'501' Review: Baseball America

I think one of the things new authors have to learn is patience, very difficult when you want everyone to like your book.... and you want them to like it early on. I must admit, I was disappointed when 501 Baseball Books didn't get the accolades I had fantasized about. No pickup in Sports Illustrated, or The New York Times, or NPR's Only a Game. Sigh. That's why I took a measure of glee when I discovered this review in Baseball America, which is an "industry standard" for the game.

I guess it just goes to show that hope delayed is not hope denied (or however that phrase goes). So SI, NY Times, and OAG, don't be bashful because you waited so long. There's still time.

Be there or be square

My new Facebook buddy Oliver Horovitz, author of An American Caddie in St. Andrews: Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course, and I will be chatting about stuff at the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival on Nov. 6, I'm hoping the Cardinals will have won the World Series by then so people will be in a good mood.

'501' Review: Spitball Magazine

It's an honor to be mentioned in Spitball, although I have no illusions about winning its prestigious Casey Award.

'501': Spanning the globe

To borrow a familiar phrase.

Here's Waldo E. of Burcht, Belgium, by way of Cuba, a happy reader of the book.

Well on the way to being an international best-seller. (Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.)

'501" checklist available

The spreadsheet "checklist" for 501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read before They Die is complete and has sent out to those who have requested it. Never too late if you still want one (book or checklist).

Annoucning the '501 Checklist'

A few readers have told me it would be great to have included a checklist in 501 Baseball Books, perhaps something of a detachable nature that would allow them to note what they've already ready as well as take the list with them to the library or bookstore for further reading pleasure.

Great idea.

So I'm happy to announce that I'm almost done with a spreadsheet version of such a list. It's not the most artistic of documents, but it will allow you to keep track and what's done and what's left to do.

So if you're interested, send me an email address and I'll return the list as soon as it's completed (should be over the next week).

A REview and an INTERview

Daniel Shoptaw, who hosts Cardinals70, a blog dedicated to the St. Louis franchise, was kind enough to have me as a guest on his recent podcast, which you can hear here.

And if that wasn't enough, he also took the time to review the book.