Book: Flesh and Blood Experiences

Good Read with a Cup of Tea

Publishing could be fun if it wasn't so frustrating these days. But after 16 years of Catholic schools and decades of work in professional publishing, I have had some input on things we publish and the works themselves. I bring my experiences into the mix and that makes it more fulfilling.

I was taught by Dominican Sisters, Carmelite Priests and Brothers, and Benedictine Monks and Nuns. In-between publishing books like The 10 Commandments of Baseball by J. D. Thorne and our Sports and Faith Series (most recent Pilgrimage) by Patrick McCaskey, I did publish an eBook about my grammar school years called Callaghan Goes to St. Cajetan and I published a print book on my high school experience called The Brown and White. These are humorous books that are based on my childhood.  Books of this kind allow readers to enter the author’s world and at the same time call to mind their own experiences as well. That’s one thing I have found in my work at Sporting Chance Press—a good book can be a personal invitation to remember things we may never have been able to remember without some kind of stimulation.

That may sound a little weird, but I swear it is true. Going out with J. D. Thorne to speaking engagements I heard him talk principles, players and his own experience from The 10 Commandments of Baseball.  And sure enough, the audience would react to what he was saying and often mention stories and experiences his book quelled within them.  The 10 Commandments mentions that baseball on the radio was one of the few forms of entertainment that people had before TV.  Out on the farms, it could be a real life-saver.  Some in J. D.’s audiences talk about those experiences. Often, J. D. and his audiences remember a special love they both had for the game and its players. 

Patrick McCaskey is a grandson of George Halas, the founder of the Chicago. Bears Halas was a leading member of the original NFL organization. Some people might imagine that they would have little in common with his family, but that’s not true. In many ways, Pat and his siblings were raised like many of us with shared bedrooms, chores, school work, athletics, and much more.  Sure there are experiences Pat had that are much different, but there is a lot of common situations as well.  Often Pat’s presentations, like his books, talk about some funny things that happened to him that most of us can appreciate.  As a teenager, Pat once hopped on his bike and road 10 miles to see a girl he had met—she wasn’t home. Pat also shares his faith experiences and what it has meant to him. 

I always find it a little difficult to sit at a table sometimes at an event staring down at a collection of books that some people may see as a commodity—books for $12.50 or $20.  But for me the books are about flesh and blood experiences—laughter and tears—and much more. 

Saint Kevin of the Nettles

Publisher Norris 

In our latest book in our Sports and Faith Series, we include a brief piece on Saint Kevin.  He is one of my favorite Irish Saints based on a story an Irish friend of mine named Kevin, told me long ago.  

My friend, Kevin, has parents right off the boat and they named their American-born son, Kevin. Perhaps it was  because they thought Kevin was going to be good looker, as was Saint Kevin according to tradition. Maybe they thought he was going to be a bit of a discipline problem and they thought he might be affected by the ancient story of Kevin throwing himself in the nasty itchy nettles when he was tempted by a woman. Maybe they wanted him to think about living a clean chaste life. My friend told me the story of Saint Kevin and the nettles. I was very much impressed. 

But it is also possible, that my friend Kevin's parents heard another story about Saint Kevin and the Blackbird. In this ancient story that was made famous by the marvelous poet Seamus Heaney, the saint went out to a hut or cell for to pray. He stuck his arm out and a blackbird landed on his hand to nest. The patient saint, miraculously held his hand out for the complete duration of the blackbird's nesting season. Only when the eggs were hatched and young birds flew away did Kevin let down his hand. 

The story is a magnificent story of patience, sacrifice, endurance, love, faith, and charity. Heaney himself described Kevin's sacrifice as one made for the reward of the right reason done for the right reason. 

I was so impressed by the story of Saint Kevin that we are including it our next book called Worthwhile Struggle and I am also making a lovely shirt made up to honor the Saint (see above---God bless the good work). My son-in-law created the design. I am having a modest number of shirts made up and I will be selling them for $25.  I am having them made long-sleeved for the fall and winter. I have used this particular shirt before and it shrinks a little, but is very comfortable and durable.