I got some pretty exciting news regarding my book today….We have an official title and a cover!
I’m still awaiting news about edits, the index, and so forth, and we don’t have an entry in McFarland’s online catalogue yet, but getting the title and cover settled are pretty big steps in the publication process. Soon there will be placeholder entries on their site, as well as Amazon, Google, etc., as we get close to the publication date, and having the cover done was a key component of that.
Here it is, fresh from the design folks at McFarland:
I’m really, really happy with how that came out. The title comes from Satchel Paige’s famous comment when he learned that the initial plan for him being inducted into the Hall of Fame was to have a separate display for him and any Negro Leaguers that followed him. They wouldn’t be in the plaque gallery with all of the other members, and in fact wouldn’t formally be members at all. Upon learning that, Paige reportedly said he wouldn’t go into the Hall of Fame through the back door.
Thankfully, that was ultimately changed, but the Hall of Fame’s slights to Negro Leagues players haven’t really stopped. To this day, in fact, the statue of Satchel Paige on the grounds of the Hall of Fame is literally outside the building, in the back yard, hidden from view if you’re entering the Hall through the public entrance on Main Street. The statue is literally facing one of the Hall’s back doors.
Pretty tone deaf on the part of the Hall of Fame, right? I hope that gives you a better idea of what the book is about, and why I decided to write it.
Anyway, I’m thrilled with the title and cover, and I’ll be sharing more about the publication as it progresses.
Good luck on the book! I look forward to putting it on my Christmas list…..
Congrats, looks like a good read.