Various attempts to postpone reality: I played guitar and a few assorted instruments in a band called “The Original Dirt Banned,” whiled away three years during the late 60s/early-70s at Ontario College of Art looking at naked young ladies (in the classrooms, in the halls—it was great), studied music for a few more years, hunked around, stumbled into a well-paying job for four years, quit that nonsense in 1979, moved to northern Ontario and began writing in 1980, a quasi-career which has gathered enough momentum to carry me through to today.
Today’s reality: I am an author and journalist with a passion for words, humour, motorcycles, and travel. Although the topics of my written work vary as much as my interests—from searches for the best butter tart to motorcycling to the secrets of off-the-grid home sewage systems—the connecting theme is that all have to be a fun read, simply because all have to be fun to write or they don't get written. Call it Max's Maxim, my guide for over a quarter of a century as I enjoyed stints as a columnist, contributing editor, feature editor, motorcycle test rider, freelance writer, and author, the related functions often overlapping. My work has been published in six countries and four languages.
When not travelling or writing I occasionally get around to working on a passive solar home that is ever-so-slowly headed toward near-completion in the bush and wetlands where I live with a very understanding and long-time friend named Jackie. And a psycho cat named Spook.
In addition to the books discussed on this web site (check out the signpost), other written works include (but are not limited to):
The Dock Primer, an informational pamphlet published by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Cottage Life
Collected works in which my articles have appeared:
Harrowsmith Country Life Reader, Secrets of the Hearth
The Cottage Book, Achieving the One-Pull Start
Docks and Projects, The Dock of Your Dreams
Magazines in which my articles have appeared:
General Interest: Cottage Life, Harrowsmith, (US) Harrowsmith's Country Life, Outdoor Canada
Special Interest: Snow Goer, Water Goer, Photo Life
Motorcycle: Cycle Canada, MDT (CDN motorcycle trade journal), (Québec) Moto Journal, (U.S.) Cycle World, Rider, Motorcyclist, Iron Horse, (Australia) Two Wheels, (England) Motorcycle International, (Germany) Motorrad Reisen & Sport
Awards:
I have been nominated for 10 Canadian National Magazine Awards, winning two gold, three silver, and five honorable mentions.
I have also received four Motorcycle Awards of Excellence, in 1994 for The Winged Wheel Patch, 2003 for On Any Wednesday, 2004 for Around the Bend (again), and 2006 for These are a few of my favourite roads. And I was short-listed for Ontario Library Service-North's Third Annual Northern "Lit" Award for Unresolved Connections. And my mother loved me.
Other Stuff:
As part of my ongoing efforts to avoid a full-time job where people have the audacity to expect a person to turn up on a regular sort of basis, I’ve made a few TV appearances, such as on Motorcycle Experience and Canada AM, and several radio appearances, such as on Morningside with Peter Gzowski, and writing and performing of a live, weekly segment on CBC radio's Morning North show titled Max at the Cottage (1994). My photography has appeared in a variety of books and magazines, and has been used by Honda Canada to promote its line of snowthrowers. Occasionally, I also find myself having been coaxed to speak before an assembled audience (and to my later surprise, discover that I survived). And for something completely different, in 2002 I wrote the regulations for the installation of resort-based docks (or jetties, depending on your locale) along the Red Sea coast for the Egyptian government. Crazy world, ain't it?
| Where's Max? | |
| Below is an occasionally updated list of events in which Max plans to officially participate. Of course, plans do change, so check back now and then for updates. And do flag Max down and say hi if you see him, wherever. | |
| Most days | Writing, or working on writing related stuff, such as the day-to-day happenings at Word Dust Press, promoting the books, making hot chocolate, feeding the cat, cursing his computer between naps, putting the garbage out in time for early-Monday morning pickup, and who knows what else. Keep in touch, eh? |
| April 10-11 | Max will again be teaming up with author and racer Michelle Duff at the Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show, held each year at the International Centre across from the Toronto International Airport. Drop by for chat if you're in the area. |
| August 14 | Max is returning to the Return to Trenton Rally at Centennial Park in Trenton, ON, this time to reveal "The Best Road Ever" to a select group of rally participants, Saturday at 2:00 p.m. He will also have a bunch of his books on hand to look at, purchase, and discuss. Hope to see you there. |
