Elaine Cunningham was always impressed by history, mythology, and folklore. Well known as a writer of science fiction and fantasy, she was enthused by the life of Billy Sunday, the famous evangelist of his times. The writer was so impressed by the life of Billy Sunday that she brought alive his life, especially his boyhood, in this biography. Billy was a famous ball-player who slowly emerged as a famous evangelist. His real name was William Ashley, but till today he is remembered as "Billy Sunday". .

             Cunningham is able to invest his baseball with the enthusiasm of an adolescent and imbibe the essential exuberance in his biography - the same exuberance that marked his energetic preaching style and large, successful evangelistic campaigns across the United States. The biography achieves almost heroic dimensions when the author describes the scenes of Billy Sunday addressing over 100 million people without the aid of the loud speakers, TV, or radio.

             Billy had gained nationwide recognition for his prowess as a baseball player. He was possibly the first player to run the bases in 14 seconds, and had set records for stealing bases. Cunningham is able to present this in a highly readable form and thus make the young readers get involved in the biography. But Billy's commitment changed from baseball to the ministry of God. Although Ball teams later offered him high salaries of up to $2000/month, Billy remained committed to his ministry of God. Later in life he was offered $1,000,000 to be in the movies, but again he declined the offer in order to continue the evangelistic ministry God had called him to. .

             His early life is quite interesting. At the age of 13, Billy and his older brother were sent to Soldier's Orphanage . He ran away from the orphanage two years later and worked for Colonel John Scott as a stable boy tending Shetland ponies. This part is particularly interesting. The biography, written in simple language, is exciting and riveting.