Sport Books

Book SynopsisThe true story of how professional Australian Rules Football found an unlikely new source of talent in the United States.Though most Americans automatically think "rugby" when they hear or read the phrase "Australian football," the two sports actually have very little in common besides tackling and kicking. "Footy," as this unique sport is known in Aussie circles, bears more resemblance to American athletics, requiring the skill and grace of basketball combined with the physical toughness and endurance of American-style football. The only thing it apparently didn't require was actual Americans. Until now.Scouts from the Australian Football League (AFL) realized that a key position on their teams-called the "ruckman"-required both the height and ball handling skills readily found in American basketball players. What began as an unlikely experiment of cross-breeding sports talent has led to a growing expedition of NBA hopefuls from NCAA athletic programs-including Oklahoma State, Morehead State, and the University of Arizona-looking to make their way in a game most of them had never even seen played before.In Jumping at the Chance, longtime Aussie football fanatic Gil Griffin delivers a riveting account of these American athletes who go to the other side of the world in search of their dreams of glory. From learning an entirely foreign sport from the ground up, to coping with what it means to be a team member in a different culture, to gaining not only acceptance but ecstatic support from the rabid footy fans, their stories are much like Australian Rules football itself-sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, always inspiring.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Gold Medal in the 2016 Living Now Book Awards In the course of their lifetime, one out of two men and one out of three women will be diagnosed with cancer. Many of us watch in desperation as our friends and loved ones fight for their lives. But after seeing several of her patients and her dearest aunt engage in a battle with cancer, Dr. Christine Meyer decided to embark on a quest for hope—and through happenstance and love, a team of runners emerged that empowered a community to make a difference, not only in the lives of cancer patients, but in one another’s lives. Along the way, Meyer learned that the true measure of a doctor’s success is not the number of lives saved but the number of lives touched.Trade Review2017 Living Now Awards Winner in Inspirational Memoir, Female 2017 Reader Views Second Place in Health and Fitness 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Memoirs 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in Motivational 2016 Best Book Award Finalist in Social Change “Meyer's animated account of her successful efforts exemplifies how one woman imbued with infectious zeal can make a difference.” —Booklist “Heartbreaking, inspiring, and empowering. You'll be left feeling you can make a difference in the world.” —J. R. Wagner, author of The Never Chronicles series “At its core, The Longest Mile is a convincing memoir with vivid storytelling and an uplifting (and often humorous) message that left me inspired and ready to take action myself.” —Heather Schugar, PhD, Associate Professor of Literacy, West Chester University of Pennsylvania “In a simple and honest voice, Christine Meyer, MD, recounts her journey in developing a fierce and effective fundraising platform for cancer research and support for local cancer-affected families. Her story will make you cry, laugh, and sit in awe of what she was able to accomplish. At its center, The Longest Mile reveals what I now come to believe is the most potent tool in fundraising: the power of human connection. When I turned over the last page, I was left moved, inspired, and ready to do more.” —Bhavna Shyamalan, PhD, co-founder and vice president, M. Night Shyamalan Foundation

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Book SynopsisMeet Chris and Marty—a married couple working on their careers, raising their only child, and chasing big adventures. At midlife, they suddenly find themselves weighing the responsibility of parenthood against the possibility of one more grand adventure, before their aging bodies and the warming continent of Antarctica further degrade. They ultimately decide it’s time to pursue their biggest dream: Ski 570 miles from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole. With no guide or resupply. From the lush Pacific Northwest to the barren landscape of Antarctica, Chris and Marty embark on one of the hardest challenges on the planet. After three years of intense planning and training, including meticulous preparations for the care of their twelve-year-old son, they are ready. Experience a boundless white wonderland like no other on earth. Encounter life-threatening dangers lurking in the bitter cold. Feel the intensity of 220-pound sleds, relentless wind, 40-below temperatures, and mind-numbing isolation. This is not an average couples getaway. Chris and Marty go where few others have dared on the way to making history—stretching their bodies, minds, and marriage to the limit in the process. Riveting and inspiring, The Expedition is about the power of family and community, the adventurous spirit that dwells within us all, and breaking through to feel fully alive.Trade Review2020 Living Now Book Awards Gold Winner in Relationships/Marriage 2020 PNWA Nancy Pearl Book Award Winner in Memoir 2020 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Honorable Mention in Non-Fiction – Sports 2019 Foreword INDIES Finalist in Adult Nonfiction: Adventure, Sports & Recreation “Chris Fagan’s new book is a wonderful story of a husband and wife coming together as they conquer the daily hardships and challenges of an extreme journey. The story is a celebration of what it takes to meet big goals and dreams, as well as a testimony to an enduring partnership.” —Helen Thayer, author of Polar Dream and Walking to Gobi “Chris has written a wonderful book, as honest and revealing of her emotions as the physical challenges she endured. She draws the reader into her life and family in a powerful way. I wouldn’t be surprised if she finds complete strangers, thinking they know her, showing up to share a cup of tea. This book is going on my recommended reading list.” —Steve Jones, Expeditions Manager at Antarctica Logistics and Expeditions “The Expedition is an epic, heartwarming story about moxie and the power of family. Travel to the coldest and southernmost reaches of planet earth where Chris and Marty dig deep into their reserves and ultimately strengthen their bond of marriage in this remarkably told story. Bravo!” —Susan Conrad, author of Inside: One Woman’s Journey Through the Inside Passage “The gaze of polar narratives are all too often focused exclusively on the destination, at the expense of the real heart of any journey—the family and the support network back home that make it all possible in the first place and that determine so much of who we are as individuals. The Expedition is the first polar account I have read that has given ‘home’ equal billing to the ‘ice’. Congratulations on a heartfelt memoir and a journey completed with integrity.” —Felicity Aston, author of Call of the White, Alone in Antarctica and Chasing Winter “In her stunning memoir The Expedition, Chris Fagan details her trip with her husband, Marty, through remote, harsh, and otherworldly Antarctica, a place that presents challenges unlike any others on Earth. . . . Intimate and brutally honest, Fagan’s story is about the dynamics of relationships, too—with oneself, one’s partner, family, and community.” —Kristine Morris, Foreword Reviews

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