Welcome to the Blog!
In these pages, you’ll find more about my travels to Italy, Spain, and England for my books, as well as other travel tales from around the world. Plus you’ll uncover more about my daily drama as not only a self-published author, but also as a TV writer for ET Canada. Plus find articles about other minor matters in the world of movies and television.
Running with the Bulls: My First Time
I've run with the bulls of Pamplona three times in my life. The third run was in 2009 and that's the run that I describe in detail in my book. (With a title like "Bands, Bulls, and London," you knew the bulls were going to show up eventually...) But today, I'll...
Horses and Bulls and Why I Don’t Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. You couldn't escape it in downtown Toronto because every pub in my neighborhood cranked out the Van Morrison while party people dressed in green, drank green beer, and drank green shots until their skin matched their clothes. I used to...
Top 10 Disturbing Things About “It’s a Wonderful Life”
(* This post was written years ago as a tipsy, knee-jerk reaction after several festive eggnogs on a cold winter's night. This is not a deep-dive into 1940's Hollywood... Happy Holidays!) I can guarantee you that I cry at least twice a year. And when I mean "cry," I...
The Best Story My Mother Ever Told Me
Breaking from my Monday tradition, I have decided to post one day early... for Remembrance Day. Now I could go on and on about why it's important to pay tribute to our Canadian armed forces with proper dignity and respect. But instead, I'll just re-tell a favourite...
The Ten Categories of Readers You’ll Find at a Book Festival
Sunday began early for me - like three-thirty in the morning early when the DJ/bartender/drug dealer who lives below my condo decided to throw another one of his impromptu, late night parties. He’s very astute at throwing shindigs on nights when I need to get up...
Top Ten Things I Learned in Italy and France
For the past few weeks, I've detailed some of the dramatic 2012 changes in Rome, Siena, and Amalfi since my book research trip back in 2005. Then last week, I listed my "Top Ten Things That Never Change in Italy and France." So today, I'm venturing on the other side...
Top Ten Things That Never Change in Italy and France
So I'm comfortably back from my "Bullets, Butterflies, and Italy Book Reunion Tour." For the past few weeks, I've detailed some of the dramatic 2012 changes in Rome, Siena, and Amalfi since my book research trip back in 2005 - including the closed Supperclub in Rome,...
Banff World Media Festival #2 Starring Larry King
Last week, I reflected on my first two years of writing all the award shows at the Banff World Media Festival. After the thrill of creating jokes that made Ricky Gervais and William Shatner laugh, I fully intended to leave on a creative high and end my Rocky...
Banff World Media Festival #1 Starring William Shatner
Beyond the marketing of my first book, the creation of my second one, and the daily task of writing all the studio material for "Entertainment Tonight Canada," I also freelance around and write for other producers, particularly award show producers. It started with...