James Ross's Blog, page 11

Penn State and the Blame Game

Turn on the news you quickly will learn--the world is in a sad state of affairs. The way we treat one another and the resolve we have to stand up and do what is right seems to be shaky.  When money and politics enter the picture, the issues become more confused and twisted. The buck gets passed and it becomes a question of who is going to take the fall.

I haven't read the grand jury report in the Penn State situation. All I know is what I've seen and heard in the news reports. This may involve a sports team, but there are no winners here.  Despite the cries over destroyed coaching legacies and other sad tales, the boys who were victims of this tragedy must not be forgotten.


Let's backtrack nine years. An assistant football coach at Penn State witnesses disturbing and criminal behavior in the locker room between a former coach who still used the facilities for his outreach program and an under-aged boy. Some information reached the head coach. He reported it to higher-ups at the institution. I can only imagine what happened from there.

There was probably a discussion. The institution did not want the embarrassment of the incident being dragged into the media. A cover-up was most likely discussed. A hush went through the building. An attempt to silence the situation was put in motion.

Now jump ahead nine years. The heat returns. The media gets wind of the incident and the report from the grand jury leaks to the press. The secret is exposed. Uh-oh. What now? It's time for the blame game. I'll repeat – there are no winners. The ones with the greatest amount of political clout either have the most to lose or the ability to pass the buck.

Enter the most successful coach in the history of major college football. He's caught in the middle and wants to maintain his dignity. He suggests a resignation. But the university thinks otherwise. They dismiss him immediately with a phone call! Isn't that absurd treatment to a faithful employee of nearly fifty years? Tough luck! That's the way it works in business. Students revolt. A riot commences.

Now the "he-saids and the she-saids" begin. Who saw what? When? How? What were the circumstances? Everyone gets to hire a lawyer and the legal process is set in motion. Even with indictments and oaths, we may never know the whole truth.

The fact remains that at least one little boy was seen being molested, and there are other alleged victims out there. Penn State wants to save face so the powers-to-be made an attempt to quiet the throngs.

When it's all said and done--maybe a decade from now--how will the university and the head coach and the victim and the child abuser be viewed? Your guess is as good as mine but the situation is really a reflection of our deteriorating society and the attempt to buy reputations. Stop and think. Where is the twisted person that started it all? I bet he's hiding under a blanket of lawyers. It all disgusts me.

And the 2011 World Series Winner is . . .

Let me say this about that headline. Both teams won. There were no losers in the 2011 World Series between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

What? No Losers?

That's right. One of them – the St. Louis Cardinals – holds the trophy, but #MLB (Major League Baseball) and baseball fans worldwide won.

The games were played outside the media hubs but the TV ratings soared nationwide. The Rangers were looking for their first ever world championship. They were pitted against the Cardinals who were looking for their 11th world title. Each game was competitive, exciting and gave viewers a taste of everything that the game of baseball provides.

What more could a fan ask for?

At times there was great pitching as well as timely home runs. There were errors at inopportune times and shoddy base running. Those gaffes were followed by defensive gems, clutch hitting and heroic moments. We saw pitching duels, managerial maneuvers, come-from-behind wins, World Series records and an extra inning thriller.

At any rate, congratulations go out to the Cardinals for a never-say-die spirit.

One thing that I did was post some guest blogs on the Blogger News Network. That is a different blogging strategy, using comments from the characters in my books. Take a look at these World Series articles from the 2011 World Series between St. Louis and Texas. A first-ever unique match up; an Albert Pujols night to remember; and the pivotal game six.

The guys at Prairie Winds Golf Course wanted to share their thoughts!

What's in a Name?

A good friend of mine called yesterday to let me know that he had just left the doctor's office with his wife and they learned that they are having a little girl.  They already have a son, and are thrilled to be adding a daughter to their family.  And now, the discussion about names will begin.  Some couples read every baby book and website possible, sifting through hundreds of names in search of the perfect one.  Others choose to honor family members by passing down a name from a previous generation.  Or, there are times when both mom and dad just know right away that a certain name is meant to be for their baby.

If you are a writer like me, you know that
In my work, the names I select all mean something and were chosen with purpose.  Whether it's the all-American girl who works in the clubhouse or the fallen athlete who ended up on the wrong side of the socioeconomic divide or the businessman from the other side of the world, I play into cultural stereotpyes when selecting names and, I hope, promote some challeging conversations among my readers.

So, I would like to know from you -- what is your process for naming your characters?  Does the name come first with the full personality and other details to follow?  Or, do you need to step back and look at a developed character sketch and then pick a name that is fitting?  I want to know how you give birth to your characters.  I imagine it's probably a personal and emotional process for you as much as me.

Use the Calendar to Sell Your Books!

All of us who are involved in the world of writing and publishing have explored ways to expand our marketing efforts. Many times, as a little guy, it has seemed like getting the word out about my books to the large audience that I desire is an insurmountable task. However, with my fourth release, Opur's Blade , we tried something different and I wanted to share the exciting results.

Do you know how those bestseller lists that you see with online distributors such as Amazon are determined?  If you want to succeed at the game, you need to know the process.  We set out to do just that.

With several sites, one of the requirements is a large number of sales in a very short, concentrated time frame. We found that is the case with Amazon. With this knowledge, the gears were set in motion.

Opur's Blade was categorized as a sports/fiction book on that global online bookseller. We told the world, through social media and traditional outlets, that we hoped people would purchase this new release on 10/10/10 and asked those who were considering buying the book to hold off until this date.

Bingo! Our efforts succeeded. With those sales, Opur's Blade rose to at least #17 on the best-seller list at Amazon in the sports/fiction grouping and stood next to authors with names like Patterson, Grisham, and other notable literary figures. For a short while it was gratifying but alas, it didn't last forever. At the end of the day, though, I can say that Opur's Blade rose to lofty heights on the bestseller list at Amazon.  And, I know that this campaign exposed my work to many people who may not have discovered it otherwise.

We'll certainly use this strategy with Pabby's Score when it is released. You should try it, too!

Short Jockeys and Big Winnings!

Readers of my stories are aware that I try to take the principles of golf like honesty, integrity and dedication to improvement and apply them to situations in life outside of the putting green.  But I try not to limit those lessons strictly to golf; I believe that the lessons learned from sports in general are valuable as we all go forward in life.  There are lessons in leadership and teamwork to be learned from football and soccer . . . and even horse racing.

One of the settings I've developed in my already published novels is Hoof and Bridle Park, which is the local thoroughbred race track. This venue will take on a role of great prominence in my upcoming 2011 release, Pabby's Score. The regular golfers at Prairie Winds have an opportunity to take their friendships beyond the familiar clubhouse and become well-known figures at this racing establishment and their good fortune plays an integral part in the plot that unfolds.

The reader will have an opportunity to live in the bowels of the track, in the pit and under the grandstand. The bleachers will provide an open air view of the home stretch and finish line. The paddock area comes alive with the smells of the stables. I hope that readers will feel like they have been transplanted to the upscale environment in the Turf Club, where pampering is the standard.

"And down the stretch they come…."

Any horse racing fans out there?  What do you enjoy most about an afternoon at the track?  The atmosphere, the beauty of the animals, the thrill of gambling?  Let us know if you have your own connection to this sport that would help us better understand the passion and emotional investment of those involved.

Music and Writing

One of the most important factors in my writing has been the influence of music in my creative mood. When I surround my environment with great artistic expression coming through my speakers, it encourages my work as well.

When the first story came to me, the people in my inner circle suggested that I continue with writing but to stay in the same setting and have reoccurring characters. They said that it would help the reader get more involved.  Since, my idea focused on people who hang out at a golf course, my devotion to this idea would not be too difficult.  And, I have found that staying with the same concept has allowed me to quickly get into the minds of my characters. I'm returning to old friends every time.  After penning five novels it's almost like throwing a light switch now. But it probably wouldn't be as easy without the influence of music.

As any writer knows, whether consciously or subconsciously, when you're working on a story the plot and characters occupy your mind constantly. The actions and conversations and ideas come to an author at every conceivable time. At least for me, those are noted right when they happen. However when it comes time to put it down on paper the mind needs to be freed up.

Thank goodness I discovered www.blip.fm.com/. Not only do I get an opportunity to tweet links to songs to my friends on Twitter but I get to listen to what I'd like to hear. After accumulating an extensive playlist I can now find hours of tunes that fit my mood and fuel my creativeness.

If you're a writer and feel the same then join me there as golfnovels or AuthorJamesRoss. Hopefully some of the songs I like will find their way to your inner self.

What are some songs or pieces of music that get your creative juices going?

The Continuing Vaccination-Autism Debate

Another school year is now underway in classrooms all around our country, as our kids resume their studies of math, science, English, history, and hopefully much more.  If you have children in a public school, you know that one of the many pieces of paper you had to submit in order to get them registered was an immunization form.  School administrators want to know that the kids walking their hallways are not going to be harboring measles, rubella, chicken pox, or other diseases that medicine has largely eradicated.  But, there are an increasing number of children who reach school age and whose parents have opted out of having them vaccinated.  They are placed right in the middle of a debate that extends way beyond simply whether or not they should be allowed in a classroom.

Many parents worry about the publicized link between vaccines and autism, even though the scientific community has repeatedly come out against there being any evidence of a connection.  Others don't like the idea of their infants being inoculated at such a young age and choose to develop their own vaccination schedule.  The topic even has earned some attention among the current contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, as Rep. Michele Bachmann spoke out about her concerns that the HPV vaccine may cause mental retardation. 

In my upcoming book, Pabby's Score, I look at the serious issue of autism and the stigma it receives in our country.  I am hoping that my writing on this topic will inspire some conversations among readers about the causes behind this affliction and how best to help families who are dealing with this special need in their homes.

If you have some thoughts about the great debate over the vaccination-autism connection, or if you have experience with autism in your own circle of family and friends, I would love to hear your story.  I know that I can learn a great deal from what you have to share.

Who Makes You Laugh?

Have you ever been tempted to take the stage during one of those "open mike" nights at the local comedy club?  If just one friend has mentioned during an evening out that you should take your show on the road after keeping everyone in the table laughing throughout dinner, I imagine the idea has crossed your mind.  In some ways, it's a great life!  You get to travel the country and vent about people and things that irritate you in front of (hopefully) hundreds of people. 

There is a diverse set of styles when it comes to stand-up comedians.  There are some who make their living talking about relationships, because there is certainly no shortage of material there.  Others choose to focus on current events and politicians . . . again, plenty of opportunity to make fun there.  And, there is the group that relies on props (think Carrot Top or Gallagher) to get the laughs.

Quite a few comedians who started on the tour circuit translated their talents into popular television shows in which they were the featured character, such as Ray Romano in Everybody Loves Raymond , Roseanne in (appropriately enough) Roseanne, and Bill Cosby in The Cosby Show.  And, I know there are quite a few others I could mention.

In my upcoming release, Pabby's Score, the career of a comedian is a topic that receives some focus.  So, I thought I would take a moment and ask you who your favorite comedian of all time is.  What makes that person stand out for you?  Maybe you'll introduce me to someone new, and I'm always looking for reasons to laugh!  Look forward to reading your thoughts!

Texting and Tweeting: For Better and For Worse

 When was the last time that you sat down at a desk, wrote a letter by hand, placed the completed note in an envelope, and dropped the sealed correspondence in a mailbox?  The art of letter writing seems to be a thing of the past, replaced first by e-mails and now the even more instantaneous and abbreviated text message.  While there are many great advantages to having these communication tools at our fingertips, something has been lost along the way.

As a writer, I love the expression that develops out of putting words and phrases together to create a character or a visual image.  One of the features of my novels of which I am most proud is the emphasis that I put on descriptive language.  I want my readers to become engulfed in the scene through the words that I choose.  If people, especially our young students who have never known life without spell check and the other conveniences of computers, claim text messages written in short hand as the extent of their writing experience, they are being shortchanged.

In my new novel, Pabby's Score, I look at how culture and communication has changed with text messages, instant messaging, and Tweets.  As a novelist who always incorporates social commentary into my work, I enjoyed bringing such a hot topic into my writing this time.  I bet you will find some similarity to situations in your own life.

Are you one of those who constantly has a Blackberry or iPhone by your side, ready to send and receive text messages or read emails?  Has this technology changed your relationships with family and friends?

The Draw of Secret Societies

No matter our stage in life, we all want to feel like we belong somewhere.  And, let's admit it, sometimes the more exclusive the membership to our particular group, the prouder we are.  Whether it's the varsity football team in high school, the most popular fraternity in college, or the inner circle that has the CEO's ear at your company, being on the inside is desirable.

You cannot get more "inside" than a secret society, when your membership secrets are restricted to a chosen few.  Most of us will never know what that is like, but conspiracy theorists like to claim that several of our presidents have been members of the international Illuminati that control world events.  Count me as one who isn't convinced that our world's governing bodies are being manipulated by the puppet strings of a few men whose purposes remain in the shadows.

The Freemasons also get pegged as a secret society that consists of the powerful and influential, with some historians creating the connection between President George Washington and the Masons and claiming that the stature of that organization boosted our first president's leadership.

Of course, many secret societies go no deeper than employing a secret handshake and meeting in discreet locations for the purposes of male bonding.  So, let's not give them too much credit.

In my upcoming release, Pabby's Score, I explore secret societies and the draw we have to their assumed sense of influence and importance.  And, of course, this will be set among the characters you have come to know in my previous works as they spend countless hours talking at the Prairie Winds Golf Course clubhouse.