Since Blogger doesn't host audio files, I've been playing tech-sleuth in trying to figure out how to share this MP3 with you wonderful people.
There is a 50/50 chance that this will work. Of course, that leaves open a 50/50 chance that this will not work. Such is life.
The interview experience on The Biggs Show was great. I am totally ready for Oprah now. I think she need to start her show up again, or at least do a one-off Christmas special for me. If any one knows her, please pass along my contact info so we can get the ball rolling. I hate to keep her waiting. Thanks!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Cinder Clouds Hits Times Square!
My press release this week included an image of the book's cover. Reuters news service displayed the image on their Times Square marquee, and also one in front of the mall on the Vegas strip. I don't have a picture of the Vegas display, but here's a high-res photo of my book hovering over mid-town Manhattan. Click for the big version:
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Breaking New Ground
The vast majority of the people who follow this blog are cyber-friends who know me only through this blog and my comments on other writing blogs. To many I am a sun-glassed smart-ass who has a penchant for photos with water in the background. But what do I look like without the glasses? And what do I sound like? Do have have a deep and sexy voice, or an accent? Are my eyes lasers that will incinerate you if I remove the glasses? (NOTE: The lawyers from the X-Men will see you now.)
Some bloggers have turned to web-cams and posted videos to get more personal with their readers. (NOTE: Not that kind of web-cam. The innocent tasteful kind.) I have yet to take that leap. Stand before walk, and sound before sight, that's my motto. At least for the time being it is. I'll probably change it later today. Notably around dinner time my motto will be Feed me! followed by More wine, please!
For those who want to get a little more personal, tune in to 1290 AM Thursday at 1:35 pm eastern to listen to my interview on The Biggs Show. For those who don't have the advantage of residence in London, Ontario, you can Listen Live via the Internet.
This is exciting because I have no idea what to expect, but I anticipate solving many of the worlds problems in the half-hour allotted. I might even entice a few people into buying my book, which would be all sorts of awesome.
The offer for the interview came after I issued this press release about my origins of Santa story, The Man in the Cinder Clouds. (NOTE: I realize you all probably know the title of the book, but I must restate it for search engine optimization purposes.)
I didn't know what to expect when I issued the release, and was very happy when the offer for the interview hit my inbox 19 minutes after the release hit the wire!
So tune in tomorrow afternoon if you have the time. I'd love to get some feedback after the interview...
Some bloggers have turned to web-cams and posted videos to get more personal with their readers. (NOTE: Not that kind of web-cam. The innocent tasteful kind.) I have yet to take that leap. Stand before walk, and sound before sight, that's my motto. At least for the time being it is. I'll probably change it later today. Notably around dinner time my motto will be Feed me! followed by More wine, please!
For those who want to get a little more personal, tune in to 1290 AM Thursday at 1:35 pm eastern to listen to my interview on The Biggs Show. For those who don't have the advantage of residence in London, Ontario, you can Listen Live via the Internet.
This is exciting because I have no idea what to expect, but I anticipate solving many of the worlds problems in the half-hour allotted. I might even entice a few people into buying my book, which would be all sorts of awesome.
The offer for the interview came after I issued this press release about my origins of Santa story, The Man in the Cinder Clouds. (NOTE: I realize you all probably know the title of the book, but I must restate it for search engine optimization purposes.)
I didn't know what to expect when I issued the release, and was very happy when the offer for the interview hit my inbox 19 minutes after the release hit the wire!
So tune in tomorrow afternoon if you have the time. I'd love to get some feedback after the interview...
#
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
And now for something completely different…
One of the perks of my job is international travel. I get to meet interesting people, learn about different businesses and industries, and immerse myself in new (well, actually old) cultures.
One of the fallbacks of my job is international travel. I have to stay up for days on end, eat the stuff they call “food” on airplanes, and hold my pee for inordinately long stretches of time thinking the Chinese girl who fell asleep in the seat next to me and is now leaning on me may wake up on her own in the near future.
My most recent trip was to London, and I thought getting around in England would be a piece of cake, me knowing the language and all. Plus, I get British culture. I’ve been a Monty Python fan since the age of eight (NOTE: Thanks Ken, for bringing home The Life of Brian on Betamax!). I can even fake the accent, mate.
I went to the ticket station at the London Underground (NOTE: This is the subway system, also known as The Tube. It is not a terrorist cell, as I once suspected. Good to know. Mind the gap.) I asked for a ticket to a station near Southwark Bridge Road. I said it like it looks: Southwark.
“You’re wrong, it’s Suthick, mate,” the ticket guy said, disregarding many letters in Southwark and compressing the word into a single syllable.
Oookay. Point taken. I don’t really know English.
I took the tube to downtown London. I had reviewed directions from the station to the hotel online and knew the general direction in which to walk (NOTE: I really didn’t do that, but I don’t want to let you know how dumb I can be so I’m changing the story to save face. Don't tell anyone I told you. Thanks!). The simple fact that no London street other than a bridge goes more than 10 meters without curving broke my internal compass. That is to say, I got totally lost deep within in the winding cobblestone roadways. I did wander through a nice market that smelled of fish and curry, and after I asked directions several times I found my hotel. (NOTE: For the record, pulling wheeled luggage across block after block of old cobblestone street sucks.)
I was laughed at for being a silly American when I confused London Bridge with the Tower Bridge, but earned a point back by knowing that Big Ben was actually the bell inside the tower, not the clock. I earned an additional point for having a real Yorkshireman compliment my accent when I let out a few Monty Python quotes. For me, Monty Python quotes just kind of slip out, like farts.
I did get some time to walk through the streets of London with two Dutch colleagues. Every now and again they would start talking in Dutch, and I would tell them to stop talking about me.
We saw the main tourist attractions: Big Ben, Parliament! (I did a Chevy Chase impression for my colleagues, but apparently European Vacation was not popular in the Netherlands, as they just started talking about me in Dutch again), and I also saw Westminster Abbey and Piccadilly Circus.
When we got to Buckingham Palace, I had to take advantage of the moment to capture on film the unshakable thought that ran through my head all afternoon as I walked the twisted streets of London. Let me sum it up this way...
Question: If you were in front of Buckingham Palace, could you resist doing your best Silly Walk?
Answer: Me neither!
The trip ended as I prefer them all to end: with me arriving safely home. Maybe next time I’ll tell you about my epic trip to Chicago to see The Dave Matthews Band…
One of the fallbacks of my job is international travel. I have to stay up for days on end, eat the stuff they call “food” on airplanes, and hold my pee for inordinately long stretches of time thinking the Chinese girl who fell asleep in the seat next to me and is now leaning on me may wake up on her own in the near future.
My most recent trip was to London, and I thought getting around in England would be a piece of cake, me knowing the language and all. Plus, I get British culture. I’ve been a Monty Python fan since the age of eight (NOTE: Thanks Ken, for bringing home The Life of Brian on Betamax!). I can even fake the accent, mate.
I went to the ticket station at the London Underground (NOTE: This is the subway system, also known as The Tube. It is not a terrorist cell, as I once suspected. Good to know. Mind the gap.) I asked for a ticket to a station near Southwark Bridge Road. I said it like it looks: Southwark.
“You’re wrong, it’s Suthick, mate,” the ticket guy said, disregarding many letters in Southwark and compressing the word into a single syllable.
Oookay. Point taken. I don’t really know English.
I took the tube to downtown London. I had reviewed directions from the station to the hotel online and knew the general direction in which to walk (NOTE: I really didn’t do that, but I don’t want to let you know how dumb I can be so I’m changing the story to save face. Don't tell anyone I told you. Thanks!). The simple fact that no London street other than a bridge goes more than 10 meters without curving broke my internal compass. That is to say, I got totally lost deep within in the winding cobblestone roadways. I did wander through a nice market that smelled of fish and curry, and after I asked directions several times I found my hotel. (NOTE: For the record, pulling wheeled luggage across block after block of old cobblestone street sucks.)
I was laughed at for being a silly American when I confused London Bridge with the Tower Bridge, but earned a point back by knowing that Big Ben was actually the bell inside the tower, not the clock. I earned an additional point for having a real Yorkshireman compliment my accent when I let out a few Monty Python quotes. For me, Monty Python quotes just kind of slip out, like farts.
I did get some time to walk through the streets of London with two Dutch colleagues. Every now and again they would start talking in Dutch, and I would tell them to stop talking about me.
We saw the main tourist attractions: Big Ben, Parliament! (I did a Chevy Chase impression for my colleagues, but apparently European Vacation was not popular in the Netherlands, as they just started talking about me in Dutch again), and I also saw Westminster Abbey and Piccadilly Circus.
When we got to Buckingham Palace, I had to take advantage of the moment to capture on film the unshakable thought that ran through my head all afternoon as I walked the twisted streets of London. Let me sum it up this way...
Question: If you were in front of Buckingham Palace, could you resist doing your best Silly Walk?
Answer: Me neither!
 | |||||
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Wednesday, September 7, 2011
I've Been Interviewed!
Kai Strand is helping to promote my origins-of-Santa Claus story "The Man in the Cinder Clouds" and she posted an interview on her blog(s):
http://kaistrand.blogspot.com/2011/09/three-times-charm-with-rick-daley.html
http://cleanwriter.livejournal.com/87925.html
The same interview is on both blogs, so pick either one to find out what I have to say about writing and relaxing!
http://kaistrand.blogspot.com/2011/09/three-times-charm-with-rick-daley.html
http://cleanwriter.livejournal.com/87925.html
The same interview is on both blogs, so pick either one to find out what I have to say about writing and relaxing!
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