Jul 12, 2015

Hello Everyone, 

Thanks again for supporting the creation of this book.  I want to update all of you on my progress up to this point and my plans for getting the book finished.  Over the last few months since the funding effort was completed I've been rather laid up with a back injury and nerve pain related issues that have severely hampered my ability to move forward with the project.  For about three months I was unable to sit in a chair for more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time.  This also set me quite behind in my carpentry business.  Things are much improved now.  I am back to carpentry work and I am just now getting the book project moving again in the direction I hoped to take it back in February. 

All of this has forced me to reevaluate the schedule and completion estimate for the project.  At this point I hope to have the manuscript draft completed and edited in about one year, by the time of the Olympic Trials in Eugene (July 1st, 2016).  The actual book will be printed a few months after that, after design and marketing efforts have been completed.  I had originally hoped to have the book printed by the Trials, but that schedule is unrealistic at this point.  This is a large project involving many voices and stories and it does not make sense to rush it.  Harry has given me some good coaching recently on this point.  "Pace yourself, Bob!," he admonished me.  "Just advice from your old coach".  Harry's words always carry weight for me, just as they did many years ago on the track.

The important work I've been able to do on the project this spring has been to attend the final high school races for the set of South Eugene athletes I have been following for the past four years.  Making those trips to Eugene provided me with the culmination of the storylines that will form the finale of the book.  Now the decks are cleared to get the story of the main years of the dynasty filled in.  And for this I need everyone's help. 

Up to this point I've been able to accomplish about 100 hours of interviews, but many more hours need to be completed.  The work of scheduling all of these interviews has become the largest hurdle of the project.  To accomplish this I am now using an online scheduling platform called Full Slate, a website program typically used by doctors, chiropractors, and massage therapists - people who have diverse schedules and many appointments.  The program allows anyone to sign up for an available interview time slot without extra time consuming back and forth email traffic with me.  You can also send me an email right from the Full Slate page to request a custom time or date for your interview , or to add information.

If you were part of the program at any level - an athlete, a coach, a parent, a rival, a fan, etc. - then I'd like to talk with you.  Many people do not believe that their stories amount to much.  But the truth is that the small details, the vivid memories, the little asides and tangential storylines are what will ultimately bring life to the narrative.  The statistics of the history are easily recounted, but the personal details are the treasures of the story.  Even if you've related some stories to me verbally in an informal setting at some point over the last few years it is quite likely that I have been unable to remember everything you said.  Recording the information is the best way for me to remember the stories, and to get them in your own words.  So, please do not hesitate to sign up for an interview slot.  The more interviews I can accomplish, and the sooner I can accomplish them, will help me move the writing forward faster.

The Full Slate interview appointment link is http://purpledynastybookproject.fullslate.com

When you click the link you will be sent to a cover page for the project.  Click the interview link and you will be taken to a calendar.  From there just select a pre-set timeslot that works for you.  The pre-set interview appointments are Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at 7pm Pacific time, but Full Slate will show these to you in your time zone.  If one of those days works but you would like to start earlier or later simply choose the 7pm appointment for that day anyway and then email me to modify the time.  If you want to request a custom day and time also just email me.  You will be required to fill in your name, email address, and phone number to get the interview set up.  A confirmation email will be sent to you, and a day before your interview you will receive a reminder email.

I really look forward to talking to everyone.  And thank you to all the people who have already spent time talking to me about your memories of the Axemen track and field program.

Take care,

Bob