Q & A with Katya Cengel

[Katya]

I will be answering questions about the book Baseball America, milb.com and others are all talking about for the next two weeks.

[C.J.]

How willing were the Minor League staff to give you the access that you'd need to write such a book? Do you feel like they kept things from you?

[Lance]

Is this a Baseball America prospectus for 2013, fiction, non-fiction? I can't seem to find it via the Goodreads search. Thank you.

[Katya]

Hi C.J.,

The staff on most of the teams were really pretty cooperative. It probably helped that I worked for the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper at the time so many of the Kentucky teams I followed were already familiar with me and my work. But there were still certain restrictions. None of the teams would let me ride on the team bus with them when they traveled, instead I drove behind in my car. Liability was mentioned as the concern, but I think it also probably had to do with letting the guys have some downtime. Once I chose the players I wanted to follow access had more to do with individual players than the team, with one exception. It was the first year Aroldis Chapman was in the Reds organization and I was not allowed to meet with him privately, only through press conferences and other staged appearances. I hope that answered your question. I am giving away a free copy as well so be sure to check that or visit my website to read an excerpt and reviews www.katyacengel.com/books

[Katya]

Hi Lance,

Sorry, I should have been more specific. It is a fall 2012 non-fiction book about life in the minors that Baseball America, milb.com and a number of others reviewed favorably. Here is a link to the Baseball America review http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/... and here is a link to my page where you will find the milb.com and other reviews plus an excerpt from the book www.katyacengel.com/books

Giving away a free copy in the goodreads giveaway so be sure to enter. And let me know if you have more questions

[C.J.]

Thanks Katya. I'll look for that giveaway.

[Lance]

Same here. And my apologies for misunderstanding ... thought Baseball America was a NEW book in addition to Bluegrass Baseball. I will be sure to enter!