. . . of Boots Poffenberger material that is. It’s taken me five months, but I’ve read virtually every clipping that fill scrapbooks and manila envelopes, that in turn fill a storage tub, about the life and career of one of baseball’s most colorful characters. Completing this task has brought me to the most critical phase of the writing process, as well as the most nerve-wracking and that is the proposal. Most publishers want to see a proposal consisting of an overview, chapter summaries, market analysis, and other possible pieces of information. It is the proposal which generally determines whether the publisher will ultimately accept the book and, therefore, the proposal has to be written at least as well, if not better than the actual book itself. You can afford a less than fascinating page or two or ten out of 200, but not out of 20.

The Boots Poffenberger archive.

Boots and I have spent a great deal of time together since January and I feel a definite obligation to bring his remarkable life to light. I mean, we’re kind of buddies now, and your buddy deserves your best effort. Boots will get that, of course as will his family. After all, they started me on this wonderful adventure and have been kind enough to lend me all this material.

In any case, if you believe in sending positive thoughts and good vibrations (the butterfly effect and all that) please send them my way next week as I hope to complete the proposal. Boots and I would appreciate it.