Soul of the clubhouse

Lawrence golf pro tees off writing career with 'Chicken Soup' book

Kristen Samp never considered herself an all-out fan of the “Chicken Soup” book series.

“I read a couple of them when they first came out,” she says. “I’m certainly familiar with them, but I’m not rushing to the bookstore every time a new one comes out.”

Maybe that’s because the “Chicken Soup” empire, which includes more than 100 books, a magazine, newspaper columns, greeting cards, pet food, calendars, CDs, health food products and a kit to help people overcome a fear of flight, hadn’t produced the perfect book to appeal to Samp’s soul.

So when Samp, a Lawrence resident and professional golfer, got an e-mail from the Ladies Professional Golf Association seeking submissions for “Chicken Soup for the Woman Golfer’s Soul,” it piqued her interest. She wrote two essays, and both will be included in the book when it’s released April 1.

“I think people like to connect with other people on a personal level,” says Samp, who plays both on the LPGA Tour and on the Duramed Futures Tour. “With these stories for the most part being true, you get a little glimpse into other people’s lives. They can identify with the things you’ve done. They’re meaningful to people.”

Quick reading

The recipe for success started back in 1993, when motivational speakers Jack Canfield and Mark Hansen wrote the original “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” It was a collection of short, uplifting stories.

That book’s popularity led to “A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul.” That led to gut-busting third, fourth, fifth and sixth helpings.

Eventually, the series branched out. Now, the vast collection includes books celebrating the souls of dieters, shoppers, entrepreneurs, menopause sufferers, scrapbookers, Mormons, Latinos, Canadians, fishermen, prisoners, and lovers of cats, dogs and horses.

“It’s a huge phenomenon,” says Lynn Koenig, adult services coordinator for the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt.

She says the library has between 10 and 15 of the books. It would have purchased more, she says, “but we had to draw the line somewhere.”

Patrons often request others through interlibrary loans.

“Everyone’s busy,” she says. “It’s a book of short stories where you can sit down and it doesn’t take long to read. They’re heartwarming stories. They’re meant to make people feel better.”

Making it relate

That’s certainly the goal for “Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul.”

Michael Dennis, an assistant professor of communication studies at Kansas University, studied that book for a paper he presented at a recent conference. He found many forms of grieving represented in the book.

He figures the book, like most in the “Chicken Soup” series, probably appeals only to a niche market – in this case, people who are going through their own grieving.

“I don’t know why I’d ever pick up ‘Chicken Soup for the Woman Golfer’s Soul,'” Dennis says. “People have to see themselves in the title to read one of those books. I would imagine most of the readers pick up the ‘Chicken Soup’ book that relates to them.”

Author aspirations

Even Samp, who donated her nominal income from the book to charity, admits she’s surprised there are so many books in the series.

One of her essays in the upcoming book is about her relationship with her father. She had troubled teen years, and the only time she could talk in a civilized way with her father was on the golf course.

The second story deals with a male golfer giving one of Samp’s female friends a hard time because he could hit the ball farther than her. That essay connects that story to other forms of gender harassment.

This is the first time Samp has been published.

“For anybody who has aspirations of somehow getting something published,” she says, “this is a great avenue to do it.”

Samp is thinking about submitting to more “Chicken Soup” books. Chances are, she’ll find another topic that fits into her life.

“They have so many ‘Chicken Soup’ books,” she says. “They have a ‘Chicken Soup’ for everything.”

Chicken Soup

A list of books in the Chicken Soup series, according to www.chickensoup. com

General“Chicken Soup for Soul””A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul””A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for Soul””A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul””A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul””A Sixth Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul””A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories for a Better World””Chicken Soup to Inspire the Body and Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Your Dreams””Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul””Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul””Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul of America””Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul”

Family“Chicken Soup for the New Mom’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrating Mothers and Daughters””Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Busy Moms””Chicken Soup for the Sister’s Soul 2″”Chicken Soup for the Mother and Son Soul””Chicken Soup for the Mothers of Preschooler’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Military Wife’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Father & Daughter Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Grandmothers””Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul Gift Edition””Chicken Soup for Every Mom’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Single Parent’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Sisters””Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Mothers””Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Dads””Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul””Chicken Soup for the Sister’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Moms””Chicken Soup for the Parent’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul 2″”Chicken Soup for the Grandparent’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Father’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Couple’s Soul”

Women“Chicken Soup for the Soul: Daily Inspirations for Women””Chicken Soup to Inspire a Woman’s Soul””Chicken Soup: Life Lessons for Women””Chicken Soup for the Working Woman’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul””A Second Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul”

Children/teens“Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: The Real Deal Challenges””Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul 2″”Chicken Soup for the Girl’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul IV””Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul””Chicken Soup for the Little Souls””Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul”

Religious“Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul II””Chicken Soup for the Latter-day Saint Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Book of Christmas Virtues””Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul””Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids””Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury””Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul””Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul””Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul”

Sports“Chicken Soup for the Woman Golfer’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Golfers””Chicken Soup for the Soul NASCAR Xtreme Race Journal for Kids””Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul””Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Golfer’s Soul: The Second Round””Chicken Soup for the Golfer’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Baseball Fan’s Soul”

Hobbies“Chicken Soup for the Shopper’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Fisherman’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul”

Cooking“Chicken Soup for the Soul: Recipes for Busy Moms””Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook”

Animals“Chicken Soup for the Cat and Dog Lover’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover’s Soul II””Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Dogs and the People Who Love Them””Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Cats and the People Who Love Them””Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul”

Health“Chicken Soup for the Dieter’s Soul: Daily Inspirations””Chicken Soup for the Dieter’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Back Pain””Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Arthritis””Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes””Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Asthma””Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul: Daily Inspirations””Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Breast Cancer””Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Menopause””Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Heart Disease””Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul”

Race“Chicken Soup for the African-American Woman’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul””Chicken Soup for the African-American Soul”

Misc.“Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Girlfriend’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Caregiver’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Bride’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Teachers””Chicken Soup for the Nature Lover’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul of Hawaii””Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Teachers””Chicken Soup for the Romantic Soul””Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul””Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul””Chicken Soup for Volunteer’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Veteran’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Teacher’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work””Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul””Chicken Soup for the Country Soul””Chicken Soup for the College Soul”