Last night was one of the more satisfying moments in my life: a contract signing to publish a biography of disability-rights activist Bob Sampson. (Here’s an overview of Bob’s life by the Washington Post).
Pictured above, from left to right, are myself, Bob Sampson’s photo, Douglas Niles (author), and Patricia Sampson-Harkness (Bob’s daughter, coauthor), signing the contract to move this project forward.
Pat’s job to this point has been compiling information, organizing photos, and so on. Now Doug will join her to write a polished draft. He is the author of more than 50 books (including the recent nonfiction title We Were Berliners, which tells the true story of a German man and woman who met and fell in love during World War II, of his subsequent struggles as a foot soldier on the Western Front, and hers as a civilian as the Russians invaded Berlin). My job, as Popcorn Press, will be to publish and promote Bob’s biography, a pleasure.
Bob Sampson’s life was amazing, an inspiration to everyone it touched. If you haven’t yet read the Washington Post article, please do. You’ll be grateful for the link.
More details about the project, including how you can help make it happen, will be posted in the next few days.
Wish us luck!
—Les
HAVING LIVED WITH MY FATHER I NEVER LOST SIGHT OF HIM AS MY FATHER AND FRIEND. AFTER MY SON DIED FROM SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY I LEFT EDUCATION AND WORKED FOR MDA FOR FIVE YEARS. DURING THAT TIME MY DAD AND I SPOKE TOGETHER AT THE ILLINOIS FIREFIGHTERS CONVENTION ABOUT THE MDA CAUSE; OUTSIDE OF MY CHILDRENS BIRTHS IT WAS THE MOST EMOTIONAL TIME OF MY LIFE. AS MY COUSIN SAID,’THANK YOU’ FOR YOUR EFFORTS-IT IS A STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD ABOUT A GENUINE AMERICAN HERO-MY FATHER, BOB SAMPSON (PS HE AND I SHARE A COMMON FIRST NAME, BIRTH-DATE, AND SHARED SORROW OVER MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY-HE OVER HIS LIFE, MINE OVER TWO OF MY KIDS).
Les,
As u write about my Uncle Bob, I will take great pleasure in reading about his life as it will bring many good memories about my cousins, and of course my Aunt Jean, not to mention my Father who was my Uncles only brother. Myself and 2 other brothers followed my Fathers profession into the Fire Service, which my Uncle considered his second home. I am truely grateful for the relationship I had with my Uncle through the years, especially after my Father passed @ such an early age (65). Good Luck with your writings…Kevin
P.S. Post article; very good