My book for kidlets is out: ‘Make Me the Best at Track and Field’
Last summer, after writing stories for the USOC website, I was contacted by a Minnesota publisher, asking if I would write a children’s how-to book on track and field. Sure, I said. I finished the manuscript in July — before the Rio Games — and it’s now published. Called “Make Me the Best at Track and Field,“ it’s one of a series of chapter books for grade-schoolers. (Others cover baseball, basketball, soccer, football, lacrosse and hockey.) Abdo Publishing did a super job with design, and found great photos to illustrate my profiles of Usain Bolt, Jenn Suhr and Reese Hoffa, among others. I also gave super-basic technique tips. Since I’m not a coach, my editor hired Mike Corn of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association to check my work. It was fine, he found. Masters won’t benefit. (They can do same Googling I did.) But if you have a grandkid interested in track, this would be a fun gift. I don’t make anything off sale of the book — I just got paid as a freelancer. But my name is on it, so how cool is that?
Book is 48 pages. Next I’ll write a how-to-write-headlines text for 4th-graders.
11 Responses
Very cool, Ken. Congrats!
Great job. I stopped in one of the biggest Barnes and Noble bookstores in downtown New York City this weekend. I counted over 100 books on “running,” but only one book on track and field techniques. Sigh!
Congrats. Well done.
Ken,
If there was anyone in the TF community that deserve more recognition for what you have brought to this sport, I would like to meet them. Your book directed to the right age group is spot on. I am a bit surprised that the master athletes to whom you have given great publicity over the years, have not given you any kudos. Well, it has only been a day. So, for those who like and always get recognition but are short on kudos for others, how about a call out for Ken. Anyway Ken, I promise I will get back in the game but not before I buy a copy of your book!
Congratulations Ken. You’re a cool dude.
Great job – congratulations!
Ken, that is awesome – congrats to you!
Did you include any warnings to the kiddos about challenging masters runners to races?….or perhaps that a lesson best learned on their own 🙂
Ken, congrats, are you going to be at indoor nationals and have any books to sell ?
No ABQ for me, sorry. Also don’t have books to sell.
But thanks, all, for the well wishes!
Congratulations, Ken. I’ve published some books with Abdo, too. Great editors to work with!
Excellent! I look forward to picking up a copy!
Leave a Reply