Adams' book, 'To Be the King of Diamonds,' a hit at book signing session

Things are normally quiet on the northeastern corner of Louisiana Avenue and Masonic Drive on Sundays. Yes, you’ll always see cars parked along the street belonging to patrons of the Golden Pear, but today the traffic was even heavier.

Ryan Adams talks with former Bogalusa
resident Chris Schweitzer, now of Chicago,
prior to autographing a book for her sons.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

Things were really active at 301 Louisiana Ave., and the law offices of John Gallaspy. There was a tailgating tent pitched in the lawn with a table of cookies decorated like baseballs and a dispenser filled with ice, cold lemonade and people were coming to and fro. No, Mr. John wasn’t having a watermelon cutting.

Instead, Bogalusa native Ryan Adams was having a signing for his first-ever book, “To Be the King of Diamonds” and, no use a baseball term, it seems to be a hit.

“Ryan, you’ve touched so many people,” said Brenda Miller as Adams autographed her book. “You must feel great to know you’ve made a difference to so many people.”

Adams, a teacher and baseball coach at Slidell’s Northshore High School, explained that he tells his students a story every year about how he answered some of the most difficult questions in his life. He said he started telling the story when he came back from Alabama and found that it made a difference in his life — and from the comments shared at the book signing, in the lives of others.

Chris Schweitzer, who moved away from Bogalusa in 1990 when she left for college and now lives in Chicago, took advantage of a trip home to visit family to bring her boys by to meet Adams and get a signed copy of the book.

“They’re huge baseball fans and I just wanted them to have the opportunity,” she said. “This is wonderful.”

Bogalusan Debbie Miller visits
with Adams as he signs a copy.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

The stream in and out of the office was steady, with most folks either stopping by the tent on the way in or on the way out, where Adams’ mother, Kathy, was greeting visitors.

“I didn’t even know he was doing it (writing a book) until it was done,” his mother, Kathi, said between handing out cookies and cups of lemonade. “We don’t know where it will lead, if anywhere, but we’re certainly proud of him.” The other part of “we” is Adams’ father, Buddy, who was inside managing the inventory in the hallway of the law offices.

In addition to feedback from local residents, reviews at Amazon.com have been particularly glowing. Lee Balinas of Slidell wrote, “I purchased this book at the recommendation of my youngest daughter who had Coach Adams as a teacher. She said he shared this story over two class days and the class was spellbound and deeply moved and motivated. The book arrived this afternoon and I read it in one sitting. I choked up in certain spots and can see how it profoundly affected my daughter. It is a great book for families, teachers, coaches and sports enthusiasts. This book is not an expense ... it is an investment.”

Ryan's mother, Kathi Adams, serves
cookies decorated as baseballs and ice,
cold lemonade to persons coming by.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

And Rufus Thomas of Waynesville, N.C., wrote, “I was absolutely overwhelmed with the honesty with which this book was written! For a young coach/teacher to share his story so that his students can learn life's lessons is remarkable! Growing up has its painful moments! I can remember the many trials of searching for identity. But, Coach Adams shares the roles of faith, family, friends, compassion, and baseball in his search. An excellent book! Strongly recommended!”

“To Be the King of Diamonds” is available locally at Delta Printing for $13 per copy. It is also available at amazon.com or www.trafford.com.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com.)