Tom Swift Writer’s Notebook

I often belie my name but eventually (well, sometimes) I come around. Though a savvier author may have reached this point weeks ago, signed books can now be purchased via the cleverly named Purchase page. I should note that bookstores that have hosted events also have scribbled-on copies in stock and, even though I make [...]

As noted in the acknowledgments section of the book, I am a proud member of the Loft Literary Center — a terrific resource and a sturdy leg in a unique partnership. Cool to see the New York Times take note.

I appreciate a Fresh Air contributor’s essay on the oft-talked about but seldom defined E-word.

I appreciate the chance to listen to great writers speak about their books and the craft. Two recommendations for others who do as well:

The first installment of To The Best of Our Knowledge’s new series on premier authors has me looking forward to the second one.
I’ve subscribed to the National Public Radio: Books Podcast for [...]

The pooch park is a brilliant invention. The savage beast can run as he should, amongst his own, unencumbered, and I don’t have to intervene until blood is spilled or the others go home. It’s even better when the kinder, gentler person in my marriage is there, too, as was the case last night. After [...]

The more I look the more holes I find in my blanket of knowledge about stuff that came before I did. Just finished Gordon S. Wood’s “The American Revolution.” A useful primer from the rare historian who writes from authority and with lucidity. The only problem: the reading list must grow longer still.

Tom Hoffarth says: This has movie script written all over it.

My traveling basket of candy and I will be perched at a table signing copies at the Books-A-Million in Hattiesburg at 2 p.m. this Saturday. If you’re in the neighborhood, I hope you will stop by. Even if only for a sugary treat.

“Swift’s book is a success, and a success story.” So writes John Shiffert in his “19 to 21″ online column at BaseballLibrary.com, a site aimed at the rabid fan.

I couldn’t write a more flattering headline and here it is in one of the largest, most respected newspapers in the country — yes, assembling this sentence is strange in the most amazing way — the Chicago Sun-Times: ‘Chief’ Bender Biography a Gem.
The article’s author, Kevin Canfield, calls the book “a wonderful and impressively thorough [...]

Seems like only three months ago that Barry first blessed our world … hey, come to think of it … and look at him now: a graduate of puppy education class.
Last night was the big one. Admittedly, he didn’t do so well on the final. He’s not a strong test-taker. Just like me. But in [...]

Here I thought I was merely reading a fun little item about a man who had been hogtied and paraded about town in the back of a pickup after being shocked with a Taser (who among us has not done that after tipping back a few on a Saturday night?), when I learned something incredibly [...]

Question: How did you complete the research for this book?
Answer: Like a turtle completes a triathlon.
The running. I wanted as much of the book as possible to come from the observations of those who wrote about and talked to Charles Bender daily. That meant the most important sources were found in reels of microfilm of [...]

A devoted reader (OK, so she also happens to be my devoted wife) pointed out that soon one will be able to buy “Chief Bender’s Burden” for 11.31 pounds sterling. See No. 11 on the list.

Articles were published in recent days in White Earth (Charles Bender’s boyhood home), Detroit Lakes (near Bender’s old hometown) and New Brighton (my old hometown). I am grateful to journalists interested in Bender’s story.

The Appearances page has been revamped.

Words I never expected to write: “Chief Bender’s Burden” is featured in today’s Washington Post.

Charles Bender was born near Brainerd, which is, as those of us in the southern half of Minnesota say, Up North. Mike Bialka, longtime sports editor at the Brainerd Dispatch, wrote a column about “Chief Bender’s Burden” titled Swift’s ‘Chief Bender’ Worth Checking Out for Sunday’s edition (free subscription required).

Last night’s event has received some kind attention in the blogosphere. Blogger extraordinaire Griff Wigley posted several photos at the online joint every plugged-in Northfielder frequents. Fellow writer Rob Hardy wrote a gracious post at Rough Draft, a blog which belies its name. And owner Jerry Bilek uploaded audio to the Monkey Blog. Many [...]

The past fourteen hours have been special ones. Last night — a quintessential early Minnesota spring night (sleety, cold, miserable) — a heartening number of kind souls showed up at Monkey See-Monkey Read to listen to me read from and talk about “Chief Bender’s Burden.” And we sold more books than there were people. Wow.

A [...]

I will be a guest on the ArtZany! radio show at 9:05 a.m. tomorrow (Friday) on KYMN 1080-AM. ArtZany! is a unique show hosted by Paula Granquist that features artists, musicians and writers. Ms. Granquist and I will discuss the process of writing “Chief Bender’s Burden” specifically and the craft of writing nonfiction generally. There [...]

If you’re in the neighborhood and can tear yourself away from American Idol, I hope you will stop by Monkey See-Monkey Read tomorrow (Thursday) night.
Starting at 7 p.m., I will read from and discuss “Chief Bender’s Burden” as attendees nibble on homemade cookies and sip from tasty beverages. After I finish talking and answering candy-induced [...]

Sometimes the mailbox contains more than utility bills and political propaganda. I just opened an envelope containing a happy note — a review of “Chief Bender’s Burden” from Wes Lukowsky of Booklist. Many libraries around the country rely on Booklist, published by the American Library Association, as they decide which books to add to their [...]

Check out the link while it’s still relevant, because surely this is the last time I will write these words: “Chief Bender’s Burden” has hit No. 1 on a bestseller list.

At the moment I am an author trying to persuade busy people to take time out of their lives to come to my readings. But usually I am on the other side — a reader in the audience. So often after an author speaks he or she offers to answer questions and everyone sits on [...]

I was sitting at the table the Minnesota Twins kindly offered inside Gate F, perhaps the main entry at the Metrodome, and I was ready. The table display included neatly stacked books, an oversized tabletop cover poster, a basket of old-time candy, and a pretty nifty electronic slideshow of Charles Bender-related images.
Books here! Get yer [...]

Many thanks to Twins Geek for posting that article I mentioned the other day.

As mentioned a time or two around this site, I’ll start peddling books in person this weekend with two events you might want to check out if you don’t have a better option.
Signing: Minnesota Twins Game
About 25,000 of my closest friends and I will be at the Metrodome before and during the Minnesota Twins-Kansas City [...]

If Charles Bender was interested in a subject, he learned everything there was to learn about it. He essentially taught himself how to pitch a baseball at a Hall of Fame level. But baseball wasn’t his only passion. He also applied his curious mind to an incredible number of hobbies and sports — often with [...]

The Cleveland Free Times just published a cover story that seems oddly familiar.