Oregonians may think they know everything about track legend Steve Prefontaine, but Bree Donovan begs to differ.
Donovan recently penned a children’s book called “Steve Prefontaine: Rocketman.”
Donovan said she was told stories by Prefontaine’s friends that many people do not know.
The author, who lives in New Jersey, contacted Prefontaine’s family, friends and former coaches to learn more about him as an athlete and a man.
“I definitely knew that I didn’t want to write it unless I had his family’s blessings,” Donovan said.
Donovan got in touch with Prefontaine’s sister, Linda, and told her she would donate the book’s proceeds to charity.
“I gave her my big spiel and she was willing to help me and put me in touch with the integral members of the story,” Donovan said. “She chose for the proceeds to go to Blossom Gulch, their former elementary school, for its physical education and arts program.”
“Rocketman,” which is geared toward middle and high school students, relates the inspirational story of Prefontaine’s short life.
Donovan chose to tell the story through a fictional narrator who goes to school with Prefontaine.
“He doesn’t really interact with Pre because that would totally not be true. He just stands back and observes, but all the stories he tells are actual stories I heard during my interviews,” she said.
The theme of the story was developed from Prefontaine’s most famous quote: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
Donovan first heard about Prefontaine from her former fiance but did not really think about him until years later when she was watching a film about him.
Donovan was inspired by Prefontaine’s humility and the fact that he came from a small town.
“It was hard work, determination and passion that got him to the top of his sport; anyone can identify with that,” she said. “I think that’s what people really admired about him. He wasn’t about money or fame. He really was a ‘salt of the earth’ kind of a person.”
Donovan believes Prefontaine represents purity in the sport and the integrity of a life of value compared to a life of success or fame.
“Rocketman” is available for purchase via independent publishing company Lulu. Donovan chose the independent route because she wanted to book ready in time for the 2008 U.S. Track & Field Trials. She also preferred self-publishing because more profits will go to charity.
Children are not just the intended readers of “Rocketman” – they were also involved in the book’s production. Illustrations were done by high school senior Sara Charme-Zane, and a children’s choir sings a version of the Elton John song “Rocketman” for the accompanying CD. The CD also includes a special reading by Prefontaine’s close friend Jim Seyler.
Donovan has taken lessons from Prefontaine’s life and applied them to her own. “This experience changed my life in terms of having a more positive outlook on things,” she said.
“Thirty years later, he’s left such an imprint not only on people he was close to but people he never met. I think that’s what’s so extraordinary about Steve Prefontaine, and I hope kids, in particular, take that away from the book,” she said.
Donovan felt it was important for her to present Prefontaine as a good person more than a good athlete. “From the sense I got, he was uncomfortable with his legend status,” she said. “I think he would have preferred people know him as Steve, just as a cool guy.”
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