored 10 points…
Horsehide, Hot dogs, and Hops
I love baseball, I do not live and die with the Toronto Blue Jays or anyone…
A Conversation with Crystal Conway – Episode 16
Crystal Conway – Never Lose Hope Crystal Conway-Gottwald’s story is one of incredible resilience…
Isolation?
It was the complaints about isolation and that we might be forced to take a step…
A Conversation with Teri Hofford – Episode 15
Teri Hofford is a photographer and body image coach who helps boudoir photographers have a…
Where should I write?
The answer to this a lot like, when should I write? It depends on you, what…
A Conversation with Dara Fischetti – Episode 14
Meet ‘Super Girl’ Dara Fischetti a National Certified Health & Fitness Expert and Holistic Life Coach who…
A Conversation with Rob Saik CONTINUED – Episode 13
Rob Saik is the founder and CEO of Ag Visor Pro a new way of…
A Conversation with Rob Saik – Episode 12
Rob Saik is the author of Food 5.0. He has been an agronomist for more…
Happy Birthday
It’s that time of year again, that time where I have to remember that I am…
A Conversation with Connie Phelan – Episode 11
Connie Phelan operates Fire Power Seminars in Atlanta, Georgia. She is working on a book…
Who should I write for?
This is a question I wish more beginning authors asked, and when I ask it from…
A Conversation with Bob Hooey – Episode 10
Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey is an inspirational, confident, results based leader, motivational keynote speaker, sales…
Call it Aunt Mary’s
This is one of those rare months that has 5 Tuesdays and that means a bonus…
Time to Plant a Tree
There is an old adage that says the best time to plant a tree was yesterday,…
A Conversation with Penny Vilagos – Episode 9
Penny Vilagos – Olympic Medalist Sychronized Swimmer!
Faces of La Penita
How many of you have promised to do something with your photos as soon as you…
A Conversation with Claire Boscq-Scott “The Queen Bee” – Episode 8
Being listed No 5 in the Top 30 Global Customer Service Gurus, she is a CX…
This is Not a Cookbook
The working title for this project was ‘the cookie book’ and while it has nothing to…
When should I write?
For me the answer is easy. Write first thing in the morning. I realize that it…
A Conversation with Kelly Weaver – Episode 6
Kelly is an author, speaker, teacher, and certified Law of Attraction Coach. Using specific Law of…
Keep a Journal
I am always amazed that people who spend $10,000 to get to a place where they…
A Conversation with Ron Arnst – Episode 5
Ron Arnst currently calls minor league baseball for the American Association’s Winnipeg Goldeyes!
Breaking 100
Things change! I had been threatening to write a book about the characters I play golf…
A Conversation with Terry Braunstein – Episode 4
“Terry” Braunstein April 18, 1939 is a Canadian retired curler. He skipped Team Manitoba to winning…
A Coffee Table Book
If it is a coffee table book about cars, I suggest that you prepare, prepare, prepare…
Why do we write?
It has oft been said that the journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step…
What’s Up Fish Lips?
I get a lot of questions about what kind of books I have worked on and…
What do you write?
Write what you know! When I work with people to help them write their books I…
Who do you write for?
“Who do you love?” it was Bo Didley who first asked the question in a rock…