Cal U grad writes pro wrestling book
Two of D.X. Ferris鈥� biggest passions are writing and pro wrestling.
A wrestling fan since childhood, Ferris is an award-winning writer and has teamed with Darren Paltrowitz to write a book titled, 鈥淕ood Advice From Professional Wrestling.鈥�
It was released on WrestleMania Sunday via 6623 Press and on www.amazon.com where you can order it as an e-book or as a paperback.
Good Advice From Professional Wrestling is a self-help manual with Ferris and Paltrowitz using inspiring quotes from the likes of Dwayne 鈥淭he Rock鈥� Johnson and Bruno Sammartino and the authors turn the quotes into useful life lessons.
It is safe to say that for Ferris, this project gripped at him just like pro wrestling grabbed a hold of him as a child.
He felt excitement when writing this book and it stems from getting hooked on pro wrestling dating back some 36 years.
鈥淚 started watching right before Bob Backlund lost his title (to The Iron Sheik),鈥� Ferris said of the time frame which was mere weeks before Hulk Hogan defeated Sheik for the title. 鈥淚 became a fan in the Hulkamania era, it was an exciting time and I got swept up in the whole wave.鈥�
Ferris continued.
鈥淭he current (wrestling world) feels like that,鈥� he added. 鈥淎ll kinds of great new things are popping off in so many different promotions.鈥�
Among the other pro wrestling personalities, both past and present, whose wisdom is featured include Dave 鈥淏atista鈥� Bautista, AEW co-founders Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks, Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, the late 鈥淩owdy鈥� Roddy Piper as well as ECW mastermind and current WWE talent Paul Heyman, among others.
Paltrowitz is an entertainment-industry veteran who has written for the New York Daily News and the Los Angeles Times while also hosting the podcast, 鈥淭he Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz.鈥�
鈥淧rofessional wrestling is much more sophisticated than most people will give it credit for,鈥� Paltrowitz said. 鈥淲hen done well, it communicates on a universal level, much like music or film.
鈥淚 wanted to spotlight some of the great men and women behind wrestling, and also emphasize its cultural impact.鈥�
The book鈥檚 forward was written by WWE Hall of Famer and international fitness guru Diamond Dallas Page.
鈥淒DP is a hero and a role model for both of us,鈥� said Ferris. 鈥淗e encourages you to think big.鈥�
Ferris earned both his Bachelors (1995) and Masters (2001) degrees from California University of Pennsylvania and has written for Rolling Stone and Alternative Press, among many other publications.
While in graduate school, Ferris was the Editor-in-Chief of The Cal Times and it was a perfect time for him as a fan as the wrestling business was still booming as it came out of the 鈥淎ttitude Era.鈥�
Although his professional career has taken him down various roads, Ferris has always kept pro wrestling close.
In fact, while in grad school, Ferris took over making the event programs for the Championship Wrestling Federation shows that took place locally.
鈥淚 was never going to step in a ring or take bumps, but making the programs was the one was I could make a contribution,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 did it for almost two years and I loved CWF.
鈥淚t felt like a high school football game, had great matches and a real sense of community with action that was in your face and everyone had a good time.鈥�
So now that Good Advice From Professional Wrestling has been released, what is next for Ferris?
While he didn鈥檛 go into great detail about what is on deck with his writing agenda, he is excited.
鈥淥ne of my goals is to not only be successful, but to bring other people with me,鈥� he said in a motivated tone. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I am working on.鈥�
Email questions/comments to Bill at powerhousehughes@gmail.com or tweet them to me @BillHughes_III.