BCMS teacher and cross-country coach releases memoir
Jack Rightmyer didn’t know he was writing a book when he started working on a graduation present for his daughter almost a decade ago.
But that’s what has come to pass. The Bethlehem Central Middle School English teacher and cross-country coach recently released his second book, It’s Not About Winning, a memoir of sorts that incorporates elements of autobiographical writings he made for both his children. He spent about five months writing about his memories with his daughter, Erin, before she graduated from high school and about the same amount of time writing for his son, Paul, when he was about to leave college.
`After that, not really thinking I could find a publisher … I thought, you know what, I’m going to put it together,` Rightmyer said.
The result is a deeply personal book the author wasn’t sure would find a publishing house. Vermont-based Vitesse Press was the first and only press Rightmyer contacted, though. The small publisher generally deals in fitness and sport `how-to` books and practical titles, so this was a different sort of project and even a bit of a risk, said publisher Dick Mansfield.
`At this point, I’m very pleased that we went ahead. Its a very exciting project for us,` he said. `It’s unique enough that it’s not something that folks are just going to go online and get. … The more personal approach and the good writing and the interesting reading aspect of it makes it something that I think is much more suited to classic book publishing.`
`It’s Not About Winning` is Rightmyer’s second book, his first being a teacher’s guide to inserting humor into the classroom (with a writing book he’s working on, he will have authored a trifecta on his favorite subjects). He said he found writing about his own experiences gratifying and genuine, which is something he tries to advise to his students, as well.
`When we write poetry, I tell them to use a lot of their own experiences, and that’s often the best writing,` Rightmyer said. `You can tell that it’s real to them.`
Besides focusing on his relationship with his kids, the book goes into his childhood and discovery of sports ` first basketball and baseball and then long-distance running. A lot of it has to do with running and the associated travails, but there’s always the universal components of life and parenting, triumphs and challenges.
In addition to coaching the BC cross-country team since 1997, Rightmyer is an assistant coach on the school’s track team. Though running and fitness is a large component of his life and for his family, he hopes more people will find that an active lifestyle can be a great way to connect with their own kids.
`It shouldn’t be work, it should be fun,` he said of keeping fit.
The Burnt Hills resident also regularly writes book reviews and author interviews for the Daily Gazette in Schenectady.
The book has been out for several weeks now and has been a success. It’s drawn positive comments and reviews for its humor, readability and poignancy.
`I really had no expectations because I really felt it’s the type of topic that would appeal more to me and my family,` he said. `But surprisingly it’s been selling pretty well.`
Rightmyer will appear at a book signing on Thursday, May 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza.
`It’s Not About Winning` is available at local booksellers, though Amazon.com (including in a Kindle version) and through vitessepress.com.“
