$5,000 Donated to Amelia Earhart Elementary School Library

Palm Desert, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 – Palm Desert-based Back Story Publishing has released its inaugural book entitled “Hard to Heart: How Boxer Tim Bradley Won Championships and Respect,” a biography geared to middle-grade readers about five-time World Champion boxer and local resident Tim Bradley. As an element in the standard agreement with a book’s subject, Back Story Publishing makes a $5,000 contribution to the charity of the subject’s choice. Bradley and his wife, Monica, selected the library at Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International Studies in Indio as the recipient of this contribution. Commemorating the launch of “Hard to Heart,” a check was presented to Earhart principal Ann Morales, librarian Susie Fiddament, and Desert Sands Unified School District Superintendent Scott Bailey this morning in front of the 900+ students at the school. Each of the students also received a copy of “Hard to Heart: How Boxer Tim Bradley Won Championships and Respect,” and each teacher received a classroom copy of the book autographed by Bradley and Dwyre.

In Bradley's message to the students, he said, "I never expected to have a bio written about me. It’s a double thrill that one has been and that it’s for young people. I believe in reading, education and pursuing your dreams, and I hope the lessons I learned the hard way, and that Bill talked about in the book, will help you students find a smoother path.”

Newly launched Back Story Publishing is the brainchild of Bill Dwyre, award-winning former sports editor and later columnist of the Los Angeles Times. Dwyre envisioned a company that produced books about athletes who contribute to their sport and their community, and who have a compelling personal story demonstrating perseverance and success over life’s challenges. Dwyre also hoped that kids – who spend much of their time on electronic devices using their thumbs – would be inspired to pick up a book and read. “Hard to Heart” is available from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble in paperback and e-book formats, and from the Apple iTunes store.

Tim Bradley perfectly fit Dwyre’s vision of a first subject for a book. From being a combative child growing up in Palm Springs, to channeling his love of boxing into a successful career, and from being down to his last $11 before he won his first world title, to becoming what he is today: a five-time World Champion boxer in two weight classes (retired); a boxing commentator for ESPN; a volunteer football coach at La Quinta High School; a board member for a youth football program for underprivileged children; father to five busy children with wife Monica; and a businessman working alongside Monica who owns a healthy-options, quick-service restaurant – Haus of Poké -- in Rancho Mirage with two additional restaurants in the works. He and Monica also manage/mentor two up-and-coming local boxers: Edgar Alfredo Martinez and Dominic Serna, Jr. In the Coachella Valley of Southern California, Bradley is seen as an inspiration for perseverance over challenges and for giving back to the community.

Back Story Publishing develops and publishes two categories of books: (1) for middle-grade readers that encourage reading through stories about positive sports role models - men, women and teams - who demonstrate how they overcame life’s challenges and set-backs, and found success; and (2) books by or about sports/sports figures and sports anthologies targeting adult readers. The next book from Back Story Publishing is a memoir from baseball star Ron Fairly with New York Times bestselling author Steve Springer entitled “Fairly at Bat.” Fairly spent 20+ years in major league baseball – six teams, four World Series, two All-Star games – followed by 27 years as a major league broadcaster. The company is also preparing a compilation of stories that demonstrate the transformative power of the University of Notre Dame. Follow Back Story Publishing on Twitter (twitter.com/BackStoryPub); Facebook (facebook.com/backstorypublishing/) and Instagram (instagram.com/backstorypublishing/).