Coach Valvano Was Right

                On March 3, 1993, former North Carolina State head basketball coach, Jimmy Valvano, was honored at the first ESPY awards show. The ESPY is an awards show that ESPN invented to help celebrate the best in college and professional sports. I am not a huge fan of this concept, but this is not about the ESPYs. It’s about Coach Jimmy V.

           Valvano was dying of cancer when he made—what would become—his last television appearance, on the ESPYs. The speech he gave was one of the most poignant, heart-breaking and heart-warming speeches anyone has ever given. He talked about being perseverant, and conquering your fears, and climbing the personal mountains in your life. He left us with his personal view of life. He said, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”

          Jimmy V passed away seven weeks later on April 28.

          I mention this story, because I finally figured out what he meant. When I was in high school, I was horrible at English. I was so bad that I was thrown out of a journalism class halfway through the year. When my guidance counselor told me that I was no longer in the class, he quoted the teacher’s final advice to me. He told me to “Never ever try to write again.”

          Not the inspiring words that Coach Valvano said 10 years later. But to me, they were just as memorable, and just as heart-breaking.

          I had always felt I had a writer’s mind. I just could never figure out how to write the words down, so they would make a glimmer of sense, to the rest of the world.

          In 1999, I started to write my first book. Took me nearly three years, and while I think I nailed the story, the writing left a lot to be desired. I spent years regretting the fact I never seriously try to get the book edited, and then try to get it published. I listened to the teacher’s words, and not the coach’s.

          Then in 2010, I started to work on my second book. Half-way through editing the book, I found a character that I just fell in love with. Her name is Harriett Truelove. I stopped working on the book, and I started working on one for Harriett. All of a sudden, I started to hear the right voice in my head.

          “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”

          Harriett’s book was completed late last year. I have since copy written it and began to try and market it. The book is not really selling, but I am still looking at new ideas on the best ways to go with it. All the time, I still hear the advice of Coach Valvano.

          I continue to write working on the second book, and even on a new character. I have a lot of stories to tell, and I just hope I can find an audience. I just need to be patient and keep working at it. Because I know that after 20 years Coach Valvano is right.

          “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”

          Horatio Black’s first book on the market, it is called “Harriett Truelove, The Amanda Kristoff Case.” You can read a free preview and then purchase your copy through, www.horatioblack.com.