Biography Help!

[Pete]

Having just come to terms with a great friend's death; I find myself in the position of compiling a biography. He was one of this country's best disabled sportsmen. Paralympic skier, runner up to half marathons, cricketer, tandem bike rider, footballer to name a few sports he excelled in despite being blind. Has anyone got experience or have any contacts to help me with writing a biography? Coaching swimming may need to take a back seat in order to fulfill this task. Hopefully blind and cancer charities will benefit.
Hoping you can help.
Pete

[Swimmer's ATM]

I can't help I'm afraid - but "Good Luck" with your laudable quest, it can't be easy doing this for a close friend but I'm sure it will be very much appreciated by those close to him (and probably from some unexpected quarters as well).

Keep us posted as to how you're getting on - and do the charities benefit from sales of what I presume will be a book ? If so please post details when available.

Finally are you able to say who the person was ?

Have Fun :) :) :)

[nsswimmer]

i've never written a biography, i'm sorry i can't help. i just wanted to say that i am deeply sorry for your loss. it must be so hard, what you are going through. i really do feel for you.

[stella]

You could have a look at the Writers and Artists Year Book which I think you can get in most libraries - it should list information on what you are looking for.

You could also get in touch with one of the charities who may benefit from the biography. They may be able to help you source someone or help in some other way.

Good luck Pete.

[Phil Tanner]

If you don't already do so, make a point of reading lengthy obituaries in the broadsheets. They can often make a life much more interesting to the outside reader who might know nothing about the subject by jumping around chronologically.

[swimusa]

Ring up information and ask for Andrew Morton.

[Pete]

Thank you all for your help so far. Swim USA what information, where?
Keep any ideas coming.

[Bazza]

I think he means like Directory Enquiries.

Andrew Morton as in Princess Diana.

Anyway sorry Pete I'm afraid I can't help but good luck. There seem to be some sensible suggestions here.

[swimusa]

In the US we call it information or 411, because you dial 4-1-1 to access it, and it gives you any number listed in the phonebook.

[Pete]

Will keep you up to date with progress. Will get some ideas together as well as some reading while in Greece for 3 weeks. Contacts are coming together very well.

[Pete]

Have started writing and it is hard but am getting there. Next is research. Getting people involved in school life and his sporting achievements. including 7 winter and 1 summer paralympics.

Am about to read Eva Cassidy's biography because it is written from the point of view of a number of close friends, which is the way I want to write. Do you know any other biographies written this way.

Thank you those who suggested ideas and gave me contacts.

[Phil Tanner]

It's from a different world altogether, but try and get hold of David Crosby's sort-of autobiography, "Long Time Gone". It's mostly in the first person, but written with a collaborator, Carl Gottlieb, and while a lot of it is about what a big-cheese rock star Crosby (of the great Crosby, Stills and Nash and the Byrds) was/is, Gottlieb helps paint a simultaneous contrasting picture of a man pouring his talent down the drain with drugs while his friends tried to rescue him. Eventually succeeding.

[Pete]

Was a great fan in the 70's and followed the media coverage of his demise. Will look out for that book.