Tag Archives: beatles fest

September 6, 2015 · 7:00 am

Book Review: “The New Norm: Lessons from a look-alike” by Mike Oltersdorf

The New Norm by Mike and Dan Oltersdorf came up on Amazon as a suggested read while I was looking at another book. What attracted me to this book, besides the fact that this guy looks like my favorite Beatle, is that he has Parkinson’s disease. I spent many years working in nursing homes as a nurses aid and I’ve seen the devastation that Parkinson’s can reek on someone’s body. Trust me folks, Alzheimer’s has nothing on Parkinson’s. My heart goes out to Mike.

Mike Oltersdorf didn’t always look like Paul McCartney. It wasn’t until his late 40’s after gaining 40 pounds that people started to tell him his resembled the cute Beatle. This lead to many years of him working as a celebrity look-alike and winning the Beatles Look-alike contest 12 times at Beatles Fest. But nothing could prepare him for the Parkinson’s diagnosis that made him feel as if his exciting career was over. Or was it?

This book is Mike’s (and his son Dan) story of how he managed to spin a new take on his life and how he found enlightenment from the lyrics of two Beatles songs. And through these lyrics, he passes his gift on to the world to teach us all how to live the new norm everyday.

This book is just 80 pages, but packs a punch and ends with a worksheet to help you find your gift to share with the world. Proceeds from each book benefit the National Parkinson Foundation, so even if you just buy the $0.99 Kindle version, you can know you’ve helped others, but I think you’ll enjoy Mike’s message.

You can order Mike’s book in paperback or for Kindle at Amazon.

I rate this book: 3 out of 4 Beetles!

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Filed under Beatles influence, Paul McCartney

Tagged as beatles, beatles fest, Beatles influence, biography, books, Look-alike, Mike Oltersdorf, Parkinson's disease, Paul McCartney, The New Norm

October 15, 2014 · 1:10 pm

Video: Beatles Fan returns Billy J. Kramer’s sock after 50 years!

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a teenage girl during the very height of Beatlemania in the mid 1960s? Well, this video of author Dee Elias lets you know how far those girls would go to get close to their favorite stars! Watch as Dee finally gets to meet Billy J. Kramer at the 2014 Fest for Beatles Fans in L.A. 50 years after she stole his sock from his hotel room WHILE HE SLEPT!

For more information on Dee Elias and her book, Confessions of a Beatlemaniac, go to: http://www.ConfessionsOfABeatlemaniac.com

NOTE: Dee Elias was contacted by Mr. Kramer’s manager on Oct. 20th and threatened with legal action if she did not take down the above video from YouTube. She complied with (what I feel is their irrational) their request. If you’d like to know Dee’s story, please read her book.

Book Review: The Beatles and Me on Tour by Ivor Davis

Ivor Davis book I met Ivor Davis for the first time at the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans in August. The word most commonly used to describe Ivor was ‘charming’. And that he was! He won everyone over who had the privilege to meet him and take home a copy of his book. I’ve finally gotten around to reading this book and here’s my honest review.

What an absolute delight this books is! Refreshing and so well written, anyone can just breeze through it’s pages. The only downside…it ends. Ivor has spent his life as a reporter and it shows in his writing style…very easy and smooth, it’s an absolute joy to follow him along on his journey with the Beatles during their 1964 tour of America. Ivor doesn’t bore you with HIS story…he tells the story of what was going on behind the scenes. Readers get the inside story of the Beatles backstage, in the air, holed up in their hotel rooms like caged animals and the secret meetings and parties that went on with other stars of the time.

Without a doubt, this book is a must read and must have for any true Beatles fan. And if you’d like to know more about Ivor and his book, you can go to his website at: www.IvorDavisBeatles.com. There are also links to let you know where you can purchase your own copy.

And if you’re in the L.A. area, don’t miss the opportunity to meet Ivor Davis at the Fest for Beatles Fans in L.A. on October 10-12, 2014.

I rate this book: 4 out of 4 Beetles!

Book Review: The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper by Sally Carpenter

What a delight this book was to read! I had seen this book mentioned on BeatlesNews.com and decided to find the author and ask for a review copy. Ms. Carpenter said she’d contact her publisher about getting a copy to me, but after several weeks my mailbox was still empty, so I just bought my own. I prefer buying my own copies to review anyway so I don’t feel obligated to the authors/bands/producers.

Though not really a Beatle book, this fictitious murder mystery takes place in 1993 at a Beatles convention in southern Indiana. When a member of the local Beatles tribute band is murdered, Sandy Fairfax becomes suspect #1 in the eyes of the local police. Sandy is a childhood TV star turned popstar in the 70’s. Pulling from his four years on TV as Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth, Sandy sets out to clear his name and find the real killer.

This is author Sally Carpenter’s first book in her ‘Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Mystery Series’ and I think she’s done a great job depicting the nuances of a Beatles fan convention. Throughout the book, we Beatles fans will find many similarities to the well-known Fest for Beatles Fans that take place every year in NY and Chicago. In fact, Ms. Carpenter even mentions Mr. Lapidos’ conventions in her book. Another nice touch is the chapters are named for Beatles songs and Beatles lyrics are hidden within the text of the book.

I find this book to be a great little easy and leisurely read. I only wish Ms. Carpenter were going to write more stories with the Beatles as a theme.

By the time I was halfway through this book, my review copy showed up in the mail! So, I’d like to share this copy with my readers. Anyone posting a comment in the comments section of this post will be entered to win a copy of ‘The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper’! Contest entries will only be accepted until 11:59 pm on Saturday, October 29, 2011. I will use the random number generator at Random.org to pick the winner and post it on Sunday, October 30th. Good Luck!

You can read another review of this book and an interview with the author here.

This book is available on Amazon.com.

I rate this book: 3 out of 4 Beetles