Aberdeen Native And Published Author Gives Virtual Talk Thursday

ABERDEEN, NJ — A published author who grew up in Aberdeen will return — well, virtually at least — this Thursday night to give a talk through the Matawan-Aberdeen Public Library with New York Times running columnist Jen A. Miller. The Zoom talk will be on the subject of launching a freelance writing career. Miller is the author of "Running: A Love Story."

The author is Pete Croatto, who recently wrote the book "From Hang Time to Prime Time: Business, Entertainment, and the Birth of the Modern-Day NBA." It's written in the vein of "Moneyball" and "The Book of Basketball."

The book, which was just released in December, explores how the NBA went from being an afterthought in America's leisure time to becoming an international business and cultural empire. The bulk of the book takes place from 1975 to 1989, around the time when Michael Jordan signed as the world-famous face of Nike, and the NBA skyrocketed in worldwide popularity.

"I have read an unhealthy number of sports books," Croatto told Patch. "The best sports books aren't about sports, and this is really a business book or social history featuring a lot of tall dudes. In reading books about the NBA, I had never read one that looked at the NBA's rise to glory during the 1970s and 1980s beyond an extended mention of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, David Stern and Michael Jordan. My curiosity was piqued: what happened beyond those men appearing on the scene?"

But the talk Thursday night won't be about basketball. Instead, Croatto and Miller, who lives in Audubon, NJ, will discuss host a Zoom chat, where Miller will interview Croatto. Since they are both full-time freelance writers, the discussion will also feature insight into how they landed book deals and how one can get started as a professional writer.

No registration is required. The talk begins at 7 p.m. and can be accessed here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85681113539?pwd=NlVuWkZZOXQ1Y0tFb0Y0eDIyUi9qUT09
Meeting ID: 856 8111 3539
Passcode: 698384

Croatto grew up in Aberdeen and graduated from Matawan-Aberdeen public schools. He said it was his Aberdeen school teachers who first instilled in him a love of writing and books.

"My parents, Dot and Lou, instilled a love of books at a very early age, but I was so lucky to have teachers in the Matawan-Aberdeen school district that stoked my love of writing," he said. "Bonnie Sachs was my AP U.S. history teacher, but she was the adviser of the student newspaper at Matawan Regional High School. She was fiercely intelligent and crusty — like a metro editor in every great newspaper movie — and she encouraged me to extend my writing career beyond 'The Huskieview.' And my freshman English teacher, Charlene Canzano, not only made books and writing fun, but she made me feel like I was good at the latter. That was such a gift for a 15-year-old kid to receive."

Croatto also recalled taking summer writing courses at Brookdale Community College when he was 13 and 14 years old.

"I was also very lucky to subscribe to the Asbury Park Press when newspapers had budgets and could keep writers for years. I read wonderful sports columnists such as Stephen Edelson and the late Joe Adelizzi. Eleanor O'Sullivan was a shrewd, witty film critic."

"And, of course, the Matawan-Aberdeen library. What a gift that place was. Also, the Barnes & Noble opening on Rt. 35 in Hazlet was Xanadu in a parking lot," he recalled. "That's why I'm so excited to give this Zoom chat. Growing up in Aberdeen put me on the path for my career. I met several great friends here; I got to grow up knowing my coaches and neighbors and teachers. For me, it was a wonderful place to grow up. My parents still live in the house where my younger brother and I were raised. I have friends who now have families here. That says something."

Tune in at 7 p.m. this Thursday night, Jan. 14 and here is info about Croatto's book: https://www.simonandschuster.c... Here is the January/February schedule of lectures and virtual events through the Matawan-Aberdeen library: https://www.eventkeeper.com/ma...