References and
Testimonials for Thomas Martin Smith
Hello! THOMAS MARTIN
SMITH is my formal name and the name I use for authoring works bigger than articles.
But I am really a friendly and informal person, so please just call me Tom. e-mail Tom
Here are some things people have said
about me...
What Is Tom Like
As A Writer? Comments
from Editors
What Is Tom Like As A Writer? Comments from Readers
What is Tom Like As A Writer of Web Content? Comments from Webmasters and Internet
Marketing Experts
What Is Tom Like to Work With? Comments from Employers and Clients
What Is Tom Like As A Freelance Ambassador? Comments from Ambassadors, Government
Officials, Corporate Executives, etc.
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What Is Tom
Like As A Writer?
Comments from Editors.
"Tom
Smith came to our publication with an idea to tour the world by motorscooter to find
positive, common bonds between people of diverse cultures.
"With minimal
sponsorship, he set off on an odyssey which enthralled our readers, though an 18-part
journey-in-progress series. The odyssey led him to meet people of many walks of
life; from ambassadors to beggars.
"His writing is lucid,
grammatically correct and entertaining. He has the observer's eye of a photographer
and can paint a picture with words as well as film.
"He can meet deadlines
without problem and is committed to showing to showing how the world's people are alike in
needs, joys and sorrows rather than emphasize the hostilities.
"Should you wish further
information on Mr. Smith, his Cycle for Life and/or reception he received, feel free to
contact me. My readers would be happy to give him a rousing "hoorah".
PHYLLIS BARNATT,
Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
Former Managing Editor
of the Times-Review
Now Co-ordinator of the Journalism - Print program at Niagara College, Welland, Ontario,
Canada
Times-Review
Your Community Newspaper
"I’m honored to write a note in your journal. Your accomplishment is
truly incredible."
TASH MATSUOKA, Agoura, California,
USA
Former Editor of Rider
magazine
Rider®
MOTORCYCLING AT ITS BEST
"I have received
your story and many many beautiful photographs. ... Good news for you, your story makes
full colored eight pages at least! (it ran 10
pages) I was very impressed by your story
and fantastic photographs. ...Your story translated quite well into Japanese."
KOJI HIROE, Tokyo,
Japan
Senior Editor, CYCLE
WORLD magazine, Japan
CYCLE WORLD
Monthly Magazine by CBS/Sony
Publishing Inc.
"I ran into Tom's website while doing
research in order to find someone that had done and documented a difficult journey on a
motorscooter. As many of our subscribers are long distance riders, both in the saddle and
in spirit, I wanted something exotic, insightful, and well presented.
After tracing from website to website I came to melawend.com,
Tom's page for his journey. In contacting Tom I found him excited about our magazine and
interest in his story. His book project, "The Long Run" was perfect for our
readers and he agreed to grant us the the rights to
run an edited down chapter in an upcoming issue. In the chapter we published Tom had
arrived in India and was dealing with retrieving his scooter from the local port
authority, then venturing across the sub-continent. (Summer
2003 issue, including full cover image)
The response from our subscribers upon reading the story was
very enthusiastic. Many had never envisioned a scooter (and possibly a civilized human)
could accomplish such a feat as a ride around the world. Tom's journey is an inspiration
to all that have dreamed of seeing the world from two wheels, and gives encouragement that
we all can work toward greater international understanding and making the world a better
place."
"Serious about Scooters"
BJ STRASS, Naples, Florida, USA
Publisher & Editor, Scooter
Rider Magazine
http://www.ScooterRiderMag.com
bj@scooterridermag.com
"Smith is also an internationally
published writer and photographer. He completed the questionnaire so well and so
completely, that this month, I decided to just get out of the way and let Tom's words
speak for themselves:"
JENNIFER SLAWSON,
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Columnist - "A Passionate
Collector" - for Antiques & Collecting Magazine
Quoted from her column in the March 2005 issue.
"I thought your column was informative and fun..."
THERESE NOLAN,
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Editor, Antiques &
Collecting Magazine
ANTIQUES
& Collecting Magazine
Chicago, Illinois, USA. March 2005
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What Is Tom
Like As A Writer?
Comments from Readers.
"Tom’s book, "In The Long Run" is really
exciting! After reading it, "He's a modern Marco Polo" came to mind. Tom boldly
created and carried out this challenging project in part to improve his photography - he
achieved some excellent results."
DOUGLAS
KIRKLAND, Hollywood, California, USA
He is one the world's most sought-after celebrity / movie /
commercial / fine arts photographers. He has worked on the sets of over 100 movies
including The Sound of Music, Romancing the Stone, Out of Africa,
Showgirls, Titanic and Moulin Rouge!
Left: Leonardo DiCaprio - © Douglas
Kirkland
Right: Douglas Kirkland on the set of Titanic - photo © Scott Browning
"Tom Smith's exciting story - IN
THE LONG RUN: A Hopeful World Odyssey - about his bravely undertaken journey around the
world, gives you insights and inspiration to get the help you might need to fulfill your
own dreams. Share in Tom's great adventure and lessons of life!"
MARCIA WIEDER, San Francisco, California, USA
America's Dream Coachâ to
individuals and companies including AT&T, The Gap and American Express. A
world-renowned motivational speaker, trainer, and author, Marcia has appeared on Oprah
and The Today Show several times.
http://www.dreamcoach.com
"Tom, I received your book in the mail 4 days ago. I have one
problem with the book..........I can't put it down! ...You did a super job on the journey
and writing the book."
E-mailed update: - Subject: "Great book, Tom!"
"I just now finished reading your book. The last week has been; eat, sleep,
read the book. ...Your book has been a great inspiration. ...Thanks for a great
book!"
E-mailed update: "Hi again, I was just thinking about your
book. It does have one big flaw....very few people know about it.
E-mailed update: "You have got me dusting off your book
and reading it for the second time around. (Something I never do with books.) ...I
think your book blows the doors off Ted Simon, Doc Frasier and the rest of them. Yes,
I have read them. While I think that what Simon and Frasier did is fantastic, your
writing stands head and shoulders above theirs. Your writing really puts
me in the saddle with you."
"I think your
book would be a smash hit if the word ever got out."
DENNIS LATZY, Cool,
California, USA
Operator, water
treatment plant
"I love your book Tom. There are no other words to describe it -
it is full of wonders - inspiration - spirituality - history and so much more... Your
odyssey has taken me on a journey of the spirit. You took one step further - you believed
in your capacity and your dreams, and you drove through with determination and confidence
toward your journey of life.....Your words have painted a canvas of the world for me,
describing people, cities, and things.....I feel your emotions - fear, stumblings, pain,
ecstasy, fantasy, luck, discoveries and amazements......Thank you Tom, you've taken me
back home again.… to follow your dreams, take a chance, and never give up."
JO-ANN OWEN, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada
Staff, Simon Fraser
University
"Hi. Just wanted to let you know I am really
enjoying your book...I have to pace my time reading because I find I don't want to do
anything else when I pick up the book. I had a friend come over this week and I showed her
the book. While I was at work, she read farther than I had. She really liked it also. If I
don't e-mail too often, it's because I'm reading!!!!!!! You are quite a good writer!"
CAROL STEINBOCK,
Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
"I received the book yesterday......I was too
excited to write at that time and launched right into reading. When my husband saw the
size of the book he said, 'kiss me now honey and I'll talk to you sometime in
April'."
E-mailed update: "I am in the middle of the book and read it every chance
I get.....so, so, interesting and very funny at times....I break out in laughter and
startle my poor husband from time to time."
E-mailed update: "It has brought out a number of different emotions in
me.....delight, laughter, amusement, sadness. It also has been quite thought provoking
… I felt you really opened yourself up to the reader and shared your personal
experiences quite fearlessly. I was happy and quite surprised to read about your tender
feelings about women in general and this made me feel hopeful.....I'm not accustomed to
hearing men talk about longing, loneliness, feelings of uncertainty .... and at some
points I was agonizing right along with you. …Well I must get back to the book
now...."
ROSALIE RIVERA, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada
"Hello All,
"As a former Elite owner, I can recommend any Elite owner to visit and hopefully
purchase "IN THE LONG RUN: A Hopeful World Odyssey". If you wish to
experience (in absentia) the adventures that my good friend, Tom Smith had in his
world-wide trek - with all the joys and perils he encountered, I can vouch for many hours
spent reading this "Odyssey". I find myself delving into his adventures
over and over."
DW' HOETH, Fairfield,
Texas, USA
Charter member of Scoot Tours
Posted in a Yahoo club for owners or
wannabe owners of Honda CH250 Elite (aka Spacy) motorscooters...
- the same model as my Melawend.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CH250HondaElite
DW' recently e-mailed these great
comments... (Thank you, DW'!)
"I met Tom Smith under quite unusual circumstances - after reading about
his fantastic journey around the world on a Honda Elite scooter (Melawend), in, of all
things, a motorcycle magazine. (Scooter Rider
Magazine) I was captivated by the
fortitude that this amazing individual took to undertake such a long,
arduous trip. I thought I was a traveler when I traveled from Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma to Acapulco Mexico and back on a Honda Elite, but this was
fantastic. The magazine's publisher gave me Tom's address and I finally got in
touch with this outstanding individual. We kept in touch through all these
years. When I read his book, I was fascinated with the adventures, dilemmas,
happiness, frustrations and loneliness he had during his two-year
trip. All in all, I highly recommend any support or help to advance this
determined person's book, career, hopes and aspirations".
"… I have enjoyed many comments you make
in your book, usually personal reflections. One such was about being interested not so
much in where a person died, but where they were born and raised.. where they grew up and
had their first experiences. So true. … I found your concept of
bridges…something that stayed with me…and shared with some people. I shall now
look on bridges with a new perspective...Finally, I especially liked what you wrote in
chapter 12 about Loneliness, and how in travelling you are never really alone…Again,
I got out the highlighter…."
PHYLLIS SADLER, Victoria,
British Columbia, Canada
"I love it. I've stayed up reading it every night
because it's hard to put down."
E-mailed update: "Hi Tom. I really enjoyed the book....I
can't believe the tremendous adventures you encountered along the way! "
"p.s. Your book is so full of info, I'm going to have to
read it again just to digest all of the information it contains. :) I can tell you put a
lot of love, time and effort into it. You're an excellent writer."
BILL CHAMBERS, Rush
Springs, Oklahoma, USA
College teacher
"Tom, you got to me!! You took
me clear out of myself as I read your story. …I have never been so moved in my life.
I actually forgot I was sitting in this wheelchair. It was me on that scooter, and it was
me looking out of your eyes, and feeling and being. …"
MURRAY ANDREWS -
(ThePoetsKiss) - Michigan, USA
A husband, father,
poet, and self-made entrepreneur
See the heart-felt poem Murray wrote in response
to the Odyssey story!
Thank you, Murray! SAD NOTE: Murray, who suffered injuries
from serving his country in Viet Nam, died on January 10, 2005. He was just 58 years
old. Read more about Murray with the poem.
"Perhaps because my own mount is still hibernating in
the garage, but reading Tom Smith's "Scootering Around the World" in
your March issue was a profoundly moving emotional experience. Going beyond tales of
friendships that he made and the admirers he drew, Tom has stated in eloquent and poetic
terms the lure and charm of two-wheeled touring: the quality of a journey is not measured
by its speed, but by its memories. ... Tom is no sissy; nor Melawend a wimp ."
JIM WHITEMEYER,
Wheaton, Illinois, USA
(Letter to the Editor published
in the June 1990 issue of Rider magazine, re my article in the
March 1990 issue)
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What is
Tom Like As A Writer of Web Content?
Comments from Webmasters and
Internet Marketing Experts.
"Tom, I was
just at your site...it looks like your Odyssey trip was quite an adventure! I hope
your positive attitude will have an influence on people from around the world."
Tom Vassos, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
Author of Strategic Internet
Marketing, e-business Advisor, IBM; MBA Instructor, University of Toronto
"I visited your website tonight, and I spent at
least 3 hours there! Throughout the years I have seen sites that are very similar to
yours, but none as interesting and spell-binding as yours!..
UNBELIEVABLE!!! There are still some chapter summaries that I haven't read completely yet
because I found it irresistible to jump ahead to see what adventures were on the next
page. …"
MIKE WARE, Tampa, Florida, USA
Electrical Engineer, former
Vice President – Florida Engineering Society
"Dear Tom, I was
somewhat leery of a website promotion - but I clicked & what a wonderful
surprise! Love the music, photos & most of all the story - first chapter more
than a little reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings...
"You sound like the best
sort of traveler - courageous & adventurous, willing to learn lessons from your
travels instead of imposing rigid plans & missing the real adventure. I'm
enjoying the website tremendously, looking forward to reading about your journey through
India.
"Good luck on your
never-ending journey - from a kindred spirit."
MSNBC Travel Bulletin
Board - posted by a British expat.
Comments from an
authority on Ernest Hemingway:
"Tom...to call you a "worldly" character is
certainly an understatement. What an adventure you've had. Hem would have been
impressed. And I am impressed that you took along BY-LINE in your travels. A
wonderful choice. As Hemingway travels throughout Europe reporting on the
"troubles he's seen," you're right there with him commenting on the glories and
beauties you've seen... you have a wealth of original, exciting and informative
content here."
JOSH SILVERSTEIN, Massachusetts, USA
Ernest Hemingway
scholar, website designer and webmaster of the acclaimed website,
"TIMELESS HEMINGWAY"
(See Links page under Hemingway links.)
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What is Tom
Like to Work With?
Comments from Employers and Clients
"Mr. Smith is an
energetic, conscientious and versatile individual who readily adapts to all situations and
quickly perceives and correctly evaluates the essential elements of any problem and
arrives at a sound solution. He speaks and writes with clarity and his work is complete,
thorough and extremely accurate in all he does and most importantly places great emphasis
on details. He leaves no loose ends for others to complete. He has a polished manner, keen
sense of humor, and a personality that radiates enthusiasm even under adverse conditions.
Mr. Smith's cooperative nature and willingness to assist others has earned him the highest
respect from all."
RAY AUBIN, Victoria,
BC, Canada
Chief Warrant Officer
Canada Department of National Defense
"Tom has worked in conjunction with me (as an
independent contractor) over the past four months on several projects related to
production of print materials for educational audiences.
I have found Tom to be highly dedicated, motivated, willing
and extremely cooperative in his approach to his work and to those with whom he interacts.
His ability to work independently in searching out options for best dissemination
of the information was very evident, needed and important. He was able to learn
quite quickly new computer software and operations, which helped in researching,
collecting and disseminating the materials.
I would be pleased to recommend Tom for work requiring
editing, proofreading, research, administration and production of print materials.
Although these are the areas with which I am familiar, I would expect he would fit well
within most any organization.
RON SERA, Victoria, BC,
Canada
Director, Extension
Systems Branch
British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
"I was impressed with Mr. Smith's results on this
project; he has provided us with resources that will contribute to our goal of integrating
agricultural content into British Columbia's educational system. I have no
hesitation in recommending Mr. Smith for employment with your company or organization.
DAVID E. FREED,
Victoria, BC, Canada
Manager, Rural
Organizations & Development Section
Farm Management Branch
British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
"This is to advise that Mr. Thomas M. Smith has served
our firm well and faithfully in the capacity of title Searcher in both the Land Titles and
Registry Act systems for a period of upwards of three years.
His employment was regretfully ended by the onset of the
current economic situation, and his zeal and his dedication to thoroughness have been
sorely missed.
We found Mr. Smith to be meticulous and reliable in his work.
He is able to organize his tasks to meet deadlines, all the while displaying a
natural facility to get along well with the public and his co-workers.
In our opinion, Mr. Smith will be a fine asset to any
firm or organization engaging his services.
J. EDWARD LANTHIER, Port Colborne,
Ontario, Canada
J. E. Lanthier Niagara, Ltd.,
Ontario Land Surveyors
"This is to certify that I have known Thomas Smith for
more than twenty years and for ten of those years, he was employed by my law firm as a Law
Clerk, specializing in Real Estate.
I can recommend him for a position of trust and I know that
he will carry out any project undertaking by him with diligence and enthusiasm."
THOMAS O. JONES, Q.C., (deceased)
Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
Queen's Counsel
Jones, Jamieson and Redekop
Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries, Etc.
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