I'm a published writer now!
After this summer's play went well, and we were featured in the paper as an "upcoming writing duo to watch", I got an email a few weeks ago asking if I wanted to review the autobiography of Chris Jericho, a wrestler, for the local paper. After a minute of teen girl-like squealing, I said yes. It was published today and I'm pretty happy with it. I knew there wouild be some editing done, but it wasn't too badly chopped up, so I'm happy. There's a bit in the middle where he took a few thoughts I had and threw them all into one paragraph that looks awkward to me, and he split a few paragraphs into individual sentences, but of course I'm my own hardest critic.
http://www.whatsonwinnipeg.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32592
Lion's Tale
Around the World in Spandex
By Chris Jericho with Peter Thomas Fornatale
Grand Central Publishing, 411 pages, $30
WRESTLING champion, radio show host, rock star, actor and now author, Chris Jericho is a world-class wrestler who has worked in all the major leagues in North America, Japan and Mexico -- and he's a good old Winnipeg boy to boot.
Jericho, now 37, starts his life story with his early years growing up in Winnipeg as the son of former NHL star Ted Irvine and attending professional wrestling matches at the Winnipeg Arena.
Once he graduated with a creative communications diploma from Red River College in 1989, he found his passion for performing.
He starts his journey into wrestling by following his dream, packing up his rusted '76 Volare for the drive to Calgary to train with wrestling patriarch Stu Hart in an old bowling alley.
Jericho then works his way up through rings in Mexico, Japan and North America until he hits the "Big Three": Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
He chose his ring name from the album Walls of Jericho by the heavy metal band Helloween. Jericho worked both sides of the fence but was always more comfortable as a bad guy or "heel," but was so popular with fans that he got cheers no matter what he did.
He was well-known for his microphone work. Some wrestlers can't handle mike duties, but Jericho was always one of the best.
The book ends with his debut in WWE in the summer of 1999, opening the door for a sequel covering the next six years of his career.
A Lion's Tale is different from league sanctioned wrestler biographies in that it has been written and published without the muzzle of censorship, self-imposed or otherwise.
The authors of other recent WWE autobiographies, such as Shawn Michaels and Eric Bischoff, portray themselves as blameless victims who have never done anything wrong and are constantly pointing fingers at others in the business.
In his 2005 book Heartbreak and Triumph, Michaels attempts to manufacture a clean image for himself, contrary to his well-known reputation among clued-in wrestling fans.
Jericho is willing to admit his errors and his bad behaviour. He discusses his participation in backstage pranks and after-show parties with rare candidness.
He names names and tells entertaining and honest stories about life backstage as a wrestler, warts and all.
Jericho talks about working inside and outside the ring with names such as Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Owen Hart and Brian Pillman.
He also discusses his self-motivated rise through the WCW and some of the roadblocks thrown in his way as he tried to advance his career.
One of the more interesting parts is where Jericho discusses the WCW and the difficulties he had dealing with the disorganization he found there.
He comments on superstars like Bill Goldberg who were paranoid about protecting their position in the company and on writers who changed or dropped storylines with no explanation from week to week.
Jericho often found himself on his own for ideas, which led to him using his own creativity to come up with some of the better and more memorable story arcs seen in WCW.
Wrestling fans will enjoy following Jericho's climb through the ranks and his stories about other wrestlers, such as when he met Rey Mysterio Jr. for the first time.
All readers will be taken by the story of a young man from Winnipeg following his dreams with drive and perseverance.
http://www.whatsonwinnipeg.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32592
Lion's Tale
Around the World in Spandex
By Chris Jericho with Peter Thomas Fornatale
Grand Central Publishing, 411 pages, $30
WRESTLING champion, radio show host, rock star, actor and now author, Chris Jericho is a world-class wrestler who has worked in all the major leagues in North America, Japan and Mexico -- and he's a good old Winnipeg boy to boot.
Jericho, now 37, starts his life story with his early years growing up in Winnipeg as the son of former NHL star Ted Irvine and attending professional wrestling matches at the Winnipeg Arena.
Once he graduated with a creative communications diploma from Red River College in 1989, he found his passion for performing.
He starts his journey into wrestling by following his dream, packing up his rusted '76 Volare for the drive to Calgary to train with wrestling patriarch Stu Hart in an old bowling alley.
Jericho then works his way up through rings in Mexico, Japan and North America until he hits the "Big Three": Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
He chose his ring name from the album Walls of Jericho by the heavy metal band Helloween. Jericho worked both sides of the fence but was always more comfortable as a bad guy or "heel," but was so popular with fans that he got cheers no matter what he did.
He was well-known for his microphone work. Some wrestlers can't handle mike duties, but Jericho was always one of the best.
The book ends with his debut in WWE in the summer of 1999, opening the door for a sequel covering the next six years of his career.
A Lion's Tale is different from league sanctioned wrestler biographies in that it has been written and published without the muzzle of censorship, self-imposed or otherwise.
The authors of other recent WWE autobiographies, such as Shawn Michaels and Eric Bischoff, portray themselves as blameless victims who have never done anything wrong and are constantly pointing fingers at others in the business.
In his 2005 book Heartbreak and Triumph, Michaels attempts to manufacture a clean image for himself, contrary to his well-known reputation among clued-in wrestling fans.
Jericho is willing to admit his errors and his bad behaviour. He discusses his participation in backstage pranks and after-show parties with rare candidness.
He names names and tells entertaining and honest stories about life backstage as a wrestler, warts and all.
Jericho talks about working inside and outside the ring with names such as Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Owen Hart and Brian Pillman.
He also discusses his self-motivated rise through the WCW and some of the roadblocks thrown in his way as he tried to advance his career.
One of the more interesting parts is where Jericho discusses the WCW and the difficulties he had dealing with the disorganization he found there.
He comments on superstars like Bill Goldberg who were paranoid about protecting their position in the company and on writers who changed or dropped storylines with no explanation from week to week.
Jericho often found himself on his own for ideas, which led to him using his own creativity to come up with some of the better and more memorable story arcs seen in WCW.
Wrestling fans will enjoy following Jericho's climb through the ranks and his stories about other wrestlers, such as when he met Rey Mysterio Jr. for the first time.
All readers will be taken by the story of a young man from Winnipeg following his dreams with drive and perseverance.