Book Update by Jared Carrabis
Big Papi speaks his mind


So the last time I gave you guys an update on the book, I believe I had just finished writing the book. Well, a few weeks later of 7 hours worth of editing each night, my editing is done.

I broke the book up into two parts for my official editor. I edited part one and gave it to her to take to Florida with her to edit while I worked on part two. Well, part two is done and so far I've heard nothing but great things about part one. I was a little nervous at first because literally my eyes were the only ones to have read the book. The people that are in it had no idea what exactly I said in the book, not even my parents!

I was relieved when I received the following email from my editor, Jane Osgood. For those that missed the last book update, my editor is my junior year of high school English teacher, Mrs. Osgood. She's the head of the English Department at Saugus High and is a very, very intelligent woman.

"OK - so I couldn't resist just reading the introduction even though I have a stack of papers to correct before I go on vacation...you had me crying just reading your dedication to your Mom!!! (I suppose that's the mother in me.) Then I just had to read your introductory chapter (1).. I'm hooked. You express yourself so effectively, as if you are having a real conversation with your readers. I so wish my grandmother were still alive - greatest Red Sox fan ever from 1921 when she came to this country from Newfoundland until she died at the age of 96 in 1999, still waiting for a World Series win (we kept telling her she couldn't leave this earth until it happened...I left a world series flag on her grave when it finally did.) She would get the biggest kick out of the fact that one of my students wrote this book and I'm editing it for him. Without her support I wouldn't have been able to go to college and become a teacher, and I definitely wouldn't be the staunch Red Sox fan I am. (This is just the type of story you refer to in your opening). Can't wait till I get to the airport tomorrow..Your enthusiastic editor.. Mrs. O."

So now that my editing it done, the project is in her hands. From here, my job is to throw together a collection of pictures that fit well with the book and to add in the foreword written by Red Sox and NESN broadcaster, Jerry Remy.

On a side note, there's some chatter that Saugus High might try to add my book to the Saugus High summer reading list. How crazy would that be! Granted a handful of students hopefully would have read it anyway, but now I can help them boost their English grades haha. In all serious, it would be an honor if my book were selected to be on the list of books that I once dreaded before each and every summer.

I have plans on making a trip to Saugus High within the months to follow to speak to the seniors of Mr. Jones' English class on how to write a memoir. Jones assigns an 18-page memoir each year to his senior English class. He's lucky he didn't have me his senior year because then he would be stuck reading 34 chapters with no social life to look forward to for quite some time. I'm no expert, and I was definitely self-taught, but I'm flattered that I was thought of to come in and help the students out to the best of my ability.

A few weeks ago I promised a YouTube video to provide more details about the book and I still plan on doing so. There's been a plague of sickness flying around Saugus as of late and it made it's way to my house, that would explain the lack of blogs and no YouTube video.

Once Mrs. Osgood finishes her editing, I will add the titles of each of the chapters to SoxSpaceNews. com. From there, you will be able to click each chapter and an excerpt from the chapter of your choice will be revealed. I wasn't exaggerating above when I said 34 chapters either! David Ortiz would be proud. Speaking of Big Papi, take it away!



Published on February 16, 2009

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