Bourbon Break: Two Hunter S. Thompson Quotes and an Old Fashioned
The holiday season seemed the perfect time to kick back and relax with a stiff drink and a pair of quotes that sum up the spirit of “A Fan’s Notes.”
Welcome
I’m a recovering journalist who now works in corporate communications and public relations (aka the “Dark Side”), but I write on the side to keep at least some of the journo cred I established over a 20-year career.
If you need a reliable freelancer, I do have some availability for the right opportunity. Why hire me? I’m an award-winning business reporter who has covered breaking news, market trends, and M&A across the outdoor and snowsports industries, most recently for the B2B trade publications Outside Business Journal and SGB Media, before switching careers.
See below for a sampling of my work, or visit my portfolio page for a comprehensive look at my writing. Connect with me on LinkedIn, follow on other social media (accounts are listed under my photo to the left), and hit me up anytime at ericsmithwriter@gmail.com.
Be sure to check out my blog, “A Fan’s Notes,” which I recently revived.
Cheers!
Eric
Recent articles
Why I’m a Fan of the ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Finale
After recently rewatching the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” I rediscovered how much I love the show—even its polarizing ending.
All Signs Point to Ski Season
I’m a fan of autumn in Colorado because everywhere you look, there’s evidence that another winter of making turns is finally here.
The Smiths: ‘A Light That Never Goes Out’
It’s time the tale were told of how I became and why I remain a fan of the Smiths, whose music defined my teenage years and continues to resonate decades later.
The Transcendence of James Wright’s Poetry
My ode to the Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose verse has haunted me for decades, and whose writing style helped guide my own.
A Tribute to Leonard Cohen’s ‘Avalanche’ and Nick Cave’s Two Triumphant Covers
My latest is a deep dive into the poetic perfection of Cohen’s song, how Cave brilliantly covered it twice, and why I’m a fan of it all.
Beer Break: ‘Find What You Love and Let It Kill You’
Time for another beer break—with another Bukowski quote. Some doubt he said these words, but the sentiment sums up the mission of “A Fan’s Notes.”
A Meditation on Jeff Buckley and His Masterpiece, ‘Grace’
On the anniversary of Buckley’s tragic death, I pay tribute to the immensely talented singer-songwriter, his signature album and the connection I feel to an artist gone way too soon.
Writing for Something Other Than Money
Despite the time and energy I put into this blog, I don’t make any money on it. That’s OK, because I’m a fan of writing for reasons beyond a paycheck.
Praise for Print Reference Books
My latest blog explores a longtime preference for print dictionaries and other reference books over their digital counterparts—including the unlikely word that made me a lifelong fan.
The Sublimity of Spring Skiing
Soft snow, warm sun, cold beer and the potential for deep pow make spring perhaps the greatest season to hit the slopes. My latest explains why—and offers tips on how to best enjoy it.
The Musings of a Memphis Grizzlies Fan
After an extended beer break, I return to "A Fan's Notes" with an exhaustive look at how I became, and why I remain, a diehard fan of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Beer Break: A Colorado Brew and Bukowski Quote
The first in an occasional series in which I forego my usual deep dive and let the art (mostly) speak for itself. To begin, an IPA from Nederland and a quote from Charles Bukowski.
An Ode to ‘Annie Hall’
“I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member”—except maybe a club for fans of “Annie Hall.” My latest is a deep dive into Woody Allen’s 1977 masterpiece.
It Was My Fate to Be a Denver Broncos Fan
My story of Broncos fandom begins five decades ago, far from the Mile High City and in an unlikely way. This latest blog details the unusual path I took to becoming a Denver diehard.
Revisiting One of My Favorite Poems
A deep dive into a Baudelaire poem that advises us to “be always drunken”—but not only with alcohol. I explore my relationship with the poem and what it means to also “be drunk on poetry and virtue.”
Three Decades (and Counting) of Steely Dan Fandom
For decades, I’ve been a devotee of Steely Dan—or simply The Dan, which was the brainchild of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. My latest blog explores 30-plus years of being a Danfan.
Introducing ‘A Fan’s Notes,’ the Blog
Welcome to the first installment of my newly launched blog, “A Fan’s Notes.” The title comes from one of my favorite books, Frederick Exley’s 1968 “fictional memoir” of the same name.
Successful Succession
Succession planning is critical in securing long-term success for future owners of a business, and cementing the legacy of current ones.
The Risk of Not Investing in Tech
A look at the costs of investing—or not investing—in the latest the latest software and what the future may bring.
What's Next in Ski Area Technology?
Tech vendors dish on how diffierent innovations can help reduce friction and improve the guest experience.
Interview: Agile Supply Chain Helps Drive a Company’s Financial Success
A smoothly run supply chain and procurement department operates in anonymity, and that’s traditionally been the case at Vista Outdoor, according to David Stokoe, Vice President Strategic Procurement and head of the company’s Supply Chain Center of Excellence.
The two young entrepreneurs taking over a century-old boot company
Limmer Boots has produced world-class footwear since 1919. After working through a few years of transition, the business has new leadership in Chris Sawyer and Adam Lane-Olsen, two brand loyalists who want to carry the company's legacy forward.
BOA chief executive: 'We have fewer brand partners today than five years ago—and that’s on purpose'
Shawn Neville, who joined BOA five years ago, dishes on his company’s recent ownership change, how Covid impacted demand, threats to the brand’s success, and what’s next.
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