Responsible for: Author, Illustrator, Brand.
Trials of the Best, Hardest Tryer.
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Inspired by my own life as a dad and a guy who still likes being outside - basically being a kid, I got this idea that I could do a book. I don’t know why I thought I could do the author part but I took the advice of the book and went for it.
So I wrote a book… If you know me, you know I love sports, design, kids and personal development. I love the idea of kids getting outside and challenging themselves. Sports are such a great life teacher.
I’m a decent artist but I am not a fast cartoonist. Developing the cast was slow and not easy.
Still, it was super fun and before long I had enough of time into it that was worth protecting the investment .
I have 3 kids - all boys so it was fun to make all these cool and tough girls.
You know, like the kind that make the boys feel like they need to plan a come-back.
Basic message - You’re not always that stoked on everything that’s going on in life. Sometimes your attitude is all you have that you can control.
Storyboarding what was basically the message from what my own son and I were going through.
S T O R Y
What can I say - life was kicking my butt. I had an 8 year old and a complicated divorce. Jacob and I loved to play sports and skate and ride bikes together. Mom found herself in a situation where she felt she had to move out of state. The pain was real for all of us. Jake still played sports and the way I would keep myself close to him was to write letters and do my best to say my little daddy stuff in the notes and drawings I would send. We did this until I got custody when he was 12.
As long is there’s a spark in my eye, and in my soul a fire, if I can’t be the best, I’ll be the best hardest tryer.
Fast forward about 10 years to a happier time. Jake’s in college, I’m happily remarried, Jake’s mom and I aren’t mad at each other anymore and I now, have two more little baby boys! Of course my subconscious has me over-compensating for missed minutes with Jake and I am now this Super-Dad with these new guys - Nate and Chase. One day I stumbled across all these cool little drawings and quips that I had sent to Jake way back when. I could hardly believe I wrote them! One read: “As long is there’s a spark in my eye, and in my soul a fire, if I can’t be the best, I’ll be the best hardest tryer.”
Meanwhile, I had been bedtime reading Dr. Suess, “Oh the Places You’ll Go” to the new guys. Over and over they would want to hear it. If you recall, it’s actually a very inspiring little book; inspiring enough to get me thinking. The next day I started seeing if I could write more of that stuff and before I knew it I was off and running on my newest obsession.
The kids all play sports and struggle to find their greatness. They always have backpacks and they are dressed in a way that is current and culturally relevant. They make it “cool” to be “good.” They support each other and keep up with their homework. Their gear is always authentic with the look of what actual kids use today in real life. And most of all…
They Never Give Up!
M E E T T H E C A S T
So here is where my happy story gets a little less happy. Even though it’s all ready to go, I never made the book available for sale!
The book was finishing-up just as Matt and I started Basic. We were just so busy at the time I never really had time to bring it to market. The good news is I’m in a better place to give it the attention it needs now and I’ll be making it available on Amazon soon. :)
