BooksChatter: ℚ Saving Babe Ruth

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Tom Swyers to talk about Saving Babe Ruth (27 June 2014, Hillcrest House Publishing, 348 pages) a a sports literary fiction thriller.

Synopsis | Trailer | Author Q&A | About the Author | Tour Stops

A big welcome to Tom Swyers, welcome to BooksChatter.

What was the inspiration for Saving Babe Ruth?

"The novel is based on a true story about events I experienced."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Saving Babe Ruth - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I wanted to convey a sense of the noel in the cover. The story has a baseball backdrop like The Art of Fielding so the cover overlooks a baseball field. The main character is infatuated with the Civil War and so you see a gun from that period on the cover. The gun is placed next to the man dressed in a baseball uniform in the middle of the cover where your eye would expect to see a baseball bat. That’s to convey a sense of mystery and to suggest the story has a thriller aspect. It was important to show the model in a pose like he was guarding the field and not like he was looking to shoot someone. I wanted bright colors on the cover to suggest that the book is uplifting and perhaps humorous. Derek Murphy is the artist. "

Why should we read Saving Babe Ruth and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"First and foremost, I hope the story is entertaining. It was fun to write. It’s won a number of awards and is an Amazon bestseller.

I think the novel is a snapshot today of what’s going on in youth sports in towns and cities across America and how we have lost perspective on what’s really important to the development of teens while they’re in high school.

On another level, the story deals with a man who is trying to effectuate change in a world where most everyone is against it. His strategies and thought process are geared towards his goal and I think they are instructive to people who find themselves in similar circumstances."

Can you tell us something quirky about Saving Babe Ruth, its story and characters?

"Yeah, one of the country’s top sports agents has threatened to sue me over the novel. The novel has caused one town to have a public hearing over it that was covered by the news media. "

Who would you recommend Saving Babe Ruth to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Anyone over the age of 13, though I have had reported readers as young as 10. I say that because the plot has some legal angles that may confuse some younger readers and because there’s profanity."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I’ll write about anything that interests me. I do like to read legal thrillers because I’m a recovering lawyer."

What is your writing process?

"I begin writing at 5:00 in the morning or thereabouts. I’ll write until midmorning. Then I’ll take a break and get some exercise, outside preferably. I’ll take care of other business until midafternoon. Then I start another shift of writing that goes well into the night. I’ll hit the sack when I feel stuck or unproductive. "

What is in store next?

"I’m not entirely sure at this point. But David Thompson may live on in another novel. Stay tuned!"

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"This is a picture of a drawing by Norman Rockwell that’s in our family and plays a role in the book. It’s going up for auction at Sothebys in New York on October 2nd along with a signed copy of Saving Babe Ruth. The starting bid is $15,000."