Mighty Joe Mui: The Untold Underdog Story at Cornell tells the story of a Chinese-Canadian soccer player who defied expectations at every turn and became a prominent athlete and successful entrepreneur. Why was this an important book for you to write?

It was very important for me to write this book primarily because of its invaluable lessons. Students, athletes, and entrepreneurs can learn so much from this memoir about admirable character traits such as perseverance, courage, and integrity. As a teacher interacting with students, I see and hear their struggles on a daily basis. Meeting Joe Mui and hearing his story was an excellent way to address the critical needs of students today. When Joe and I discussed his memoir, we developed the book with one goal in mind… to inspire. One reason why this book has been a success with readers of various backgrounds is because Joe’s stories are relatable to so many people outside the soccer firmament. “Mighty Joe Mui” transcends race, religion, and gender. His story connects with readers of various backgrounds because of his struggles and timeless advice.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

Joe and I implemented a multipronged approach to reach our readers. Joe’s life story combined with my field experience in education and film/TV were conducive to writing the ideal book for the “edutainment” genre. Our goal was to combine education with entertainment to produce a text that would engage readers through Joe’s inspirational life story. Ultimately, we published a book recognized under four genres: Biography/Memoir, Sports, Business, and Self-Help/Motivational.

The final chapter of Mighty Joe Mui includes educational resources such as graphic organizers. Graphic organizers in the classroom are effective tools used for helping students who struggle in the area of organizing themselves.

An implicit message behind this book is to be respectful of anyone you interact with. Joe met countless individuals long before they became influential household names in business, sports, and entertainment. Several of these individuals remained supportive of Joe’s endeavours and initiatives because of his humility exhibited decades prior. To this day, because of Joe’s rapport, he can still pick up a phone or shoot a text that’ll be responded to by such influential figures because of his humble and respectful nature.

The most important theme in Mighty Joe Mui is to persevere. Joe and I wanted to inspire our readers to remain tenacious in their pursuit of achieving dreams! Simply put, never giving up is the answer to reaching your goals.

What was the most challenging part of writing this biography, and what was the most rewarding?

The most challenging part of writing this biography was determining what risks to take. I’ve learned that in the creative world, one cannot satisfy everyone. And I am fine with that. I completely understand. It’s an aspect of art that I respect. For instance, I attempted to use a creative approach while storytelling that entailed jumping back/forth in Joe’s chronological timeline. While some readers enjoyed this aspect of storytelling, others preferred sticking to a more linear timeline. I embrace feedback, but for any aspiring writer who might be reading this interview, be mindful that risk-taking comes with the territory.

Another challenging aspect of writing this biography was making decisions on omissions. There were interesting side notes and stories that could have added intrigue, but to avoid controversy, we remained focused on conveying what was pertinent to Joe’s life story.

The most rewarding part of writing this book is being able to offer a beneficial text to readers. Another rewarding part of writing this book was being able to tap into the creative area of my mind. Because of this project, I’ve become more sharp in writing, marketing, and negotiating. Unfortunately, we live in a world where you’re pigeonholed and even excoriated for wanting to explore avenues outside of “your lane.” This project gave me the opportunity to explore my potential outside the “norm.” I will always be thankful for this project.

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Joe Mui’s story?

Inspiration! Joe and I want our readers to leave this experience feeling inspired.

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