Sports Fiction (Baseball)
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Date Published: November 11, 2019
Conor Nash has lived his life with a single purpose—to pitch in the Major Leagues. He’s been released from professional baseball contracts ten times over a sixteen-year career, but he’s overcome every obstacle to finally reach The Show when he’s a decade too old.
As he faces the specter of injury-forced retirement, he becomes a man neither he nor his wife recognizes. During his career, Conor avoided the trap of alcohol and drugs because his drug was baseball. And what can an addict do when he realizes he will never get that high again?
Conor climbs treacherous Camelback Mountain, drinks a bottle of Champagne, recalls people and events, and seeks an answer. Who is Conor Nash if he can’t pitch?
The Conman is based on the Life of Keith Comstock. Keith pitched professionally for sixteen years, including Major League time with The Seattle Mariners, the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants and the Minnesota Twins. Following his retirement in 1992, Keith has held minor league coaching and managing positions with several organizations. For the past decade he has served as the rehabilitation instructor for the Texas Rangers.
Interview with Mike Murphey
As a writer, what would you choose as your
mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
A cat. Specifically, Lumpycat,
my writing companion.
How many hours a day do you put into your writing?
Four or five, usually,
although, when I’m on a roll, it can easily be eight.
Do you read your book reviews?
Yes. I’m very interested in
what readers think.
Do you leave hidden messages in your books that only a few
people will find?
I’m not sure they are hidden
messages, but there are some inside jokes.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in The Conman?
The Conman is based on a true story.
It’s a fictionalization of the life and pitching career of Keith Comstock, who pitched
professionally for sixteen years, including major league time with the Twins,
Giants, Padres and Mariners. His character in the book is Conor Nash who from
the age of seven lives his life with a single purpose—to pitch in the major
leagues. His wife, Kate, is his anchor, most avid advocate, and his salvation
during the darkest times of his life. Three childhood friends—A.J., Basil and
Fat Brad—are other key players as his life and career unfold.
Can you tell us a little bit about your next books or what you have
planned for the future?
I hope to release, over the next
eighteen months to two years, a three-book series, Taking Time, Wasting
Time and Killing Time. This is a humorous science fiction series
about the corporate approach to time travel. My current project is a
non-fiction piece entitled The Trio. It is an account of The Chad
Mitchell Trio and the 60’s folk music era.
Do you allow yourself a certain number of hours to write or do you
write as long as the words come?
I write as long as the words come.
Do you have a certain number of words or pages you write per day?
At least 500 words. Some days it’s
an ordeal to get 500. Other days I’m surprised to find out I’ve hit 3,500.
What inspires you to write?
Any number of things. My first
published book, Section Roads, was inspired by my relationship with my
first serious girlfriend and other friends in the little town where I grew up. The
Conman was inspired by my admiration for the courage, humor, character and
tenacity of my friend Keith Comstock. The time travel series was inspired by my
relationship with my wife. And The Trio was inspired by the incredible
talent of Chad Mitchell and Mike Kobluk.
Would you rather
Read fiction or
non-fiction?
Probably fiction, although I love books about American
History
Read series or
stand-alone?
A series gives you more to look forward to.
Read Science fiction
or horror?
Science fiction. Horror doesn’t do much for me.
Read Stephen King or
Dean Koontz
I don’t read much of either, although Stephen King wrote two
books in my top ten list: The Stand and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank
Redemption.
Read the book or
watch the movie?
I love movies, but I want to read the book first.
Read an ebook or
paperback?
My Kindle has become another appendage.
Be trapped alone for
one month in a library with no computer or a room with a computer and Wi-Fi
only?
Gotta’ have Wi-Fi.
Do a cross-country
book store tour or blog tour online?
I can only hope that someday I get to do a book store tour.
About the Author
Mike Murphey is a native of eastern New Mexico and spent almost thirty years as an award-winning newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Following his retirement from the newspaper business, he and his wife Nancy entered in a seventeen-year partnership with the late Dave Henderson, all-star centerfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. Their company produced the A’s and Mariners adult baseball Fantasy Camps. They also have a partnership with the Roy Hobbs adult baseball organization in Fort Myers, Florida. Mike loves fiction, cats, baseball and sailing. He splits his time between Spokane, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona, where he enjoys life as a writer and old-man baseball player.
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1 comments:
thanks for hosting
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