The Measure of a Man Cover Reveal

September 06, 2020

The Measure of a Man Cover Reveal

Back in 2002, I wrote my first book. In essence, I called it a book. In reality, it was more of an essay for my children to know their grandfather. My father died when my oldest was only two and my youngest hadn’t even been born.

My desire was to have a written account of the life my father lived and of his accomplishments as one of the best high school basketball coaches of his time.

Even though my heart had always had a calling to write, I truly didn’t have a clue how to write a book. I had no knowledge of formatting or how to get a professional to edit my book.

Now sixteen years later, I have twenty books published, not counting They Called Him Coach. My books have been romances, the influence of my mother. She loved to read and passed that love to me.

Yet, my first book has haunted me, knowing They Called Him Coach wasn’t what it could have been…what it should have been.

I wanted to convey the man he was. More importantly, I wanted to do justice to the incredible story of what the happened in the late 60's. It was an amazing feat accomplished by a group of remarkable young men who were led by a phenomenal coach.

An inspirational story that needs to be shared so much so I decided to write a fictional account inspired by the true events.

I wanted others to get a glimpse of the Mississippi where I grew up.

Over the years, I have talked to so many of Dad's ballplayers and most of what you will read is based on those conversations.

My dad cared about every player that he coached. More important than wins, he believed in his kids, teaching them more than basketball. He looked after his players.

Having served in the Marines, Dad had a staunch work ethic with hard-nosed discipline. He also had an overwhelming, driving desire to succeed.

He always believed there was a way to win no matter the odds.

Behind the coach was a man, a dad. The man I knew wasn’t much different than I imagine he was as a coach.

Dad was a work alcoholic and taught us by example. Us kids used to pray he would get a summer job. If he didn’t, we would be working all summer long. One summer, all four of us hoed out an entire cotton field. Dad said we needed to know what hard work really was.

There was more to Dad than a coach. He loved his home and family. He taught history and instilled in all his kids that love and respect for those that came before us. Not to mention, his uncanny ability to train dogs.

Dad taught us to judge a man by his actions, not by the way he looked. I believe we grew up in one of the most unbiased households in Mississippi.

Though in my eyes, he was perfect. In reality, I realize he was only human. Yet, he never let those human flaws defined the man he was.

Dad wasn’t a person one could ignore. If you met him, he would elicited some emotional response from you whether it was love or hate.

There was no middle ground with Dad.

Moreover, he made no apology for the man he was.

Time has moved on. Dad is no longer with us. His feats as a coach are now only a distant memory, but I felt a need to preserve the history of that moment in time when Coach Gerald Caveness helped boys to become men.

It is my hope that this story will inspire someone to believe in themselves and do the impossible.

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AMAZON IBOOKS NOOK KOBO

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY

Can one small school accomplish the impossible? Does the heart of a champion beat in their chests?

Mississippi, 1964. Poverty-stricken Dean Barnes lives and breathes basketball. Idolizing his court-dominating big brother, his hoops-obsessed community goes wild when the high school team wins the state championship. But when tragedy strikes, the devastated teenager tumbles into a self-destructive spiral.

Drowning his sorrows by shunning his friends and getting drunk at parties, Dean is surprised when the high school basketball coach takes him under his wing. And emboldened by his new mentor’s unswerving faith in the team’s potential, the freshly motivated player redirects his grief at winning the ultimate title against all odds.

Can a lonely teen get past his tragic loss and achieve the dream of a lifetime?

The Measure of a Man is an uplifting coming-of-age novel. If you like rooting for the underdog, stories based on true-life, and the triumph of the human spirit, then you’ll love Jerri Hines’s inspirational sports drama.

Buy The Measure of a Man to unleash the power of belief today!

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