Chris Navalta

tl;dr

One year ago today, my first children’s book, Basketball Stars, was released through @zeitgeistpublishing and @penguinrandomhouse.

Looking back, I still can’t believe how far this journey has taken me.

There were nights, weekends, and holidays spent writing these stories, followed by numerous rounds of edits, then finally and the surreal moment of seeing the cover for the very first time. Every step reminded me that creating a book takes far more than putting words on a page.

I hoped the book would find an audience. Instead, it exceeded anything I imagined. It debuted at No. 1 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases list and has taken me from state to state, morning show to morning show, not to mention handing copies to current and former players at NBA Summer League.

But the best part has been meeting the young readers at school assemblies and sharing my love for basketball and reading. Hearing them tell me which player was their favorite, watching them try the signature moves from the book, and seeing their excitement has been more rewarding than any ranking or milestone.

Basketball Stars has opened doors I never expected—including the opportunity to write a second book (and maybe even a third… more on that another time). More than anything, it’s reminded me that it’s never too late to chase a dream you’ve had for years.

Thank you to everyone at Zeitgeist and Penguin Random House for believing in me. Thank you to every parent, teacher, librarian, bookstore owner, coach, and young reader who picked up a copy.

And happy first birthday, Basketball Stars. Here’s to the next chapter.