Larry Black

Against All Odds Larry Black

Publisher Marketing: Against All Odds is fictional novel with a heartwarming story about Little Pete, the youngest of five children in the Scroggins family. The setting is rural northeast Texas during the late 1950's. Little Pete found a passion for basketball and was anxious to play for the new high school coach of the Little Hope Eagles, but the odds started to build against him as he lost the use of his right hand in an accident. However, with the Scroggins a strong-willed determination and drive, Little Pete developed left-handed skills to overcome the odds. As he neared the end of high school career, Little Pete was heavily recruited by a host of colleges to come and be a part of their basketball program. While the future looked bright for Little Pete with a newly defined goal of playing college and later professional basketball, life continued to deal him a heavy blow as he became paralyzed with polio. Little Pete was forced to decide between quitting and giving up on his dream and persevering and overcoming the odds. This story is full of emotions as you fall in love with Little Pete. You will laugh and cry as the events in his life unfolds. After reading this book, it is hoped that you will view your struggles in life from a better perspective. Contributor Bio:  Black, Larry J. Laurence (Larry) Black, Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Research Professor (Carleton), has degrees from Mount Allison, Boston University, and McGill, and has written, edited, or co-edited over 30 books on Russian and Soviet history, and Canadian-Soviet relations. He has taught at Laurentian University (1967?76), and Carleton University (1976?2004). At Carleton he was a member of the History Department, director of the Institute for Soviet and East European Studies, and founding director of the Centre for Research on Canadian-Russian Relations (CRCR). He has served as a researcher for NATO and has prepared briefs for several federal government departments and CSIS. He is the editor of the Russia & Eurasia Documents Annual series published since 1987 in Florida and, in retirement, a sessional lecturer for Laurentian University at Georgian College, Barrie, and is still director of the CRCR, now also located at Georgian.