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A Life-Long Love of Sports
Recruiting Blue Chip Prospects follows a high school African-American basketball player who is being recruited by colleges to play for their school. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
A confluence of experience, events, and life-lessons provided myriad inspirations to write Recruiting Blue Chip Prospects.
As a high school and college newspaper editor, I experienced an early newspaper job offering somewhat similar to my story’s high school journalist. A rising college junior, I was offered a summer job from the sports editor of an East Bay newspaper when he was going to cover the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Though recruited, I did not accept. Unregretfully, I wonder how life might have changed if I had.
I did serve as a newspaper moderator at my San Francisco high school (and published a teaching simulation with Interaction Publishers called Saturation contrasting traditional and new journalism). I also quickly became English Department Chair (and one of my department members in 1973-75 was Tobias “Toby” [he told us he was named after his father’s Toby mug] Wolff, then writing This Boy’s Life).
Our then all-male, middle-class Catholic school, more known for producing the city’s police and fire personnel than doctors and lawyers, was renowned for its athletic history. Uniquely then, it had produced two baseball Hall-of-Famers, Joe Cronin and Harry Heilmann.
Our baseball and basketball teams were excellent while I was a student and new teacher. Glimpses of our coach, Jerry Phillips, can be seen in the coach in my story.
I did enjoy talented newspaper staff members. Dennis Caulley, Sal DiGrande, Leo Pierini and Tom Longdon were exemplary. Gary Lucchesi (who would win an Academy Award for producing Million Dollar Baby) and Kilian Kerwin (who would win an Emmy for producing Delhi Crime, and may be a bit of a model for Kelly Kerwin in my story — though, at best, most characters, like the Coach Burke character too, are conflations of real people) were also notable staff members. Maybe I should pester Gary or Kilian to do the movie version of Recruiting.
Of course, it’s the recruiting machinations employed behind the scenes in 1991 to land Blue Chip Prospects, specifically T.R. Ward in my novel, that sets my Sacramento story (I needed a nearby river for my Huck Finn allusions and to drive the plot) in motion.
I started writing the story at about the same time Jason Kidd was being heavily recruited out of St. Joseph’s after pundits thought the Alameda school itself had recruited him as an eighth grader away from Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland, which my daughter attended.
I’ve always loved sports and have written a number of sports-related published memoirs since retiring. Doing so gave me the confidence and impetus to resurrect my novel, started thirty years ago. Being a high school principal and also teaching college classes didn’t allow enough time in the interim.
Today, with NIL, Prep Factories, television money, conference realignments that defy geography, numbers (Big 18?) and common sense, “follow the money” undeniably has replaced any ideal of student-athlete as dominating collegiate sports and recruiting.
In fact, today’s frontpage headline of a Connor Letourneau story in the San Francisco Chronicle (11/26/23) reads, “Big Money Upending Basketball Recruiting: Bay Area Colleges must ‘Adapt or Die’ as Athletes Seek Out NIL Deals.”
My timely story anticipates that world.
My interest in college sports recruiting might initially have been fueled by a specific undergrad hoop contest. In a game against Long Beach State, I, along with my fellow rowdy St. Mary’s yell leaders, led a call and response to taunt the opposing coach throughout about allegations and investigations about recruiting violations.
Jerry Tarkanian, who would later solidify his nickname of “Tark the Shark” when he recruited, many thought with illegal enticements, a team that would go undefeated and win a national championship at U.N.L.V., already was in the crosshairs by my senior season in college.
In the last few years while redoing, polishing, and finishing Recruiting Blue Chip Prospects, I could also call upon direct experience as a college counselor. For example, I counseled Shannon Rowbury, (a three-time Olympian track finalist in the 1500m, who held the American record in the event) after being successfully recruited by Duke where she became an All-American.
While principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in San Francisco, I participated, during a seven-year span, in trophy ceremonies for the Fighting Irish’s five Nor Cal championships and four California state championships won by boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. We also won Nor Cal volleyball championships three times during those years.
Students got recruited off that team and many others over the years.
I had always loved sports. Even today with the “follow the money” mentality having gained a complete stranglehold on this important segment of the American culture, I’m inspired by the fact that the sporting scene often provides a perfect lens for seeing the best and worst of moral and ethical decision-making, in the moment or the era.
In short, I’ve always been inspired by the fact that sports can teach lessons that don’t shy away from exposing the faulty versions of truth of others.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
The novel’s main premise is that everybody, and especially young adults, sometimes unwittingly, get recruited, if nothing else for other versions of the truth.
Americans live that out daily in our social relations, culture, and politics.
That’s a main takeaway from my experience, my observations, and my reading and thinking during a 46-year educational career.
In the story, a big deal is aptly made of T.R. Ward’s recruitment to play collegiate basketball.
This novel emanates also from my desire to tell a story about other Blue Chip prospects beyond athletic recruits.
At the same time, I wanted to draw upon my experience to focus on a high school culture.
Much in the story — including characters, classroom situations, interactions, school extracurriculars, and challenges – comes from personal experience at my school and others. I have served on accreditation committees, observed and evaluated teachers, and mentored administrators at various high schools over the years.
I did think it important to have a genuine “teacherly” voice tell the story of a very positive, if not always harmonious, culture of one school so that readers can compare it to their own high school experience, the most common rite of passage today in the broader American culture.
I also conferenced with many other principals and Athletic Directors over the years, a number of times about sports related concerns. In fact, Ron Nocetti, the Executive Director of California’s CIF, which oversees all prep sports in the state, is a former student of mine who taught with me for a couple years before moving to Sacramento.
I also had heard the real voices of various students over the years since the school in which I spent my career and which served as something of a model for the novel’s school enjoyed a diverse student body in which students interacted well with one another. I wanted to echo those voices which have so enriched my own life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I spoke to the main theme in #2 above — that we are all constantly being recruited, especially during the coming-of age phase of our lives.
Since all literature is about moral revelation (shorter works) or evolution (longer works), and you can’t have a narrative without conflict, other themes in Recruiting emerge from the evolution of the characters and relationships in the story and the conflict at its heart.
Percy Forte, for example, seemingly a villain for his part orchestrating recruiting enticements for the underprivileged young man of color he represents, in actuality emerges fully fleshed out as much more than a stock character with an interesting backstory. While gaining things for himself in the process, he might be the only “player in the game” with unethical institutions and boosters who is genuinely trying to create better lives for his people.
In fact, another theme of the novel, seen in other characters too as revelations emerge, is that there’s a fine line between villains and heroes, and people often cross that line one way or another.
Melissa Suggitt, writing a critique of Recruiting Blue Chip Prospects for Independent Book Review (“Celebrating Small Press Books”) captures another important theme quite well:
“The tension between the couple [Patrick and his girlfriend Suzie] highlights the broader theme of personal growth and the challenges of maturing relationships in the face of evolving beliefs.”
And, she also clearly articulates a final historical theme:
“These lessons range from choosing the moral high ground to navigating changing and deepening male friendships at the precipice of adulthood to understanding the complexities of teenage hormones and first loves. The book does a fantastic job of encouraging open and healthy emotional expression, starkly contrasting the toxic masculinity often associated with the sports world, particularly [coming out of] the 1980s.”
The 1980s, a boom time in American business when regulation, moderation, and scruples seemed to go by the wayside, truly infected the world of sports and spread its values into high school environments. This historically set novel, though framed by chapters that connect us to the present day, seeks to bring to light that theme as it becomes more and more relevant when talk now suggests legal wagering might soon take hold even for prep sports.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I just finished a play that I think is pretty riveting. It’s set in a San Francisco school, again a number of years ago, but revolves around the reactions to the neighborhood’s homeless population. In the end, it brings the two cultures together during an event that changes lives and direction.
A key scene emerged from my wife’s personal experience (Sally served as the PR spokesperson for SF’s Catholic Charities) accompanying Mother Teresa as that icon for justice and compassion visited a crack house in the Bayview District and then toured a soon-to-close funeral home in the Outer Mission. The future named saint (my wife’s still waiting) emerged from the rattrap of a car she insisted be used to transport her to the site to see if it would make a good venue for the works of her Missionaries of Charity.
My play includes a scene in which a character tells a story that echoes Mother Teresa’s actual words as she fingered a casket’s mahogany and its inside pillow top and puffing, seemingly made of silk: “I guess the dead will be sleeping more comfortably than the homeless tonight.”
I’ve also been working with the aforementioned Shannon Rowbury as she compiles a number of vignettes into her own memoirs. Fascinating stories tell of her upbringing as an Irish dancer turned off by the patriarchal underpinnings of sports, her experiences as a professional runner for Nike, her post-racing efforts to innovate a non-profit with her husband Pablo, and her successful battle with Nike to change policy to ensure pregnant runners could keep their insurance and health care.
The Olympic stories are the best. The Opening Ceremony in Beijing; the final in London which ESPN called “the dirtiest race in Olympic history” (Shannon was the first of only two finishers of the nine in the race never convicted of using illegal drugs or blood doping, but is still listed only as the official fourth-place finisher); and just missing a medal with another fourth-place finish in Rio.
My daughter has suggested I write a full-length work, fiction or non-fiction, about the ‘50s and ‘60s and growing up in San Francisco. I have mined that time and place for many shorter memoirs.
Maybe I can combine two ideas and do a police procedural about that time and place. A number of classmates did go on to become police officers and, in my dotage, a guilty pleasure has become reading detective novels by the likes of James Patterson and Michael Connelly.
Like I say, when I grow up, I’ll decide what’s next …
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
The narrative, set in 1991 but framed to provide a final jolt into the present, features memorable characters, including Patrick’s girlfriend and mom, his favorite teacher and school dean, and various villains, some with realistic backstories rationalizing unsavory choices.
Hogarty, a retired principal, has experienced high-level scholastic athletic successes and concerns. His story, subtly alluding to essential works in American literature, anticipates today’s reality in which Blue Chip prospects get recruited with NIL cash payouts, often from prep schools founded to provide lucrative collegiate and professional paths for top athletes.
Ultimately, however, the fictional account reveals that youths and adults all get recruited to others’ versions of the truth, sometimes unwittingly.
Recruiting Blue Chip Prospects
In the throes of college recruitment, basketball prodigy T.R. Ward finds himself at the center of intense scrutiny. Alongside him, his journalist friend and peer, Patrick Kiernan, enjoys a unique vantage point, chronicling the escalating pressures that come with being an emerging athlete in America. Though T.R. benefits from a supportive entourage—including his coach, mother, and Patrick—there remains an underlying tension: will this support be enough to guide him as he determines his collegiate destiny?
Ken Hogarty’s Recruiting Blue Chip Prospects deftly captures this tension. Contrary to what its title might suggest, which hints at a corporate how-to guide, the novel immerses readers in an evocative and introspective journey through the world of high school athletics. Hogarty’s narrative not only delves deep into the intricacies of college sports recruitment but also extrapolates its themes to broader life scenarios, suggesting that many of us, at some point, grapple with the pressures akin to those faced by elite athletes.
Hogarty’s prose is rich in character development, fostering a connection between readers and protagonists. By tracing their trials, tribulations, and victories, he underscores the humanity of these young athletes, reminding us that they are multifaceted individuals and not solely defined by their athletic prowess.
Vividly painting the tapestry of high school life—with its boundless energy, naivete, idealism, romance, and the inevitable missteps—the narrative resonates with a sense of nostalgia, punctuated with moments that feel universally relatable.
Hogarty’s authentic and witty dialogue adds vibrancy to the narrative. He embraces the “show, don’t tell” adage, using dialogue to subtly illuminate the characters’ perspectives and motivations. This technique ensures a dynamic and immersive reading experience.
Engaging, humorous, and poignant, Recruiting Blue Chip Prospects is not merely a story about sports; it’s a reflection on youth, aspiration, and the challenges we face in our journey to find our place in the world.
Pages: 300 | ISBN : 1639889760
Illusions
Year of the Puffin follows a college football team from Iceland who sets their sights on winning a championship in the American College Football League. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
American culture has influenced many aspects of Icelandic society, so I thought it would be interesting to take a quintessentially American phenomenon—college football—and drop it into this small island nation. I also thought it could be productively counterintuitive to make the head coach of the team a woman since American football has a reputation for being a hypermasculine sport. Beyond that, I began writing with nothing more than a basic conflict in mind. I imagined the head coach as a character who would be committed to the success of the football program in a very purist sense—she would be someone who is devoted to the ideal of winning for the sake of winning, and her notions of football (with its emphasis on camaraderie, teamwork, sacrifice, leadership, etc.) would be quite idealistic. And then, I imagined a male athletic director who would also be committed to the success of the program, but he would have a more instrumental view of the team. He would be someone who wants to win so he can push a larger agenda. That was basically what I had when I typed the opening lines: a football program in Iceland, and two characters, one man and one woman, who are devoted to the same cause, but for oppositional reasons.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
I suppose the most important factor was psychological realism. I knew the characters were all going to be quirky oddballs in their own way, but I didn’t want their intentions to feel random. I wanted some kind of explanation for why they felt the way that they did. I wanted their actions to feel motivated. For me, one of the keys was to provide each of them with a history, but I leaned toward revealing their backstories in impressions and snippets at select moments.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I think the primary theme in the novel centers on illusions—in particular, the illusions that we build up about people and places. Three of the main characters assemble their mental lives around a muse-type person, an individual who inspires them and/or brings structure and purpose to their goals. However, in each case, the character does not actually know this other person well. Drawing on memories, pictures, and fantasies, they poach select facets of another person’s identity to fit their own romantic vision. They assemble imaginative constructs of the people they love, but they also grasp on some level that such constructs are founded on separation. They benefit from designing their lives around a person they can love from a distance, without the full weight of responsibility and commitment. For me, part of what is interesting about this dynamic is the way that the emotions and actions that arise in these situations can be entirely genuine, even if the individual is ultimately (and, in some cases, disastrously) mistaken about the other person. I wanted this theme to extend to the representation of Iceland, a country that is depicted in tourist narratives and foreign media as a uniquely tolerant, open-minded, and peaceful nation filled with natural splendor. This impression is not wholly false, but the fantasy construct of the nation tends to trump the reality of its culture and climate. In the novel, “Year of the Puffin” refers to the title of a sports feature that captures this kind of idealized portrait of Iceland. In a sense, the novel as a whole is intended to be a more realistic counterpoint to such a portrait.
What is the next book that you are writing, and when will that be published?
At present, I am working on a novel about virtual reality and computer games that features four different first-person narrators. I am not sure when it will be published, but I hope to complete a first draft within a year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
As the Puffins ascend through the ranks of American college football, sights set on winning a championship, an array of colliding secrets and internal divisions threatens to tear them apart. Entangled in their own ambitions and prejudices, the characters discover that the real drama occurs off the field, in the hidden rooms of Reykjavik, a city that has all of the attractions of an international capital, only on a diminutive scale.
Set against a backdrop of mountains, corrugated iron, and gale-force winds, Year of the Puffin captures the passions and obsessions of both sports and life-the saga of American football in the land of fire and ice.
Year of the Puffin
The Icelandic football team, known as The Puffins, plays with fervor as dynamic as a volcano, employing the wishbone offense that was a prevalent force in college football during the 70s and 80s. The question on everyone’s lips is whether this strategy will propel them to victory. Could this be the triumphant year of the Puffin?
At the team’s helm is the head coach Gwen, a striking figure who stands tall not just in stature but also with her vibrant personality and infectious smile. Though deeply attached to her father, their relationship has become somewhat estranged since she transitioned from Canada to Iceland.
Working alongside her is the team’s athletic director, Tommie, whose fascination with a blue Testarossa seems as fabricated as the car itself. His obsession with Madeline, a Canadian woman, has consumed him for an astounding 15 years.
The Puffins are more than just a football team; they symbolize joy and excitement for the Icelanders. Among the players is Lambert, a 23-year-old who exudes a unique blend of timelessness and agelessness, thanks to his unconventional upbringing in a family community likened to a cult. His infatuation with the unseen Candace Clew adds a layer of complexity to his character.
Then, there’s Dorian, who teeters between arrogance and self-absorption, caught in the profound and intimate journey of self-discovery related to his sexuality.
In the novel Year of the Puffin, these character arcs intertwine and unravel. The author, Gregory Phipps, skillfully crafts their stories, peeling back the layers of secrets, desires, sorrow, and deceit, all set against the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland and the thrilling world of football.
The narrative flows like a riveting football match, commencing at a gentle pace before steadily building momentum, gripping the reader until the very last sentence. Phipps’s elegant and engaging prose breathes life into the characters, creating deep and meaningful connections with the readers. Themes range from the fiery intensity of passion to the steadfast bonds of friendship, the transformative essence of love, and even the darker corners of obsession.
Year of the Puffin isn’t just a novel; it’s an exploration into the multifaceted nature of human relationships wrapped up in the fervor of football. In the words of the Icelanders, it’s “töff.” Whether you are a sports enthusiast or an aficionado of beautifully penned characters and landscapes, this book is a must-read, reflecting the heart and soul of the human condition.
Pages: 320 | ISBN : 1639889213
Blood In The Holler
David Sangiao-Parga’s Blood in the Holler is a masterfully woven narrative that captivates from the outset with its complex ensemble of characters – Julie, Eric, Terry, Ricky, Burt, Brick, John, Les, Mark, Nate, and Norm. Each character, characterized by their personal tribulations, witnesses their life irrevocably reshaped by a string of unexpected calamities one pivotal morning.
Sangiao-Parga astutely intertwines romantic tension into the plot with Eric’s burgeoning feelings for Julie, leaving readers intrigued about the prospects of their romantic future. This sense of anticipation is further amplified by Terry’s quest for an emotional connection with Julie. The pair, Ricky and Burt, cloaked in an air of intrigue, bear a secret whose revelation could be a game-changer. Unexpectedly brought together, Brick and John embark on a journey ripe with the promise of revelations. Simultaneously, the foursome, Les, Mark, Norm, and Nate, embody an unusual family, each member harboring secrets that have deeper implications than meet the eye.
The power of Sangiao-Parga’s narrative lies in its nuanced and diverse cast. The characters grapple with issues ranging from forming new alliances and addressing paternal insecurities to overcoming an assortment of challenges that push them beyond their anticipated boundaries. The author exhibits remarkable finesse in crafting compelling primary characters and brings equal meticulousness to the development of secondary characters, such as Marcy and Mason, ensuring their narratives are equally engaging. This precision in storytelling, coupled with an engaging pace, makes for a riveting reading experience from start to finish. The vividly rendered setting dovetails perfectly with the plot, highlighting the unexpected dangers these wrestling characters face beyond the ring.
Sangiao-Parga’s talent shines in the suspenseful moments, holding the readers in thrall with the relentless question of what fate holds for these characters. The impressive maintenance of tension throughout makes for a narrative that’s unputdownable until the very end.
Readers will thoroughly enjoy this gritty, suspenseful tale that keeps them on tenterhooks. With anticipation, I look forward to the author’s future offerings, eager to embark on another captivating literary journey.
Pages: 200 | ISBN: 1954907907
Southpaw Sully
In Steven Carman’s gripping novel, “Southpaw Sully,” readers are introduced to the unbreakable spirit of a fourteen-year-old protagonist, Sully. Possessing an unwavering ambition, Sully dreams of leading his local baseball team, the Collingdale Warriors, to a triumphant championship win. Yet, his path is littered with countless obstacles, among which is the heartrending loss of his twin brother, Brendan.
The depiction of Sully’s struggle is immensely moving. His experiences with trauma, survivor’s guilt, and family estrangement color his internal landscape with vivid strokes of poignant emotions. Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, his bond with his best friend Christina and the solace he finds in baseball become his pillars of strength. Sully’s monumental personal challenge involves mastering the art of single-handed pitching, having lost his other hand in the tragic accident that claimed Brendan’s life.
As Sully embarks on this turbulent odyssey, he is faced with battling his innermost fears and countering relentless bullies, who deride his distinct abilities. With the support of his cousin Gus and unexpected allies, he and the Collingdale Warriors brace themselves for the most consequential showdown of their lives—a striking portrayal of resilience and tenacity.
“Southpaw Sully” is a novel impossible to put down, pulsating with a vibrant energy that keeps readers enthralled from beginning to end. Carman’s expertly crafted descriptions of on-field action are riveting, ensuring that Sully’s triumphs and trials are intensely palpable. Sully’s journey from a sorrow-laden past towards a horizon filled with hope reverberates powerfully throughout the narrative. Carman skillfully spins a tale of community solidarity and shared dreams, making this deeply touching narrative well-deserving of a five-star rating.
A must-read for sports enthusiasts and those entranced by compelling stories of gritty underdogs battling adversity, “Southpaw Sully” promises to leave an enduring impression on its readers. Even for those unfamiliar with sports, the novel’s masterful narrative technique lends a vibrant realism to the baseball scenes. The compelling saga of a young boy striving to honor his brother’s memory transcends the constraints of sports terminology. With its inclusion of themes such as vehicular accidents, mortality, and light-hearted humor, the novel is an ideal read for those aged 12 and up who cherish stories that champion courage and determination.
Pages: 184 | ASIN: B0C4C6HGDZ
Marathon
Marathon by John Herbert is a story of overcoming the many challenges that life puts you through. Richard Marlborough, The Kid, shows immense talent from a very young age. He runs like nobody else and is focused on winning every competition that he can, proving to everyone all that he’s capable of achieving. The Kid’s talent is the sort of talent that rarely appears, once in every generation, with lots of promise for the future. However, no story is perfect, and he’ll see himself going through darker times and emotions. As an answer to this, he holds onto his anger and uses it for motivation. The only question is, where will this man’s journey lead him to?
The engaging book presents a complete arc of the life of The Kid, showcasing in detail his competitive career and his lifestyle. We get to explore his preparation for each competition, his relationships, and his plans for the future. With each new step, though, complications appear that eventually turn into important lessons that push him closer to finding his purpose. Although the lessons taught can be applied to everyone’s life, they aren’t geared exclusively towards the life of a successful athlete, which makes this book easy to relate to and leaves the reader with a set of inspirational stories that can be used as motivation.
The entire journey of The Kid’s career is documented in detail in this fascinating book, and in every chapter, one can find a new lesson that is taught and applied. The story’s pacing is slower, so it takes some time to get into it. Some emotional turns shape the course of the story, bringing something new and different that has to be dealt with and understood. The successes achieved are great, and inspiration can be found inside every chapter. As a parallel, life is presented as a marathon that has to be run: the trajectory might be difficult, but the end should be worth it.
Marathon by John Herbert is a stirring story presented about the life of a successful, talented athlete, with its ups and downs. It’s realistic in the sense that it collects the varied dimensions of one’s life, and it adds love, hope, determination, and motivation as a necessity to reach the finish line.
Pages: 654 | ISBN : 1466962208
Dig, Then Dig Some More
They Stole the Packers! Film at Six! follows a rookie reporter who is plunged into the fast-paced world of old-fashioned news reporting when the Green Bay Packers are sold. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Dismay at the constant splatter of dis- and mis- information. Back 30 to 50 years ago the media (mainstream, not the National Enquirer), worked hard to get the facts right. They had their failures, but most of the time the quality of info was good. Today, you no longer need a transmitter tower, a bank of printing presses or a news team to disseminate information. Any joker with a keyboard can do it.
So, the job of quality control has shifted from the senders of information, to the receivers. Thankfully, high schools are beginning to teach “news literacy,” sussing out doctored photos and conspiracy theories.
I imagine my readers visualizing a backdrop while paging through the book – a blurry panoramic of today’s social media and cable news. Against this backdrop pops out the good practices of reporters and editors in the 1970s, who did the quality control on information for us. This book gently suggests quality control on today’s fizz of information – is now the work we have to do on our own.
Terry Lawton is an interesting character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Work hard, work smart. Dig, then dig some more. Have the discipline to always tell both sides of the story. Try to tell stories that help people.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Never take things at face value. Always challenge your assumptions about an event, and look at it from different angles. If there are misunderstandings, work to set the record straight.
Even if you spent a lot of time creating a news story, and burned a lot of film . . . throw it in the trash bin if it ends up untrue or hurtful. Resist the temptation to broadcast something entertaining, like name-calling, even if it would help ratings. Throw it in the bin.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
A theological science fiction, due in late 2023, after which I will be placed on a rocket sled to hell.
Author Links: Amazon | Website
Crawling inside the story is an “old school” journalist, who shows how news was done before it got dropped into a blur of Internet memes and conspiracy theories.
In this lively historical fiction, Terry Lawton produces TV news using 1970s methodology – before cell phones, before the Internet and before “trolling.”
The young reporter investigates the worst nightmare of Green Bay – the sale of the Green Bay Packers and the team’s move out of the city. In this novel, he meets the colorful characters of northern Wisconsin, weeding out the weirdness, trying to get his stories right. A nostalgic and playful look at the more careful information process of the early 1970s – an era before the “fast food” offerings of conspiracy and disinformation on social media.
LITERARY TITAN 