Thirteen-year-old Kelly Romani is a renowned troublemaker and a Little League pitching phenomenon. With the playoffs approaching and scouting interest heating up, Kelly's future, while not assured, looks bright. Unfortunately, his independent streak and his willingness to take on authority usually land Kelly and his best friend Midge in trouble. When the boys' favorite umpire Hal Mann refuses to take a certification exam and is barred from officiating, Kelly and Midge decide that they must take a stand. Risking disqualification and disgrace, the boys try to force the league to reconsider its decision. As the situation becomes more desperate the boys learn the truth behind their friend's refusal to take the exam. The Mann is only convinced to change his mind when he realizes what else is at stake. Both boys learn something valuable in doing the right thing, standing up for what you believe in and expecting the best from others.
Like most people who enjoy writing, I also love to read. As a child, I couldn't wait to begin school so I could learn how. To me it seemed like magic. Books were treasure chests jammed full of glorious adventures and ideas, but I didn't have the key. I had to rely on my parents and older sister to read to me, and that just wasn't good enough. I wanted to do it myself. And I wasn't disappointed. Reading was everything I had hoped it would be. The only thing that frustrates me now is the knowledge that there are more books than I'll ever get to in my lifetime.
I've noticed when I read author biographies, that many writers are or have been teachers. I'm not quite sure why that is, but it is--and I'm no exception. For me, teaching was good because it helped me to understand children better. You see, I never really was one myself. Children are active, and I've always been more of a watcher than a doer. Maybe that's why I never learned to swim or skate very well. Perhaps it's also why I was farmed off to the outfield during neighbourhood baseball games. I shouldn't give the impression that I was a washout at everything. I could climb trees, though I was even better at falling out of them. And I rode a bike; I even have an assortment of scars to prove it. I may not have been overly athletic, but I did have a great imagination and super friends. We put on theatrical extravaganzas, produced magazines, ran detective agencies, held funerals for birds, operated roadside stands of many varieties, and conducted safaris in the woods behind our homes. I always think I grew up in a wonderful era, but perhaps it's all in the way I choose to remember it. But I do remember it--vividly--and that helps me in my writing. I can't imagine that I'll ever run out of ideas for stories.
