by Ray Keating
Commentary
DisneyBizJournal.com
April 14, 2024
Today, April 14, marks two birthdays – one for an individual and another for a television channel. Both had big impacts on me, and in turn, on a character I created, i.e., Pastor Stephen Grant.
First, April 14 is Pete Rose’s birthday. Rose is the Cincinnati Reds great who is the all-time Major League Baseball leader in hits – The Hit King. When I was a kid, Rose and his style of play – namely, he seemed to will his way to greatness as he did not have the most natural talent – made me a Cincinnati Reds fan. Of course, Rose also is one of the most tragic figures in the game, as he bet on baseball while managing the Reds. That got him a lifetime ban from the game and from the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In turn, given my own Cincinnati Reds fandom, I made Pastor Stephen Grant a Reds fan as well. I like to call him the biggest Reds fan in fiction. And by the way, he married someone who roots for the Cardinals!
Second, April 14, 2024, marks the 30th birthday of Turner Classic Movies. TCM grabbed my slowly growing appreciation for classic movies, and truly allowed it to flourish. TCM is a treasure.
And yes, as a result, Pastor Stephen Grant is a fan of classic films, and he has been introducing his wife to these movies as well. In addition, my appreciation for classic movies merged with my love of history, and one result has been my first work of historical fiction – Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel.
More Pastor Stephen Grant and Alliance of Saint Michael novels are coming, as well as other new series. And they, no doubt, will be marked in some way by my love for the Reds and baseball, and for TCM and classic films.
For good measure, by expanding my appreciation for classic films, TCM increased my fascination of Walt Disney, and now I also am writing for and managing this DisneyBizJournal website.
This is my personal version of what happens when worlds collide!
Thanks for reading and God bless!
__________
Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.
The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?
The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more.
Never miss any new book by Ray Keating by joining the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship with Ray Keating at
https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship.
Various books by Ray Keating…
• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. There are 19 books in the series now.
• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is at Amazon.
• Order The Weekly Economist III: Another 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist.Kindle editions here.
• Grab The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle and paperback editions here.
• Purchase The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle and paperbacks here.
• Signed editions of Ray’s books are at www.raykeatingbooksandmore.com.
Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.
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