I’ve been fortunate to have worked with several journalists who became prominent authors and even TV personalities. (Journalist and author is NOT the same thing.) Buster Olney of ESPN/ESPN The Magazine, Kathy Trocheck , with me above, and Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal Constitution and CBS/ESPN have become household words for different reasons.
Olney is likely the best known. I edited his copy when he was an entry-level high school reporter at The San Diego Union. He went on to Baltimore, the New York Times and now is ESPN’s top baseball writer/personality.
I know Barnhart the best. We were colleagues on The Red and Black, student newspaper at the University of Georgia, and were among a foursome that journeyed to Nashville, Tenn., for the Georgia-Vandy game in our college years, a sojourn that also included The Grand Ole Opry. Barnhart, author of three football-related books, got famous by staying with the sport he loves.
Trocheck, also a UGA colleague of Barnhart and mine, eased out of her newspaper career in Atlanta when USA Today started reshaping the business in the 1980s. She had a good run with the Callahan Garrity mystery series and now is on a roll writing as Mary Kay Andrews. Her latest novels have dented The New York Times’ extended best-seller list. Blessed with a great sense of humor, it shows in both book series. Her works feature such Southern stereotypes as Swannelle, Baby and Sister Easterbrooks, and current protagonist Weezie Foley.
Makes me feel like a slacker. Let me know who you like the best.
1 Comment
February 24, 2008 at 3:29 pm
[...] Matters East and West wrote an interesting post today on Buster Olney, Barnhart, Trocheck: Author, author, authorHere’s a quick excerptHe went on to Baltimore, the New York Times and now is ESPN’s top baseball writer/personality. I know Barnhart the best…. [...]