Should I Feel Sheepish for Writing a Jeremy Lin eBook?
I wrote an eBook about Jeremy Lin, which was published by Bethany House Nonfiction.
Remember Jeremy Lin? He used to play professional basketball for the New York Knicks (and is technically still under contract). You can buy the book here, though I fear not very many people have.
It hasn’t sold well for a number of reasons, including the following:
1. Before the ink was even dry on the book contract, Lin blew out his knee and was on the shelf for the rest of the season.
2. Truth be told, he wasn’t playing all that well even before the knee. Teams had figured him out, and his body was beginning to wear down.
3. He played sensational basketball for three weeks and then we all jumped on the bandwagon. This is the part that I feel sheepish about. Though I’m glad we didn’t jump on the bandwagon to the tune of a 275-page hardcover book (which at least two other publishers did, and which at least two other publishers will probably be losing their respective and proverbial shirts on unless Lin performs a Lazarus-esque resurrection and begins to hang 30 on people in the playoffs.)
Note: Lazarus was a Bible character, not a power forward who used to go by the name “Ron Artest.”
This all begs the important question: Should we (“we,” in this case, being Christian Publishing…myself included) feel embarrassed about our three-week fling with Jeremy Lin?
On one level, the answer has to be “yes, we should.” We should have waited longer than three weeks to see if he could play in the NBA, and to see if his story was viable. We should have waited longer before falling all over ourselves to make a hero out of this kid who, in his defense, did absolutely nothing wrong in all of this. He lived a dream, proclaimed the gospel when he could, and was manifestly “himself” through all of it.
Was it wrong to unapologetically try to make a buck off Jeremy Lin? I’m not sure. Because make no mistake about it, while Christian publishers are in the (sort of) ministry business, they’re also in the business of making a buck. It’s what keeps people (like me) employed. It keeps food on our tables. It keeps parents paying the Christian School tuitions or shelling out for the homeschool resources that keep other people employed. Making bank makes the Christian business world go ‘round. It also isn’t news that popular books don’t sell by accident.
The other answer, perhaps more complicated, is that even though it was Jeremy Lin, and even though his story was bigger than big for a minute, the amount of “buck” that authors and publishers are going to make off him looks like it’s going to be relatively small. The only real financial winners here seem to be the guys who got big advances to fast-track the 275-pagers that may be destined to sit in warehouses.
But on the other hand, his story was unique. It was fresh. He was the rare thoughtful, intelligent athlete, and that made him interesting. It was also a story that was chock full of gospel truth and reflection, which not only makes it interesting, but makes it worthwhile reading even if he is no longer lighting up Madison Square Garden. The book has gospel, scripture, and truth on its pages, even if the public has moved on from the subject of the book. That’s why good publishers (and authors) jumped at it.
Perhaps the bigger question is, “Are we comfortable with God deciding (at this point) to NOT make Jeremy Lin into the next Tim Tebow or even the next Kurt Warner? Are we comfortable with a God who allows Lin to be a sixth man or even go back to the D-League, after we have so enthusiastically thrown our support behind him?”
Granted, I don’t think that will happen necessarily. I think he’ll level off and become a productive (if not sensational) NBA player, but maybe it’s an opportunity for all of us to put our sovereignty money where our mouths are.
That said, I’m still hoping for a Lin resurrection, and for a Knick playoff run of epic proportions…if only because it will help sales (It’s only $4.61 on Kindle…cheaper than a grande mocha at Starbucks)…and because it would still be great to see a nice guy (Lin, not me…obviously) finish first.
Owen
4/26/2012
I don’t think you should feel bad. Authors write different kinds of books. Sometimes they’re aimed at the ages to come; other times they’re occasional. Nothing wrong with that.
Some don’t think it’s right to write for money. I remember hearing Peter Jensen say that in one of Mark Dever’s 9Marks interviews. I found that provocative and will say that it has stuck with me. But I am personally glad that I can provide for my family by writing. What an incredible gift. At least for now, until Jeff Bezos marginalizes all our profits while running the world’s largest–and only–publishing house. To think we all thought Borders was evil…
In terms of Lin, I like much of what you said but think that you’ve undersold him. He’s a pretty darn good player, and he rallied nicely after his dip. Yes, his body did break down. But he was basically a rookie. That’s what happens to rookies. We’ll see how year two (three) goes. I think he’s a starting point guard and might be capable of scratching some young Nash numbers. He has a gear, connected to competitiveness, that a lot of guys don’t have. He’s a tall point guard, which as short point guards like me know is the asset of assets (aside maybe from speed, but I’ll take height over speed in the NBA).
All this to say that your book could sell well now and well later. I hope so. You’re a good writer, and I appreciate what you’re after.
Elias
4/26/2012
You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes with Lin’s Faith Knicks can be saved no matter if he is good or not no matter if they win a championship. Not all of us are called to win but to be a light in the dark.
Check out | HeadHeartHand Blog
4/27/2012
[...] Should I feel sheepish for writing a Jeremy Lin eBook? OK, I’m breaking my self-imposed Tebow/Lin omertà, but I think it’s worth it for Ted Kluck’s brutally honest post. [...]
k_luck96
4/27/2012
Hey Owen,
Thanks for the kind words man – good to hear from you. Yeah, I am beyond thankful to be able to write for money at all, and I think there’s something to be said for good writing for the sake of good writing, even if interest in the subject has dipped somewhat.
I hope you’re right re: Lin’s upside as a player. I saw the same spark you did in his competitiveness, and when he was healthy he was a blast to watch. Speaking of basketball books, have you read “Life on the Run” by Bill Bradley? It’s sensational…probably the best basketball book I’ve ever read…
Frank Turk
4/27/2012
I think the embarrassing thing is that Ted wrote a book and I haven’t read it yet.
k_luck96
4/27/2012
The other embarassing thing, Turkish, is that I didn’t ask you to write the foreword for this book.
Owen
4/27/2012
I have not, but I am a connoisseur of good basketball writing, so now I will. Thanks.
Dan
4/30/2012
Ted,
I’m looking forward to reading this book. I’ve really enjoyed some of your other writings and I’ll be sure to grab this one. I’m not sure I agree with you that “he wasn’t playing all that well even before the knee”, though. Yeah–he had a phenomenal run for three week and he didn’t keep that pace up. He had a few off games, but then he settled into a groove where he was scoring 12 to 15 to 20 points a game. His turnovers decreased and his assists increased. He isn’t a super star anymore, but I think it’s safe to say that he’s turned into an average to slightly above average NBA player.
Dan
Shannon Dingle
4/30/2012
For me and for other families I know who have adopted from Taiwan, we’ll still be buying it. Granted, Lin was born here in the US, but he shares his Taiwanese heritage with our children and we pray our children will share his and our heritage in Christ as they come to know Him.
So did you jump the gun? Maybe.
Am I thankful for it? Yes.
k_luck96
4/30/2012
Thanks for writing Shannon and Dan – appreciate the kind words! And Shannon, good to hear from another adoptive parent!
Marcia Z. Nelson
4/30/2012
no
Tonnya Olsen
4/30/2012
The Tebow/Lin/Bubba Watson trifecta has made sports more interesting, though. Hopefully, the challenges that Tebow & Lin are having will be temporary & will be fodder for encouraging us all to “make a come back” after being shelved for a season. Hoping!
Ken
4/30/2012
Whether a flash in the pan or the next MJ, the fact is Jeremy has carried himself well in an area that all but calls out for it’s stars to act like idiots.
Many have been clamoring to learn more about him and and what makes him tick.
As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot.
Denny Burk
4/30/2012
Ditto Owen. Good job, bro.
To Whet Your Appetite: 05/01/12 « ENDANGERED | MINDS
5/1/2012
[...] book about Jeremy entitled Jeremy Lin: Faith, Joy, and Basketball. A couple months later, here are Ted’s reflections on the whole situation. Jeff Goins books, You Are a Writer, is finally out! I was able to review [...]
Kiara
5/1/2012
One very important aspect overlooked by both the Huffington Post report and this article about the Lin books is that although these books may offer unique perspectives about Lin, they don’t contain any new information on or insight from him. There has been so many articles and so many people interviewed about him that there is a ton of info for free all over the internet. Interestingly, the only people who have not talked to the press since this whole Linsanity thing is his nuclear family and even though Jeremy himself has given interviews where he has shared personal info, he has never talked in depth outside the context of basketball.
The publishers’ and writers’ biggest mistake is thinking that customers would just be satisfied with regurgitation of the same info when the only selling point is the author’s perspective and narrative.
The confessions of a Jeremy Lin author: ‘We should have waited’ | Jeremy Lin Rookie Card
5/1/2012
[...] Writing for his own blog, Kluck makes a frank assessment of the Lin craze in a post titled “Should I Feel Sheepish for Writing a Jeremy Lin eBook?” noting that hopes that he was going to be the next Tim Tebow appear to have been wildly misplaced. “He played sensational basketball for three weeks and then we all jumped on the bandwagon,” Kluck pithily concludes. [...]
Theresa Chen
5/1/2012
If you wrote the book for money, there is nothing wrong with that. It makes you a bandwagonner but so what? if you wrote the book because of the rare qualities that Lin possesses as a persevering underdog who achieved greatness through faith, no matter how short lived that greatness lasted (as all earthly accomplishments are to varying degrees) what is wrong with that? More importantly, as Christians, our ultimate goal should always be glorifying God in our own lives and sometimes through celebrating othe people’s lives. Lin’s life story so far has been truly amazing, an unashamed testimony of Faith and “God’s fingerprints”. In that, why would you feel sheepish to write about it? Check your own motive and then judge yourself for yourself.
Northcountry1
5/2/2012
“Perhaps the bigger question is, “Are we comfortable with God deciding (at this point) to NOT make Jeremy Lin into the next Tim Tebow or even the next Kurt Warner? Are we comfortable with a God who allows Lin to be a sixth man or even go back to the D-League, after we have so enthusiastically thrown our support behind him?””
Well that all may be true–but as someone said
“Pray as if everything depended on God, act as if everything depended on you.
Perhaps our all powerful God has given us the freedom to work things out–that said–Jeremy may be good in the future and may not–it will be Jeremy and people like Lebron deciding.
‘
Paul Kuo
5/4/2012
Ted, I got here from a link on the nydailynews site and wasn’t sure I would like the post given its title and didn’t like how it started out. You should not feel embarrassed to write a book about Lin. His story IS viable even for those 3 weeks. What he accomplished was extraordinary and the injury does not change the impact he had, and the dialogue he initiated, on race, religion, culture, politics, and sport.
It also wasn’t wrong of you to try to make a buck. It’s no different than the T-shirt, cup, keychain, pennant makers who put out product, because there was DEMAND. The fact that he got injured and not currently playing definitely did affect sales, but that was not in your control anyway.
I also agree with the previous commenter that you are shortchanging his athletic ability (as many people have). He has proved he is more than just a “productive (if not sensational) player”. Journeymen in the NBA don’t score 20+ points in a 3-week stretch. He has defied every expectation put upon him. Who knows if he’s a 15, 20, 25+ consistent scorer in the NBA? I don’t, and I don’t presume to set any expectations.
But as a believer, I think the biggest impact is the platform Lin has been given to express his faith and to use it for God’s glory.
Finally, I agree with the very last part of your post. We are all rooting for him. Thank you for writing the book.
Let Me Direct You Elsewhere… | hisgracemygrowth
5/6/2012
[...] Should I Feel Sheepish for Writing a Jeremy Lin eBook? For those who are not into sports (I’m not into sports either, but I have been in-the-know about this story), Jeremy Lin is a basketball player who made big headlines recently. Some of which was about Lin being a christian. I love Ted Kluck, he is one of my favorite writers and he writes about this Lin phenomenon and christian band-wagons. [...]
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