Tom Swift Writer’s Notebook

It was a real opportunity for me to be interviewed by Pat Borzi of MinnPost.com, a new site that produces quality Minnesota-focused journalism. Borzi has written for a number of top-tier newspapers, including one everyone’s heard of, and I’m honored he chose to publish a flattering piece on “Chief Bender’s Burden” in today’s edition.
For those [...]

Interviewer: Why should people trust you enough to buy a copy of Chief Bender’s Burden?
TS: Because I have 35 years of proven experience.
Interviewer: This is your first book. What exactly does that mean?
TS: The point is that this book is not just words.
Interviewer: You said the experience of completing the manuscript was harrowing. In a [...]

I recommend Bill Moyers’ program from Friday night. Especially this segment. And this one is worth a view, too. I had the earbuds in, but the video probably adds something I missed.

I was huffing at the gym when I looked over at the TV screen next to me. There was a TV screen next to me because, of course, one can’t be expected to stop watching TV long enough to, you know, exercise.
I couldn’t hear the show but apparently it was an MTV spring-break special from [...]

As I mentioned the other day, I was fortunate to be invited as the guest on host Jim Wishner’s show The Connection tomorrow morning. Thanks to reader Andy Alt for mentioning the online link. Note, too, that the site requires a Minnesota zip code. If, however, you’re actually in Fearnot, Pennsylvania, or Monkey’s Elbow, Kentucky, [...]

Now appearing on various Northfield.org pages …

Thanks, once again, to Doug Bratland for the great design work.

As a blogger on training wheels, I had no idea this was case, but the first two or three dozen posts had a “comment” tag attached, except that comments were not allowed. As I told the irate callers, this was not an Orwellian scheme. Anyway, the censor has been lifted. You can now join the [...]

I feel like I am 76 years even thinking about this topic, but the world has forced this post out of me. Did someone turn up the dial … everywhere?
Went to the library last night. Was in the “reading area” (used to be that everyone in every corner of the library understood the entire place [...]

If in the next nine months you wake up one morning and find yourself in Schenectady, consider a stop at the Iroquois Indian Museum, which will soon launch an exhibit called Baseball’s League of Nations: A Tribute to Native American Baseball Players. Looks pretty cool to me. I assume there is a prominent feature on [...]

So sweet and innocent … or not.

Jim Wishner is a fine interviewer and a radio pro. I am an amateur interviewee and a man who speaks best with his keyboard. Please keep those caveats in mind if you listen to The Connection on Air America Minnesota (KTNF-950 AM) on Saturday, March 29, when I will be Mr. Wishner’s guest on the [...]

Critic Mike Miliard of the Boston Phoenix, well known in New England for quality journalism and intelligent arts-entertainment coverage, included a flattering description of “Chief Bender’s Burden” in his interesting survey of new baseball books.

By now you’ve heard about The Speech. Probably seen a clip or two. Or at least the talking heads on the tube. Likely you’ve been told what you should think about The Speech. I am, in fact, resisting the temptation myself. The words stirred me in manners and degrees I did not expect. I have [...]

Question: Why the heck did you decide to write this book?
Answer: Charles Bender was Minnesota’s first representative in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and, for nearly fifty years, the only one. When other Minnesota-born players (such as Dave Winfield) started receiving consideration Bender’s name often popped up in local newspaper articles as a footnote. [...]

There are a few things I learned right-quick in the South. Most likely the driver one car ahead aims to use a turn signal only when Johnny Law is near. I know to flip on the radio only if I’m in the mood for a song last popular in 1982. Or white-man rage about Hollywood [...]

Question: I want to help spread the word. What can I do?
Answer: Well, Mom (and any other similarly good-hearted people), here are three things:
• Next time you stop by your local bookstore or neighborhood library, ask if they carry a copy and, if they haven’t yet joined the club, see if they might. The book [...]

When I wake up my mind often seems as though it’s already minutes into the day — contemplating the to-do list of life. Wait! Open the book instead. When I do this usually, like this morning, I am rewarded.

OK, you can stop calling Ticketmaster. My book tour dates have been set. It’ll be a whirlwind two-city tour. In addition to the Twins game signing, here’s the schedule:
• 3 p.m., Saturday, April 5, River City Books, reading and signing. Books are and will be on sale for 20 percent off through the event.
• 7 [...]

Sometimes people drop me a note. Just bought your book, they say. Wow. Few e-mails make you feel better than that one.
I always offer a thank-you reply and I wonder if, across cyberspace, my appreciation comes off. Maybe I sound as though the person ahead of me just held the door open on our way [...]

There’s a perfectly good reason I haven’t announced any signings or readings till now: I’m a lousy planner. In my defense, some targets have been moving.
I do, finally, alert the media, have an event to put up on the board. And it’s a fun one. I will sign copies in the Metrodome concourse before and [...]

I wrote in the book’s bibliographical essay: “I found that when you dig around in the past you meet a lot of selfless people in the present.” So many people, even some I’ve never met, helped along the road. And now that it’s in the world I continue to benefit from the generosity of good [...]

The Northfield News wrote a feature about the book in Wednesday’s edition.

By the way, I’ve updated this blog’s links down-right. Included are active Northfield writer sites. If you have a minute, some good stuff.

Why Northfield? The list is long. High up are the engaged and talented and kind and bright citizens I see and meet during walks along Division Street. And many of them form the town’s dynamic online community. Northfield.org was kind enough to spread the news and I am grateful. This is not the first time, [...]

Kudos to you, Jessica Paxton. If you scroll down the list you will see one name clearly out of place amongst the mental giants. I sincerely appreciate it.