I Never Played Catch With My Father - Hardcover

Cartwright, Gene

9780964975606: I Never Played Catch With My Father

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0964975602 ISBN 13: 9780964975606

Publisher: Falcon Creek Publishing Company, 2022

I Never Played Catch With My Father was the first novel of former Oprah guest, Gene Cartwright. When first discovered, this novel sparked a rarity in the world of publishing: an auction for a first-time author. and not just an auction--an auction between five of the nation's largest publishers.

The title is more metaphorical than literal. Sure, a kid's love of baseball plays a large part in this story. But its about more than tossing a ball back in forth. It is about the importance of establishing a heart and soul connection within families; between mothers and daughters; father and sons, parents and their children, during our brief time here.
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A Texas-born, billionaire baby-boomer's life-long love of baseball shapes his adulthood. However, his enormous success fails to erase memories of a childhood missing a 'heart and soul' connection with a now ailing father. In an effort to finally close the "broken circle," he leaves his beloved New York, and catches "the last train home."

The world knows James T. Phalen as a Harvard educated, Wall Street icon; a one-time farm boy from rural Texas, and one of the wealthiest men in America. His advice is sought by Presidents. What the world does not know is that James Theodore Phalen--the youngest of three Phalen children--is fighting personal demons.

James struggles to come to grips with stilted childhood memories he expected would have, long ago, faded into the foggy domain of lesser things. They had not. He finds himself at a place where fame and fortune are not enough, and he questions his whole being. Power, wealth, and fame fail to shield him. What now?

James Phalen discovers truths about himself, his family, and events past and present, he could never have imagined. His view of the bucolic, god-fearing little town is turned upside down. His wealth cannot inoculate him. The outcome is "changed lives," and a lesson to us all.

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From the Publisher:

I Never Played Catch with My Father is an emotional, intimate story about life that passes all too quickly; about family, baseball, and moments gone forever.

Gene aims straight for the heart, revealing intimate truths about the relationship between a father and his sons, a mother and her daughter. We learn parents often overlook seemingly insignificant events in their children's lives. Years into adulthood, the emotional baggage remains. The truth is, there are no insignificant events in the life of a child.

James Phalen, one of the wealthiest men in America, is worth billions, but his billions cannot buy memories of moments that never were. In Jim's own words:

"I cannot recall a single playful moment spent with father. It is the one thing that defines my lasting disappointment and quantifies my poverty."

Suddenly, uncontrollable events consume him. Jim is being torn from the woman he loves; facing a tragedy he could never have imagined and on a fateful journey he cannot avoid. He must now decide what is most important-searching for answers to lingering questions-or maintaining the public persona his wealth and fame have inflicted upon him.

You too, will be compelled to remember your own childhood, and a time when this world seemed a kinder place.

About the Author:

Pulitzer-nominated, former Oprah guest. See complete details at GeneCartwright.com.

Gene Cartwright, a native of Texas. He often says it was his great fortune to be born at the right address--his parents.

Gene shared these loving parents with seven siblings. He insists his love of writing and learning was sparked by his mother, who taught him to read when he was barely four. It was his father who, together with his mother, taught him, and all the Cartwright children what to do with the knowledge gained, and to love each other unconditionally.

Gene was fascinated, captured by the freedom reading afforded. What was more, he read and was inspired to put his own words to paper. He has always enjoyed both technical and literary pursuits. He wrote his first novel at 12. (90 pages longhand.)

Gene graduated high school and headed immediately to college (Prairie View A&M.)Four years later, and for almost 8 years thereafter, during what he now refers to as another life, Gene was an electrical engineer, designing lighting and power distribution systems. A few years later, he saddled up and headed west.

Throughout his engineering pursuits and business activities, Gene continued to write and dream of being a published and a fulltime author. In 1996, that dream was realized. Gene has written 8 novels and several screenplays. For two years, his book tour for 'I Never Played Catch With My Father,' took him from coast to coast:

He has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including Oprah, NPR stations and countless tv morning shows, news and sports shows. He has been the subject of numerous newspaper and magazine articles.

Gene was the featured author in Ebony Magazine in the November '97 issue.Finally, Gene's greatest childhood thrill was his very first little league baseball game. And his pet peeve? Something he labels sacrilegious: the use of the aluminum baseball bats._____________

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