Did we just host the best book launch in history? (well, juggling history)

The launch of my new book, Off Course On Purpose, at the International Jugglers’ Association festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana, couldn’t have gone better. Thank you to everyone who showed up, cheered, bought a copy, or just shared the moment. The photo from that day captures so many of the people who’ve been part of this journey — and a surprising number of them also appear in the pages of the book itself.

A special thank-you goes to Modern Vaudeville Press and Thom Wall. They’ve been carrying Off Course On Purpose and helping with distribution from the start. Their support has made it far easier for the book to reach the juggling and variety community. If you’re looking for thoughtful, high-quality books about circus and variety arts, Modern Vaudeville Press is the place.

The Passing Zone — Owen Morse and Jonathan Wee — are right there in the book, and in one of my favorite stories. Watching them work a corporate show, getting a peek behind the curtain, and receiving honest advice from Owen about pricing, professionalism, and climbing the ladder left a lasting mark. Their act has always been a north star for what high-level comedy juggling can look like, and that influence shows up clearly in the narrative.

The Raspyni Brothers (Barry Friedman and Dan Holzman) also make appearances. Dan’s generosity with time and hard-won wisdom during a day hanging out in San Diego is one of those quiet turning points the book captures. The Raspynis have long been part of the landscape of teams we looked up to while building Rootberry.

Dave Finnigan (author of The Complete Juggler and so much more) and Robert Nelson, the legendary Butterfly Man, share a scene together that still makes me smile. Robert’s larger-than-life personality, sharp observations about authenticity, and the playful (and very loud) exchange with Dave at a festival are pure juggling-world gold. Robert later shows up again as one of our “judges” in a competition routine, and his advice about trusting your own voice stayed with me.

Also in the photo and in the wider circle of the book’s world: Michael Rosman, Cindy Marvell, and the rest of the crew who helped make the Fort Wayne launch feel like a true community celebration.

If you’d like to dive in:

Free sample: https://www.mrbillberry.com/free-sample

The book is full of the people, the festivals, the near-misses, the medals, the late-night conversations, and the moments that turned a couple of determined young jugglers into a working act. And many of those same faces were smiling in Fort Wayne the day we launched it. That feels exactly right.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make the launch a success — and especially to Modern Vaudeville Press, Thom Wall, The Passing Zone, the Raspyni Brothers, Dave Finnigan, Robert Nelson, and all the others who appear either in the photo and in the story.

Here’s to staying off course… on purpose.

— Bill Berry

mrbillberry.com