October 4, 2011
Best selling children’s author, Sheri Fink asked me a couple of questions about For Underdogs Only:
WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM FOR YOUR BOOK?
While teaching at Tustin High School in Tustin, California I heard rumors about how many ways head football Coach Myron Miller helped kids. Stories floated around about how he gave money, time, and words of wisdom to his players. People talked about the NFL players that he coached through Tustin High School and how they still visited him. All of them: Sam Baker, Beau Bell, Chris Chester, DeShaun Foster, Matt McCoy and Frostee Rucker. And he is known throughout the county for getting kids Division 1 scholarships.
Then I met the man. After spending time with Coach Miller in the cafeteria I learned about his childhood and how similar it is to that of the kids he coaches. He talked about how much he valued the courage of his relatives who fled genocide in Poland; and he told me their stories. From them Miller learned how to survive. He learned how to stand up to bullies, and how to work hard to achieve goals. He learned to never quit. Miller transferred his street smarts to the football field where he could inspire his players to work hard in order to earn college scholarships.
I valued this man’s story because he selflessly changed the lives of kids and because he used empathy to gain their respect. Miller experienced a childhood that labeled him as an at-risk kid. His players respect that. After hearing Miller relay his quintessential American story I said to him, “Someone needs to write a book about you.” That was the first spark, the very first hint of an idea that I would tell his story.
WHAT GENRE DOES YOUR BOOK FALL UNDER?
Narrative Non-fiction.
WHICH ACTORS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY YOUR CHARACTERS IN A MOVIE RENDITION?
Robert DeNiro would play Coach Miller perfectly. As a young man I see James Franco as Miller. The other characters would take some research to make the perfect match.
WHEN WILL THE BOOK BE AVAILABLE?
April 2013
