Apr 13, 2021
In this episode of The K.P. Wee
Podcast, the tables are turned when Stan Markotich, former News
Director at CJIV Radio, takes over the microphone to interview our
host. Together, they explore all the various professional
incarnations that have defined K.P.’s career: sports writer,
educator and author of multiple works of sports and narrative
fiction. There are lots of amazing anecdotes and stories to share
along the way.
It’s a conversation that runs
the gamut from the early impulse (to help others) that drove and
continues to drive K.P.’s career interests to managing interviews
with irascible sports subjects to advice for young people who
aspire to work in sports, most especially for those who are
interested in becoming an author and building a body of work
similar to K.P.’s own. Anyone can do it, the author and podcast
host asserts, with dedication, patience, determination, preparation
and – most of all – passion!
If you’re a fan of this
podcast’s intro music, please follow Roger Chong:
Twitter @chongroger and Instagram @chongroger
KEY TOPICS:
- (01:49): How K.P.’s core values
drove his professional interests.
- (02:58): K.P.’s career
as an educator included corporate and teacher training while at the
same time his gift for writing started to
emerge.
- (04:00): How K.P.’s first
efforts as an author came to pass, starting out as a hobby and
progressing from there.
- (04:17): About the first book
K.P. authored, a biography of baseball player Tom Candiotti and
other ideas that flowed from there.
- (06:15): How K.P. created a
bridge from his work in commercial and educational contexts to
becoming an accomplished author with a special focus on
sports.
- (07:25): Although not himself a
professional athlete, K.P. relies on facts, records and historical
stats to establish credibility and a sound foundation for his
books.
- (09:32): The types of
interactions K.P. has had with the athletes he has profiled and how
he prompts them to recollect and share their stories.
- (12:48): Various
methods K.P. has used to contact prospective
subjects:
- Via media relations
representatives who can help secure interviews or permission to
interact with players and other team members.
- Old-school letters to retirees
and others without PR organizations.
- DM-ing on LinkedIn, Twitter or
other social media platforms.
- (15:09): K.P. doesn’t parlay
his work in media relations for the Vancouver Canadians when he
pitches prospective book subjects, instead sharing his resume and
the track records of books he has previously
authored.
- (17:05): Helpful insights that
K.P. has adopted as a result of his work in media relations (for
the Vancouver Candians) and how they are useful in communicating
his professionalism and neutrality.
- (19:00): The publishing status
update on K.P.’s book about Barry Bonds.
- (21:24): How K.P. has navigated
awkward situations in which he’s needed to approach a coach or
player who might have had either a bad day or doesn’t want to
dredge up a particular memory.
- Gilbert Dionne on Marty McSorley’s illegal stick in the 1993
Stanley Cup Finals.
- Oilers Goalie Bill Ranford
thoughts on Jimmy Carson’s trade.
- One unnamed player lit into
K.P. because he didn’t like a particular (innocuous)
question.
- (30:26): Does K.P. consider
himself more of an oral historian or biographer?
- (32:45): A lot of the stories
K.P. tells are written to inspire young people to be tenacious,
resilient or just to dream big.
- (35:00): How K.P. got started
writing about sports figures and what it takes to break into
publishing and other sports-related careers:
- Passion is key.
- Think about purchasing some
basic equipment.
- Do your research and get
knowledgeable about various media (YouTube is a great
resource).
- Plan to invest considerable
time.
- Look up publishers who have
issued the kinds of books you’d like to write, locate editors’
contact information and send out a pitch. You’ve got nothing to
lose.
- Learn about your prospective
subjects and then reach out in a professional, serious
manner.
- (39:40): Above all, people who
aspire to a career in sports just need to get started.
KEY QUOTES:
- (02:34): “Different people
communicate effectively in different ways. I was one of those
communicators who did better as a writer.”
- (02:54): “From a young age I
knew that I wanted to help others and one way of doing that was to
become a teacher or instructor.”
- (06:37): “Sports fans often
have their own opinions and think they’re right.”
- (08:12): “Even though I have
not been an athlete or sports journalist … I am happy and proud
that I’ve been able to do the research and deliver stories that are
accurate to the fans.”
- (10:21): “I’m not there to push
the player to get that next touchdown or goal or drive in that next
run. I’m there to get them to recollect that special game, that
best moment on the playing field.”
- (14:16): “Even though I’m not
an athlete professionally or amateur-wise, I have worked for the
Vancouver Canadians minor league baseball team … (but) I keep that
separate from what I do with my writing.”
- (18:15): “I’m not a fan who is
there to get an autograph. I’m here to get your story and to
portray you in a positive light, not to slam you.”
- (28:10): “Sometimes you may ask
a question that you think is fair game … and need to cut the
interview short. You just find another way to tell the
story.”
- (29:40): “You can report the
facts, but that doesn’t give you the story.” (Stan)
- (31:22): “Helping people is not
just teaching them things but also writing stories that can
inspire.”
- (32:52): “A lot of these
stories are fascinating because of the athletes or coaches
themselves.”
- (35:33): “You have to
devote a lot of time to do a good job at (writing). You can’t be
half-way and expect to really do a great job.”
- (36:00): “You do this kind of
thing (writing books) because it’s a passion … and understanding
that, you just go out and do it!”
- (39:18): “Above all understand that rejection will come. You
just have to be able to deal with (it).”
- (39:33): “Be persistent, but
don’t be a pest. Don’t be annoying! If someone doesn’t want to be
interview you have to respect that.”
About K.P. Wee:
K.P. Wee is the author of
multiple books and a regular contributor to sports radio programs
and websites. In addition to hosting The K.P. Wee Podcast, he also
enjoys writing sports and psychological fiction with a twist of
romance. He spent a decade working as a program developer and
instructor for a private school before joining the
Vancouver Canadians baseball club’s
media relations department.
You can find out more about books by K.P. Wee
here.
Follow K.P. Wee:
K.P. @Twitter
Additional episodes of the K.P.
Wee Podcast: https://kpwee.libsyn.com