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There's a book in my mind, hopefully a best-seller

My wife wants me to write a book.
She has heard all of my old stories over and over and over again and says she thinks other people would be interested in reading about my life.
Maybe she is just tired of hearing them and knows that if I am busy writing a book, I won't have time to keep repeating them to her.
Whatever.
She has pretty much convinced me to do it.

My life can be divided into two parts.
There's Nicky -- the guy I was before 1972.
Then there's Nick -- the guy I have been since then.

If you knew Nicky, you really know me.
(Please don't tell)
But most people only know me through my job here at the paper, which began in April 1972. It was then that I dropped the "y" from my first name so my byline would be more mature.

Nicky's life centered around pool halls and bars for several years.
There is where the really good stories come from.

If you check out Wikopedia, I am there.
The online encyclopedia describes my life in two short paragraphs. -- 63 words (but who's counting?).
Mitch Albom is also a sports writer, but his Wikopedia biography is longer than most books in the New Testament.
The Detroit Free Press columnist is described as "best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician."

The best-selling author part is what intrigues me.
It all started with some sports books that you have never heard of and then developed into "Tuesdays with Morrie." The book reportedly has sold over 14 million copies and has been translated into 41 languages and made Mitch a whole lot more money than he ever earned covering the Lions.

Then came "The Five People You Meet in Heaven."
That is the one that is now inspiring me.
My book could be titled "The Five People There Is No Chance in Hell You Will Ever Meet in Heaven."

Too long, I know, but my idea is to write a book about the five strangest people I have ever known.
Having grown up here in Hooterville Falls, it will take a long time for me to narrow the list down to just five. But I can also save some for my sequel(s).

At the top of my list is Gary Suiter, a 6-9 basketball player, pool hustler, con man, thief and general all-around pain in the ass who was at Midwestern back in the late 60s.
I will keep you up to date every week or so on the progress I am making.
You start saving up to buy several copies.

Posted by Nick Gholson at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)