I was born a collector. At age seven in 1942, I started to build and collect World War II model airplanes, marbles, stamps, comic books and signed baseball cards. I took up golf in 1986, and I took to it like a proverbial fish to water. I realized that I could combine collecting with golf. In 1989, the devil got loose inside me, and I went crazy collecting celebrity autographs on golf balls. Today, I claim to have one of the largest and most diversified autographed golf ball collections in America. My recently published book, Hooked On Autographs, is about my trials and triumphs in collecting autographs from a parade of best-loved golfers, famous Hollywood stars, super sports figures, and U.S. presidents. My 154-page hobby memoir contains a treasure trove of trivia relating to my many amazing and amusing tales of chasing down celebrities for their signatures. Golf lovers will revel and non-golfers will delight in reading this one-of-a-kind book. Novice collectors will draw inspiration and learn ten important tips for getting autographs as outlined in Chapter 14 titled, Tricks of the Trade. Having served in the U.S. Army, I am donating one-half of my book proceeds to America’s severely wounded heroes who are returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan and being treated at Walter Reed National Military Center, Bethesda, Maryland. If any group of people deserve our help, isn’t it America’s combat-injured troops? Especially those who will forever wear the painful reminders of war. Here’s your chance to do something to help our severely wounded servicemen and women who made great sacrifices for our freedom and safety. Hooked On Autographs makes for a perfect gift. The cost of the book including shipping is $16.41. Contact joe@hookedonautographs.com.