Mirabella is from Racine
By Mark Hertzberg
Journal Times | Posted: Friday, August 8, 2008 12:00 am
Erin Mirabella, a former Olympic cyclist from Racine, has published her second book to coincide with the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
"It's exciting," said Mirabella from her home in Colorado. "I am really excited about the way this book turned out."
"Shawn Sheep - The Soccer Star" is the second in a series of six books by Mirabella in the Barnsville Sports Squad Series. The first book in the series - "Gracie Goat's Big Bike Race" - was published a year ago.
Each book focuses on a different Olympic sport and promotes good sportsmanship for children. Mirabella, a 1995 Park High School graduate, competed in the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games.
Like Mirabella, Shawn is a very good athlete. Unlike Mirabella, who was awarded the Jack Kelly Fair Play award for sportsmanship by the U.S. Olympic Committee in 2006, Shawn is more interested in himself than in his team.
"Who's the best?" Shawn shouts after scoring a goal. "I'm the best!" he yells, pumping his first (or hoof).
"His character has been fun to develop because he's so obnoxious, and he's very flamboyant and loud, but he has a good heart," Mirabella said. "I really enjoyed this book. Sean has an issue with being a really bad sport and trash-talking. I really enjoyed coming up with some really good clean trash-talking. It was fun to write."
"Shawn" was illustrated by Sarah Davis, a change from "Gracie." Davis is Australian, and Mirabella is particularly pleased with her work.
"The new illustrator is really amazing, the way she brought the scenes to life and added her own touches. The goalie is an Australian animal, and she was very excited to make him the goalie," Mirabella said.
The books, which are published by Velopress, are available online and in select bookstores. Three more are written, and Mirabella has outlines for another two.
The books will likely be published annually. Each book includes a brief tutorial about its sport, for children, and suggestions for healthy eating. The publication of "Shawn" was also timed for National Youth Soccer Month, which is September.