August 2007 - Nr. 8
Soccer Fever
Just in time for the World Soccer
Games in Canada Toronto became the launching pad for a new book written by
one of the sports greatest fans,
James
McCreath. As a matter of fact James McCreath appears to be a fan of
everything done well and with enthusiasm, which is reflected in his career
as an entrepreneur in many fields as a commercial real estate magnate, rock
and sports promoter and restaurateur. In all of these disciplines he has
demonstrated excellent skills, and now he can also add to his many credits
that he is a writer.
His book Renaldo actually came out in hardcover
after 7 years of painstaking research in 1997. He started writing to
overcome his grief over the loss of his first wife, the mother of his 2
children.
Four
years later he married an old family friend, Anne Smythe, also widowed, and
together they now enjoy each other’s extended families. After the book was
presented in Toronto, Frankfurt, Germany and Chicago book fairs, he lost
interest in the publishing industry, but since the 2006 Soccer World Cup in
Germany his enthusiasm made him investigate the possibility of publishing
Renaldo again, this time as a paperback. With the help of Amazon’s
publishing subsidiary Booksurge Publications, with their considerable
expertise including editing, Renaldo was released to an animated crowd in a
tropical Toronto setting at C Lounge, a downtown club with tropical
ambience, including pool and palm trees.
Soccer
players demonstrated some ball tricks, the drinks were flowing freely, and
beautiful people mixed and mingled with friends and industry people. We
enjoyed especially running into Ingrid Laederach Steven, owner of the Swiss
Master Chocolatier.
The
book that was launched in such a stylish way is all about the passion life
can contain. Soccer plays a big part in it but also family, power plays,
love and betrayal. It plays in Argentina, a country famous for its passion
for soccer, like most South American countries. It reads easily and the plot
moves forward smoothly and even though it is a big book, over 500 pages in
big paperback format, it makes for good entertainment, especially under a
palm tree or some other beach on a lazy afternoon.
You
do not have to be a soccer fan to enjoy the book. The female editor made
sure that even the ladies will find this an easy read.
All this for a first time author is quite remarkable but no surprise considering the rich life experience James McCreath has to draw from.
To order a copy of Renaldo by James McCreath, who has a sequel in mind, go to www.booksurge.com or orders@booksurge.com, , use 1-866-308-6235.
Happy reading!
Austrian Team excites local crowd
When the Austrian team had qualified for the world
cup expectations were mixed. Austria was not famous for making it to the
event. No one really knew anything about the team. Thus everyone arrived
with much curiosity to the bash at the Delta Chelsea Inn in downtown
Toronto, where a fabulous buffet Austrian style was awaiting a large crowd,
which had arrived by invitation from the Austrian Consulate General.
Consul
Dr. Karl Schmidt was at hand to welcome the guests, as was Gabriele Lenger
of the Austrian National Tourist Office.
The suspense and excitement grew as the evening wore on and the eventual win was celebrated with some genuine and delicious Austrian Stiegl Beer, now available in Ontario. Lucky beer drinkers could carry home their very own Stiegl Stein to extend their collection.
Of
course there were some soccer balls - the genuine article - given away as
door prizes.
This was a remarkable start into the world cup and as we went home and followed the next round of games with much anticipation we became more and more hopeful that the Austrian team would make it into the end round.
Well, 4th place is remarkable and the young players deserve much praise. They carried themselves well throughout, which can not be said for all the teams.
All we have to say is "Congrats for making it thus far!" Surely soccer has a few new stars and heroes in the making.
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
Comments to: sfr@echoworld.com
