Thursday, July 23, 2009

Review in "This Week"

July 23, 2009
Tony McGarrigle review in “This Week”
Don Messer The Man Behind the Music “is a fitting tribute and welcome addition to all the other honours that Messer received after his passing in recognition of his career.”

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Interview Heaven

July 21, 2009
Interview with Tom Young, All News Radio 88.9 FM. A very odd experience, speaking with a radio station via a cell phone and getting an echo throughout the interview. Rather like having a three way conversation with myself and Tom. But Tom was genuinely interested in Don Messer the man.

July 21, 2009
Interview with Phlis McGregor, CBC Arts Producer, Halifax. What a treat this was – a far ranging conversation about Don Messer, the family man and the band leader.

July 8, 2009
I forgot to mention this last week. I can’t say enough about Paul Castle, host of CBC Shift (Saint John, NB) and his producer Elaine Bateman. They are the best interview and research team and wonderfully supportive of New Brunswick authors. I had a chance to speak with him about Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music." (14:58) July 08, 2009
www.cbc.ca/shift/interviews.html

Friday, July 17, 2009

Interview with Tony McGarrigle

June 16, 2009 . Interviewed by Tony McGarrigle for the "Kings County Rrecord" and "This Week". Tony lives in Sussex,New Brunswick, home of Marg Osburne for many years.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009


July 16, 2009 Westminster Books, Fredericton, NB
Book launch went incredibly well with fifty people showing up for the meet and greet, and all leaving with books under their arms. It was wonderful to see such a cross-section of members of the Messer family, friends from work, other writers from the Professional Writers Association of Canada, and members of the Fredericton British Sports Car Club, including Dave Nielsen who brought his violin and played a medley of Messer tunes. Thank you David!
I spoke briefly to the ethical issues involved with the writing of biography. Suzanne Alexander, Susan Baker, and Laurel Boone were all there from the Goose Lane family.

The advantage of having a famous daughter

Pendrel's Mom Releases Book - Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music

by pedalmag.com

July 10, 2009 - Top Canadian MTB XC star Catharine Pendrel (NB) Luna Pro is preparing for a big day on Saturday, July 11 when she faces off against defending champ Marie-Hélène Prémont (QC) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain at the 2009 Tim Hortons MTB XC Nationals for the Elite women's title. Prémont has been the perennial winner but Pendrel came close last year, so all eyes will be on the two titans of Canadian women's MTB XC racing. (Good news! Catharine won the Canadian National Mountain Bike Championship.)

But Pendrel's already beaming as her Mom, Johanna Bertin, is a celebrated writer and recently penned Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music, published by Goose Lane Editions. While Pendrel currently lives in BC her roots are in New Brunswick and the book launch begins with a personal book signing by Bertin in Fredericton on July 16 with more signings to come (stay tuned).

Bringing you up to date

Tuesday July 14, 2009
Interview with Rod Mackey, CKEC East Coast FM, New Glasgow
Rod Mackey has been the host of Sweet Music, a traditional music programme on CKEC/East Coast 94.1 FM for 30 years. He tells me that Don is still much requested and loved in his listening area. The interview about Don Messer, the man and the musician will air on ecfm August 16 and August 23 between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.


Friday July 10,2009
"Don Messer has arrived"
On July 10, 2009, Don Messer: The Man behind the Music was scheduled to arrive in book stores throughout Canada. It has actually been in some of the independent bookstores and Chapters for a week and is doing well, making the list for New Brunswick Reads, a compilation of best selling books published in the Telegraph Journal. One huge frustration is that Chapters Fredericton has been sold out for ten days. You would think that the publisher (located in Fredericton) would be able to restock, but that is not the case. Chapters is stocked through their Toronto office and so we wait for Toronto to decide to send more copies of the book.


Wednesday July 8, 2009
Interview with freelance writer Stephen Clare
, writing for the Halifax Chronicle-Herald Sunday Books Section. Portions of the taped interviews will air on The Book Club on CKDU 88.1 Halifax.


Monday July 6, 2009
Interview with freelance writer Sharon Jones
, preparing an insert on the Don Messer Centennial Celebration (August 1 – 8, 2009), for the Daily Gleaner.


Monday June 29, 2009
Review in "Scene and Heard with Will McGuirk"
"Johanna Bertin writes about the gifted fiddle player from New Brunswick in a direct and entertaining manner. It's a pleasant read ..."


Saturday June 27, 2009
"Don Messer: Canada's first television Star", Review in The Daily Gleaner
Anne-Marie Hood writes that "Bertin merits recognition as a Canadian writer who aspires to ensure that stories like Messer get told."


Thursday June 18, 2009
"What you didn't know about Don Messer", Review in the Telegraph Journal
Gerry Taylor in "Down Home Music" writes that "Front cover to back, Don Messer The Man Behind the Music is a handsome book, the life story of a Canadian icon told with beautiful simplicity and feeling... reading this book you will inderstand Don Messer and the passions that drove him, the stern principles that guided, yet restricted him." "Johanna Bertin has written as well-rounded a biography of Don Messer, his private and public life as will ever see print. Illustrated with rare photographs." Wow!


Tuesday June 16, 2009
"Remembering when Don Messer's fiddle ruled TV", Review in The Northern Light
Greg Mulock writes, "Don Messer The Man Behind the Music is an in-depth look at the New Brunswicker whose namesake program ranked third in the ratings ... it all makes for an interesting tale."


Thursday June 11, 2009
Visit to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Today, I was presented to the members of the NB Legislative Assembly by her MLA Carl Urquhart, (York). It was quite an honour to be seated on the floor of the assembly during question period. This is the same room in which Premier Robichaud in June 1969 offered his support for the continuation of Don Messer’s Jubilee.A copy of "Don Messer The Man Behind the Music" was given to the library of the NB Legislature.


May 29, 2009
"Biographer reveals different side of Messer", Courier Weekend. Article by freelancer John Gardner, illustrated with a photograph that may send me for a face lift. :(

Monday, July 13, 2009

"Don Messer has arrived"

On July 10, 2009, "Don Messer: The Man behind the Music" was scheduled to arrive in book stores throughout Canada. It has actually been in some of the independent bookstores and Chapters for a week and is doing well, making the list for New Brunswick Reads, a compilation of best selling books published in the Telegraph Journal.
One huge frustration is that Chapters Fredericton has been sold out for almost two weeks. You would think that the publisher (located in Fredericton) would be able to restock, but that is not the case. Chapters is stocked through their Toronto office and so we wait for Toronto to decide to send more copies of the book.