Blog Archives
Practice Makes Perfect
Practice Makes Perfect: Draw Facial Expression is a fresh and creative take on the traditional colouring book. Instead of only giving readers finished outlines to color, this book introduces a new concept: drawing faces and facial expressions within a larger scene. That makes it feel more interactive, imaginative, and skill-building than the usual colouring activity.
The sports theme gives the book energy and movement. The pages show athletes in various sports and in a variety of situations. This kind of subject matter makes the colouring experience more exciting because the reader is not just filling in shapes; they are thinking about the character, the setting, and the emotion of the moment.
What makes this colouring book different from the norm is its focus on expression. This one encourages the reader to add personality by drawing faces. That small creative challenge can help build observation skills and storytelling ability. A happy, nervous, focused, or surprised expression can completely change the mood of the picture.
This is a thoughtful and original colouring book for young artists, sports fans, and anyone who enjoys drawing characters with emotion. It combines colouring, drawing practice, facial expression study, and sports storytelling in one book. It’s different, engaging, and a great choice for children who want something more creative than an ordinary colouring book.
Hard Times: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Nathan ‘The King Cobra’ Washington
Hard Times: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Nathan “The King Cobra” Washington, by M. Anthony Phillips, opens as a search story and widens into something far larger: a young magazine writer tracks down a vanished heavyweight champion, only to uncover a life marked by sharecropping poverty in Georgia, racist terror, war service, boxing glory, mob pressure, flight, reinvention, and old grief that never quite cooled. What begins as a sports mystery becomes a multigenerational saga about what a man loses when history corners him and what, against reason, he still manages to keep.
I appreciated the way Phillips portrayed Nathan’s emotional depth, instead of just listing things that happened to him. The early scenes of his family, the long shadow of Jim Crow, and the bruising detours of his adulthood give the novel a rough-hewn earnestness that suits its subject. I felt the book reaching not for polish so much as amplitude. It wants to tell the whole thing: ambition, lust, fear, tenderness, humiliation, pride. Nathan isn’t presented as an emblem or a sermon. He’s a battered, desirous, stubborn human being, and the book is strongest when it trusts that plain, unsanitized fact.
The prose can swing from vivid to blunt. Yet even when it can be melodramatic, I rarely felt indifferent. There’s a kind of unvarnished conviction here that kept me reading. I was especially struck by the book’s sense of aftermath: Nathan doesn’t simply vanish into legend; he survives into obscurity, sorrow, compromised second chances, and a late-life reckoning that is more melancholy than triumphant. That choice gave the novel a mournful aftertaste I found compelling. It refuses the easy coronation. It is more interested in the cost of surviving than in the glamour of winning.
I would recommend Hard Times to readers of sports fiction, historical fiction, and Black historical drama who want a big, old-fashioned story told with bruised sincerity rather than minimalist cool. Readers who respond to sagas of struggle, war, race, boxing, family, and redemption will likely find a great deal to hold onto here. In spirit, it sometimes feels closer to the broad emotional sweep of Walter Dean Myers or the combative American mythmaking around boxing narratives than to sleek contemporary literary fiction. Hard Times is not a delicate novel, but it is a heartfelt one, and its best blows land with the weight of a life fully lived.
Pages: 384 | ASIN : B00AA3PGRE
Strategy, Focus, and Concentration
Readora From BookTropolis is an engaging alphabet book for young readers that presents each sports-related letter through haiku-style verses framed by the tale of Readora, a reading superhero. What drew you to using haiku-style verses for each sport?
I have been writing poetry since childhood. Haiku is a style of written communication that allows a person to say a lot with few words. Kids have short attention spans, so telling a story or teaching lesson plans in short rhythmic form is an easier and more fun approach to reaching them rather than straight conversation. Plus, an impactful or sensible haiku statement (poetry/rap) is easy to remember. Also, my voice is Readora’s voice in the readings.
Do you have a personal favorite sport featured in the book?
My favorite sport in the book is chess because it requires critical thinking, strategy, focus, and concentration. These are life-long skills that children can learn as youngsters and apply to everything they do in the future.
The artwork in your book is wonderful. Can you share a little about your collaboration with illustrators Heyjuly and Kesab Karmakar?
I found both illustrators on a design platform and posted an RFP of my requirements. More than 20 artists sent designs. The first request was for the Readora from BookTropolis character. Among other specifications, I provided a younger photo of myself so the character can be created in my image. Intellectual property rights are critical, so I wanted to ensure that my face is the only one the designers would reference. All other designs were created based on the content of each sport in the book, with the use of AI prompts, with Kesab Karmakar contributing several sports illustrations as well.
How do you hope parents, teachers, or librarians will use this book with children?
This book is the first in a series of books called the Readora from BookTropolis Learning Series. The intent is for parents, teachers, and librarians to use this book and all others to come as a method of teaching younger readers their alphabet, introducing them to various sports, both traditional and those not as well known, and through the haiku style of writing, teaching children to read and comprehend while viewing the vibrant illustrations.
Author Links: GoodReads | YouTube | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The Tao of Hitting
The Tao of Hitting blends a short course in Taoist thought with a very practical guide to hitting a baseball. Author Christian Petersen walks through core ideas like yin and yang, the Uncarved Block, the Three Treasures, and wu wei, then shows how they connect to the batter’s box, from approach and timing to pitch selection and mental routine. Along the way he tells stories about players from Babe Ruth to Jeff Bagwell, shares results from his college coaching days, and finishes with concrete drills that put the philosophy into daily work.
I enjoyed how open and unpretentious the voice feels. Petersen sounds like a smart, slightly stubborn coach who has been around a lot of dugouts and classrooms, and that mix works for a book like this. The anecdotes about Bagwell, Todd Reynolds, Forrest Gump, and Winnie the Pooh give the text a human pulse and break up the teaching in a nice way. The prose circles back to the same points about simplicity and relaxation. Still, I rarely felt talked down to. The tone stays warm, curious, and humble, which kept me reading and made the more technical bits easier to swallow.
The emphasis on walks as “not doing,” the stress on a quiet mind, and the push against one size fits all mechanics all rang true. I liked how he frames the hitter as an “uncarved block” and urges coaches to help players uncover, not overwrite, their natural swing. The chapter on analytics is also thoughtful, not a rant. He admits numbers matter, then argues that they should serve the player’s instinct instead of replacing it. The drills at the end and the repeated focus on approach in real counts make the book useful, not just inspirational.
I came away liking this book a lot and feeling oddly calmer about the chaos of hitting. I would recommend The Tao of Hitting to serious high school and college hitters, to coaches who are tired of chasing the latest mechanical fad, and to parents who want to support their kids without turning every session into a lab experiment. Lifelong baseball fans who enjoy the mental side of the game will also find plenty to chew on. If you are open to mixing a little Eastern philosophy with cage work and game stories, this book is a good fit.
Pages: 199 | ASIN : B0GDMYD3QN
Life-Changing Injury
The Legend of Harry Gardner follows a Harvard student journalist, his connection with a football star, and the consequences of a life-changing injury. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
Although I’ve spent most of my writing life in the world of history and biography, I’ve always dreamed of writing a novel, especially one about college football in the 1920’s. The Legend of Harry Gardner is the result of that dream. The inspiration for the major character in the book is the celebrated sports figure, Hobey Baker, who is still considered one of the greatest American college athletes of all time – a star in football and hockey at Princeton. But it wasn’t just his sports heroics on the field that intrigued me, but his sense of character, humility, and sportsmanship, a trait I tried to instill in Harry. The “life-changing injury” incident came from a real Harvard football game in 1909, when Harvard Captain Hamilton Fish hit an opposing player so hard (not maliciously) that the player died the next day. Fish missed several games as a result, but then rejoined the team. As to “Peabo” Elliott, I guess I loosely based him on George Plimpton, the famous “participatory journalist” of modern times, who was from a well-to-do family, dabbled in sports, and was a keen observer of sports heroes.
Is there anything pulled from your own experiences included in Peabo or Harry’s storylines?
Playing high school football helped me get a sense of the sights and sounds and chaos of an actual game from ground level. Attending graduate school at Harvard (and attending several Harvard-Yale games) gave me a sense of place and the color and excitement of a college football game and the look and feel of the stadium.
What research did you do for this novel to get it right?
I read newspaper accounts – both in the Harvard Crimson and New York Times – of old college football games; read several books about Hobey Baker; re-read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise (a fictional character named Allenby is based on Hobey Baker); and read everything George Plimpton ever wrote.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
Yes, I am currently at work on a non-fiction book titled, Harvard Boys, about the intersecting lives of several extraordinary characters as they navigate – both personally and professionally – many of the most important events of the twentieth century: Revolutionary John Reed; columnist Walter Lippmann; World War I poet Alan Seeger; “Putzi” Hanfstaengl, Adolph Hitler’s favorite piano player; and artist Waldo Peirce. I’m also at work on a humorous collection of fictional short stories called Cat Bubbles, Roadsters, and Other Peculiar College Tales, about the adventures and misadventures of a colorful cast of college sports jocks, social gadflies, scoundrels, eccentrics, and one or two kind-hearted souls.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Life-Long Impact
The Legacy of the Twins Platoon follows a group of young Minnesotans who enlist as Marines in 1967 and find themselves facing some of the most horrific battles of the Vietnam War. Where did the inspiration for this novel come from?
It was my calling. But due to the perceived difficulty of writing a book about 150 Marines and their experiences, it took 6 years before I set out to do what seemed to me to be an overwhelming task.
What draws you to this period in US history?
I am drawn to this period in history because it is unforgettable and is forever etched into memory. To have experienced and witnessed how the Vietnam War forever changed the lives of those who served in the military, and the life-long impact it had on their families and loved ones, is something I felt compelled to write about.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
My focus now is to bring awareness to the book, so that the life experiences of those I have written about can benefit other people. At a time when new books are like a “blizzard in a snowstorm,” my challenge now is to weather the storm.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | YouTube | Website | The Legacy of the Twins Platoon | Amazon
They were sworn in on television at a pregame ceremony and were guests of the Twins at the game. By the end of the fourth inning, the recruits were hustled to buses whisking them to the Wold-Chamberlain Field Airport, and they flew to San Diego. Before dawn the next day, the Twins Platoon met their drill sergeants at the receiving barracks of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. By the end of the year, the Marines were in Vietnam sprinkled across the length and breadth of the Marine Corps operating areas of I Corps, the northernmost part of South Vietnam where they experienced some of the toughest combat of the war. Khe Sanh and Hue City were just a few of the hot spots they encountered as the 1968 TET Offensive rolled across the country. Not all members of the Twins Platoon came home in one piece. Some did not come home at all. In The Legacy of the Twins Platoon, author Christy Sauro Jr. tells their complete stories from baseball to combat and their lifelong readjustment to civilian life.
The Legend of Harry Gardner
The Legend of Harry Gardner by Michael Hill is a nostalgic sports tale wrapped in friendship and moral weight. The book follows Peabo Elliott, a shy but gifted student journalist at Harvard, and his bond with football star Harry Gardner during a high-stakes season in the 1920s. It centers on one brutal game, the fallout from a life-changing injury, and the pressure placed on young men to be heroes. The story moves from the roar of the stadium to quiet dorm rooms and ends with a deeply personal Christmas that reframes what winning really means.
What struck me first was the tone. It is earnest to the core. The writing wears its heart on its sleeve and does not apologize for it. At times, it feels old-fashioned, and that feels intentional. I liked that. The dialogue is simple and clear. But it fits the era and the mood. I found myself slowing down, which I enjoyed. The football scenes are vivid and physical. You feel the mud and the hits and the fear. I could picture the field and hear the crowd.
This is not really a sports story. It is about guilt, loyalty, and the cost of being put on a pedestal. Harry’s struggle after injuring another player felt honest and sad. I found it thought-provoking as well as emotional. I also appreciated how Peabo is not just a sidekick. His voice matters. His writing shapes events. That theme felt quietly powerful. Words have weight. Friendship has weight. Even kindness has consequences.
I would recommend The Legend of Harry Gardner to readers who enjoy character-driven stories and classic sports narratives with a moral center. It is great for fans of old college football, but also for anyone who likes stories about friendship and conscience. If you want heart, atmosphere, and a gentle reminder that decency matters, this book is worth your time. I think readers who enjoy the reflective sports writing and character-driven storytelling of Friday Night Lights by Buzz Bissinger will find The Legend of Harry Gardner a satisfying read, especially if they like sports stories that care more about the people than the scoreboard.
Pages: 112 | ASIN : B0GCCLFVXY
Breathe and Believe
Breathe and Believe, by Arthur Wiggins, drops readers into the messy, money-soaked world of American Midwest University athletics, where one bad week blows up an entire department. Bruce McDermott, a marketing specialist on the rise, watches his mentor quit, his secret relationship implode, and his football program slide toward NCAA sanctions and budget disaster. Interim athletic director Tara Gantt battles power-hungry basketball coach Ron Hill and his boosters over gender equity, football vs. basketball priorities, and the push to build a new multi-purpose facility, while a tragic road accident involving the women’s tennis team shows the very real cost of all these decisions. By the time Bruce walks into a legislative hearing with a giant check and a campus-wide vision, the book has turned a spreadsheet crisis into a story about ambition, grief, and what it really takes to keep a university sports machine alive.
The storytelling has a slow-burning style that works overall. The early chapters around the motel incident, the surprise resignation, and then the van crash hit hard and fast, and I caught myself thinking, “OK, this is not just a sports novel, this is a whole train wreck of a weekend.” The author writes meetings, press conferences, and budget talks with the same seriousness as big games, and that gave the book a grounded, insider feel. There are passages packed with numbers, acronyms, and institutional history where the tension dips. The dialogue often carries the weight, with characters stating the stakes rather than letting subtext do more of the work. Still, when the story leans into crisis scenes or personal confrontations, the pacing snaps back, and the pages move quickly.
What really hooked me were the ideas underneath the plot. The book digs into Title IX, gender equity, and the brutal math of “too many sports, not enough money” in a way that feels honest. We see how a 53 percent female student body sits next to only 39 percent female scholarship athletes, and you can feel how wrong that is without the author giving a lecture about it. Tara Gantt’s arc, as a veteran woman administrator who built a separate women’s program only to see it merged, trimmed, and constantly second-guessed, gave the book heart.
Bruce’s role as a marketing guy caught between ideals and survival felt believable to me; he is selling walk-a-thons, naming rights, and spring game hype so the department can pay back a 1.3 million dollar overspend, and the whole thing feels both clever and a little desperate. The tennis team crash is handled with a blunt, unsentimental style that hit me in the gut; it underlines that all the talk about TV contracts and conference moves sits on top of actual young people in vans on bad roads.
I also liked how Wiggins treats politics and media as part of the same ecosystem. The scenes with the local newspaper scrambling for a “thumper” front-page story and sniffing around the athletic budget felt very true to life, and there is a sly humor in how leaks, half-truths, and spin drive the narrative around AMU more than any scoreboard does. The boosters, legislators, and campus leaders come off as flawed rather than cartoonish villains, which I appreciated. There were moments when I wished for more time inside the student-athletes’ heads and a bit less time inside meeting minutes. Even so, I came away with the strong sense that the author has lived in this world, and that authenticity carries the book.
I would recommend Breathe and Believe to readers who enjoy behind-the-scenes sports stories, campus politics, and workplace dramas where the real action happens in boardrooms, press boxes, and budget spreadsheets more than on the field. If you want a thoughtful, occasionally heavy, very human look at what modern college athletics does to the people inside it, you’ll enjoy this book. Arthur Wiggins has written a grounded, slow-burning sports novel for readers who love college athletics stories packed with messy politics, money trouble, and real emotional fallout.
Pages: 309 | ASIN : B0DFCHCWND
