CLODDY OFFICIALLY RELEASED

The biography of Dwane “Cloddy” Clodfelter is now in stock and available for purchase. A limited number of copies (1,000) of this First Edition of CLODDY are available. To ensure you receive a copy of this first printing of CLODDY, visit the “Store” page by clicking here. Those who pre-ordered the book will receiver their copy(s) shortly.cloddyfinal

This sports biography is a 6” x 9” hardcover with dust jacket. The book is 306 pages long (370 pages with the 1460 endnotes) and includes 49 photos. The dust jacket was designed by Laura Drew and the book’s interior was designed by Colleen Sheehan of Ampersand Book Interiors. Dr. Brent Froberg and Dr. Evelyn Schlenker, former USD professors, assisted with the editing of the manuscript.

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CLODDY’S BIRTHDAY – 100 YEARS AGO

My father, Dwane “Cloddy” Clodfelter, was born in July of 1918. If he was with us today, he would have celebrated his 100th birthday. Since August 2012, I have been working on his biography entitled, CLODDY: Coach Dwane “Cloddy” Clodfelter, a Pioneer in the Integration of NCAA College Basketball. My graphic designers are almost finished with their work on the cover and the book’s interior design. I hope to release the book by mid-October. CLODDY will be available for purchase on my website.

Dwane Clodfelter (ca. 2005)

Dwane Clodfelter (ca. 2005)

The cover should be completed by month’s end. I have worked on this biography for six years and it has taken much longer than anticipated. I think my next book will be a novel – because then I can just make stuff up. I’m anxious to get this book released and hope those who read Dad’s story will enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it!

FIRST DRAFT OF CLODDY

Today, I finished the first draft of CLODDY with about 70,000 words written. This is the length I had envisioned since the beginning of this book project. I must say it is a rough draft as I have much left to do. However, it feels good to have the basic structure of the story down on paper.

I have more additions and some deletions to make. I have to complete the many endnotes used in telling the story. Rewriting and more rewriting. Copy editing and story editing – along with a myriad of other details to complete the work.

I intend to self-publish for a variety of reasons including having creative control and the ability to release the book at an optimal time – which I plan to do in the fall.

I have so many to thank in this journey. Thank you for your encouragement and your interest!

TWO-THIRDS OF FIRST DRAFT OF “CLODDY” BOOK COMPLETED

I have written 45,000 words of the first draft of “Cloddy.” I’m just finishing Chapter 10 which covers the 1958 championship season. I anticipate there will be 17 chapters in all and 70-75,000 words.

The next chapter will cover Dad’s summer in Peurto Rico coaching the Ponce team in the Peurto Rican Summer League. The family went to this Caribbean island as well. I was three and a half years old at the time and have limited recollection. I will rely on my siblings recollections as well as some research materials I have accumulated. One thing I do remember is the size of the mosquitoes descending upon the beach toward sunset.

A Beach in Puerto Rico

A Beach in Puerto Rico

I will also have to rely on a Spanish translator as some of my materials are written in Spanish and I know little to none of the language. This project is taking longer than I thought, but I like how it’s shaping up. It will need a lot of polishing as well as I am presently just trying to get the story on paper. Then I can start the first re-write.

Thanks for your interest! So many have been a great source of encouragement to me!

SPENDING TIME IN THE “MORGUE” AT THE HURON(SD) PLAINSMAN

Last week, I spent a couple of days at Huron’s daily newspaper the “PLAINSMAN.” Editor Sean Kelley and the kind staff of the PLAINSMAN allowed me access to the newspaper’s archives – affectionately referred to by the staff as the “MORGUE.”

This large binder of PLAINSMAN newspapers from the early 1950's holds three months of newspapers.

This large binder of PLAINSMAN newspapers from the early 1950’s holds three months of newspapers.

Dad coached and taught at Huron High School from 1950-53 after a successful one year stint at Yankton High School. I researched to answer questions such as why he left Yankton and how the position in Huron came open and his experiences and accomplishments in Huron.

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I learned Kansas Coach Phog Allen spoke at the Huron High School/Huron College Athletic banquet in 1951 and that Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp spoke in the spring of 1952. About 700 people attended these two events honoring the athletic teams.

My time at the PLAINSMAN was very productive and I learned some useful information which will be important in writing the chapter about dad’s three years in Huron. I was just a “twinkle in my daddy’s eye” in 1953, but would arrive a year later in the fall of 1954.

 

2014 ANNUAL REPORT ON ACTIVITY OF KIMCLODFELTER.COM: I was shocked at how many countries had visitors to this site.

I started kimclodfelter.com on WORDPRESS.ORG in March of last year primarily to promote the forthcoming biography “CLODDY.”

One of the plugins on my site is called JETPACK. This plugin records data on how many people visit this site, where they came from, and other data such as how they connected to this site (E.g. Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, etc.)

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I accidentally stumbled across this report and was shocked to discover how many countries were represented in the data showing the number of visitors. This website was up and running for about ten months in 2014 with a total number of visitors of 2700 which translates to 270 per month or 9 per day. These are modest numbers, but it’s a start at building a platform to launch the book.

Countries (# of visitors)

United States (2340), Mexico (15), Canada (5), Dominican Republic (1), Costa Rica (2), Panama (2), El Salvador (1), Brazil (180), Columbia (7), Venezuela (2), Ecuador (6), Peru (3),  Chile (5), Argentina (8), Paraguay (2), Ethiopia (1), Morocco (1), Algeria (2), Israel (1), Pakistan (3), India (2), United Arab Emirates (1), Bangladesh (1), Indonesia (3), Philippines (4), Thailand (2), Malaysia (2), Taiwan (1), Turkey (3), Greece (8), Italy (24), Spain (14), Bulgaria (1), Romania (1), Croatia (1), Hungary (1), Poland (1), United Kingdom (1), Portugal (9), Switzerland (1), Germany (3), Netherlands (9), Latvia (1), Belgium (2).

49 countries in all according to Jetpack stats. 

I don’t know how or why visitors from so many far away countries came to visit this website, but I hope it bodes well for the book when it is published.

Anyway, Happy New Year to all those visiting this site! And thanks for your interest. Let your friends know about this project “CLODDY.”

Kim

THOUGHTS ON TURNING 60

Last night at 9 p.m., the day before my birthday, I was devouring a few chicken wings at a local sports bar and washing them down with a tall, cold beer. Suddenly I blurted out to my friend, “I only have three more hours to be under 60!”

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Other major birthdays haven’t affected me much. This one is a little different. I don’t feel any older, but I am feeling a sense of urgency. I have a few things I’d like to do in the latter third of my life – at least I hope I have a third left. I ought to be able to accomplish something in the next 30 years!

My present major project is the biography of my father “CLODDY.” I’m aiming for the fall of 2015. The pressure is on…

Anyway, getting back to my birthday, I’m thinking that “60 is the new 40.” Am I right?

I’d like to hear from some of my fellow forty-somethings!

Thanks!