Interview with Del Duduit

Today, I'm excited to welcome Del Duduit to my blog. Del is a kindred spirit who likes writing devotions. He is a sports writer and an all-around great guy.

Latest book: Dugout Devotions

Website: http://www.delduduit.com

Del Duduit is an award-winning writer/author, speaker and contributor to Athletes in Action. He is the author of Buckeye Believer: 40 Days of Devotions for the Ohio State Faithful and is represented by Cyle Young. His work has appeared in Clubhouse Magazine (Focus on the Family) Sports Spectrum, Toddstarnes.com, The Christian View On-line Magazine.

Thanks for joining us. Tell our readers what state you currently call home and any other places that have special significance in your past.

Born and raised in Southern Ohio.

You have done some sports writing. That sounds like a lot of fun. Tell us a little about those adventures.

My first job out of college at Oho University was a sports writer for the Portsmouth Daily Times. It’s still the most enjoyable job I ever held. I did that for a few years and won two Associated Press Sports Writing Awards. I watched high school, college and professional sports and wrote about what I saw. Fantastic job. As a young man, I was able to meet players I admired as a fan, like Larry Bird, Pete Rose and Mohammed Ali. Later I returned to the Times and was sports editor for a while. Always a new and fun adventure. I was able to meet many athletes I enjoyed watching. Now, I contribute to Athletes in Action and last year went to the Super Bowl and the Final Four. Professionally, I am a pharmaceutical sales professional. I contribute to my local news paper with weekly columns and blog each week on my website.

There are few jobs that I wish I’d had, but that certainly sounds like a dream come true for a sports fan. What genre or genres do you like to write?

Mostly non-fiction but would like to dabble in fiction.

Dabble away. I'm sure a sports novel from you would be quite interesting. Tell us about your most recent book and the message behind it?

Dugout Devotions: Inspirational Hits from MLB’s Best (New Hope Publishers) is a unique interview style devotional. I spent time with each person featured in this book. I was able to sit down with some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball and obtain their personal stories of faith, struggles and how they got through them with God’s help. I recount inspirational stories from each player and apply a Biblical or life lesson to each chapter.

Click image to learn more.

I’ve read your new book and I love it. Hopefully, some of my readers will pick up a copy for themselves or their favorite baseball fan. What authors do you like to read?

David Winters of course, but I also enjoy a wide range of authors, that include Rob Raines, Todd Starnes, John Feinstein, Brad Meltzer, Michelle Malkin and Ann Coulter.

Great choices. Other than the Bible, which we all can agree is a must-read, what books affected your life and how did they make an impact?

This is a tough one, but a few years ago I went through the speaker-program for Ohio Right to Life and read the book: Dying Week; the Prospect for Growth at the End of Life, by Ira Byock, MD. The book had a tremendous impact on me as a speaker and gave me a different perspective of life.

Another impactful book was: Bringing Up Boys, by Dr. James Dobson. As a father of two boys, I took the advice of a pro and tried to do the best I could as a Dad. I am not taking credit, but I believe my sons have turned out well. They both have wonderful wives, good jobs and are both preachers.

You and I share a passion to protect the unborn. To me, that’s the pressing civil rights issue of our time. Dr. Dobson is also amazing and I’ve been a big fan for years. Tell us about a memorable reader or fan. Perhaps a story about a personal encounter or some kind of email or message you received.

Each time I post a blog, I receive many responses on Twitter. The majority of them are positive. But there was one recently from a lady named “Beth” that simply told me. “I needed to read this today. It was meant for me. I have been down for a long time and this post lifted me up and gave me hope again. Thank you.”

Another one I received last year was from a writer with the Huffington Post – which is a liberal leaning publication. I posted a blog about a couple I know who was on the verge of divorce until they turned their marriage over to God. Today, they operate a successful ministry and lead people to Christ. The message I received said this: “I do not agree with your philosophy, but this story has made me think anew. Thank you.”

Feedback like that makes it all worthwhile. Do you have any unique writing habits or rituals that you go through before sitting down at the computer?

No, I don’t have any specific habits. There are times when I simply begin a sentence and it takes off. I have learned that my outlines usually get tossed as I go. I have my research and points I want to bring out, but I just start, and it flows out. Many times, my writing will go off in a different direction and I go along for the ride. There have been times I have wanted to stress a point but ended up in a much better place from where I started. I let my creativity control my writing.

Apart from writing, what hobbies or past-times do you enjoy?

I enjoy golf and traveling with my wife, Angie. We also love spending time with our granddaughter Sophie and soon our grandson, Joel, who will be born in May.

Do you have a life motto or Bible verse that guides you?

The motto/verse I try to live by is this “Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41: 10 KJV)

My favorite quote is this: “Life is hard. It’s harder if you are stupid.” John Wayne.

Lol. John Wayne quotes always make me smile. Tell us about what’s next for you? Any appearances, forthcoming releases, etc.?

Feb. 25 – Release of Dugout Devotions.

May 4 – Book signing with Clint Hurdle of the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Barnes and Noble in Pittsburgh.

May 28-June 1 – Book Expo American book singing in New York City.

August 5 – Release of Frist Down Devotions (New Hope Publishers.)

November – Ohio Christian Writers Conference.

TBD 2019 – Release of Bengal Believer: 40 Who Dey Votions for the Cincinnati Faithful

2020 – Release of Michigan Motivations and Indiana Inspirations (Indiana University Press)

2020 – Browns Believer; Reds Believer: Cavs Believer (By Books)

Del, you are truly one of the few authors that makes me feel like I’m sloughing off. May God bless you in all your endeavors for Him. I strongly believe in the power of devotional readings. In times when my faith ebbed through the years, God often used devotionals written by others to pull me back into His loving care. Thanks for joining us and Godspeed to you.