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Chris Rodell claims to have the brain of a free-range chicken. Now, he confesses he has no idea what that means.
"But neither does the free-range chicken!"
Rodell is the two-time winner of the TINARA Award for outstanding satire. His non-fiction books include, "Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories of The King," about his offbeat friendship with one of the world's most beloved men, and "Growing Up in The REAL Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, about another famous hometown neighbor, legendary children's TV host Fred Rogers. He's a popular and inspirational keynote speaker sought to instill runaway creativity into employees and students throughout America.
Rodell was 55 in 2018 and was living a life of swashbuckling optimism that long elusive career honors and meaningful income would soon, finally, be his. But instead of achievement and six-figure book deals, a botched foot operation left him hobbled and led to debilitating back pain that required complicated spinal surgery. Then, to top it all off, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Debts rose, his marriage was tested and friends who once looked to him for inspirational examples of cheerful perseverance soon began to suggest out loud if it might be time to consider suicide.
"Not on your life," he'd say. "Or mine!"
Whenever he hears of anyone dying suddenly, he vows to live suddenly. "They say you only live once. They're wrong! You only die once. Do it right and you get to live each and every day."
That's what his new book is all about. The book, soon to be every where, is, "Sparring with Parkinsons & Other Worldly Sucks: A Mortal's Guide to Sudden Living." He is the author of 11 books, four of them so bad he doesn't even acknowledge they exist.
Do you know how bad a book has to be for its author to refuse to acknowledge it even exists? It's like having a kid so ugly and stupid the parents refuse to put his picture up on the mantle.
Rodell is at the moment living in Latrobe, Pa., with his wife Valerie, their two grown daughters, Josie and Lucy, and a small, loud dog named Snickers.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT CHRIS ...
“Every convention needs that one crowd-pleasing speaker who'll get everybody laughing and feeling happy to be human. That’s Chris. He had all 250 of us laughing — and there were people in that room who, I swear, had never laughed in their entire lives.”
— Karl Repon, PA Librarians Association
"This book (Use All the Crayons!) is not exactly about crayons, nor is it about coloring in any tangible way. It's about living with gusto and enjoying every minute. It's about BEING HAPPY! Reading it makes me happy. It's one of my most precious purchases. I bought the book, and I have been laughing ever since. You'll love it too. It will make you happy."
- Sharon Lippincott, Chilehead Adventurer
"Over the years, my work has allowed me to travel and connect with dozens of amazing people. Many of them I've stayed in touch with and consider friends, even if our relationship entailed just a few days on a golf course and/or at a casino, sharing post-round dinners, late-night cocktails, and laughs. One of those people is Chris Rodell. Besides being a terrific writer, he's also incredibly funny, genuine, and an all-around great soul."
-- Gary Trask
”Chris is insightful, fearless, and one of the most brilliant, hilarious voices out there."
-- Kara Baldwin
"There is so much humor and you get to it with such ease, it’s just brilliant. It just seems to come so easily. It’s a pleasure to read. Truly brilliant."
— Jim Wexell,
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