Keith O’Brien
@keithob.bsky.social
NYT bestselling author of FLY GIRLS, PARADISE FALLS, and CHARLIE HUSTLE, the definitive story of Pete Rose’s rise and fall. II Bylines @NPR, @washingtonpost, and elsewhere. II Learn more at www.KeithOB.com
Oh, man—look what made an appearance on Pardon the Interruption … Thanks for the subtle shout-out, Tony Kornheiser! Your copy of HEARTLAND sure looks good on your shelf. 🎉📚🙌
January 21, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Oh, man—look what made an appearance on Pardon the Interruption … Thanks for the subtle shout-out, Tony Kornheiser! Your copy of HEARTLAND sure looks good on your shelf. 🎉📚🙌
College sports was never innocent. But man, has it changed. I can show you how in four simple slides. Check them out and preorder HEARTLAND today wherever books are sold! It's the Larry Bird story like it's never been told before, coming on 3/3/26 @atriabooks.bsky.social.
January 19, 2026 at 5:16 PM
College sports was never innocent. But man, has it changed. I can show you how in four simple slides. Check them out and preorder HEARTLAND today wherever books are sold! It's the Larry Bird story like it's never been told before, coming on 3/3/26 @atriabooks.bsky.social.
We need to be honest about what we witnessing: the Indiana Hoosiers aren’t true underdogs. They’re a reflection of our wild and moneyed times in college sports. My latest for @theatlantic.com in advance of Monday night’s championship game. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 17, 2026 at 3:17 PM
We need to be honest about what we witnessing: the Indiana Hoosiers aren’t true underdogs. They’re a reflection of our wild and moneyed times in college sports. My latest for @theatlantic.com in advance of Monday night’s championship game. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Yet another gambling scandal in sports—an alleged, widespread scheme among college basketball players to manipulate outcomes for profit. According to federal prosecutors, it involved 16 different schools. Makes you ask a simple—and alarming—question: what’s happening right now that we don’t know?
January 15, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Yet another gambling scandal in sports—an alleged, widespread scheme among college basketball players to manipulate outcomes for profit. According to federal prosecutors, it involved 16 different schools. Makes you ask a simple—and alarming—question: what’s happening right now that we don’t know?
Football in Indiana is having a moment. But basketball remains the most important sport in the state. Why? I actually know this answer. I swear it's better than staring at the lower half of my face below. Check it out ------> 🏀🔥
www.tiktok.com/@obrienstory...
www.tiktok.com/@obrienstory...
Indiana football is having a moment. But basketball remains the most important sport in the state. Why? I know this answer. #heartland #hoosiers #basketball #marchmadness #booktok @Atria Books
TikTok video by Keith O’Brien
www.tiktok.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Football in Indiana is having a moment. But basketball remains the most important sport in the state. Why? I actually know this answer. I swear it's better than staring at the lower half of my face below. Check it out ------> 🏀🔥
www.tiktok.com/@obrienstory...
www.tiktok.com/@obrienstory...
Shout-out to the late, great Stuart Scott @espn.com whose signature phrase made it into the @nytimes.com games today. #iykyk
January 11, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Shout-out to the late, great Stuart Scott @espn.com whose signature phrase made it into the @nytimes.com games today. #iykyk
I love the cover for HEARTLAND. But man, I really love the back jacket. Thanks to all these great writers for their support and thanks to the brilliant design team @atriabooks.bsky.social for turning vision into reality. Book drops on 3/3 and preorders are open now!
January 9, 2026 at 6:27 PM
I love the cover for HEARTLAND. But man, I really love the back jacket. Thanks to all these great writers for their support and thanks to the brilliant design team @atriabooks.bsky.social for turning vision into reality. Book drops on 3/3 and preorders are open now!
On this date in 1991, Pete Rose was released from federal prison in Illinois, after serving a five-month sentence for failure to pay his taxes.
He had just weathered one of the darkest periods in his life. But he emerged on this day unchanged, defiant and bold and lying about betting on baseball.
He had just weathered one of the darkest periods in his life. But he emerged on this day unchanged, defiant and bold and lying about betting on baseball.
January 7, 2026 at 6:14 PM
On this date in 1991, Pete Rose was released from federal prison in Illinois, after serving a five-month sentence for failure to pay his taxes.
He had just weathered one of the darkest periods in his life. But he emerged on this day unchanged, defiant and bold and lying about betting on baseball.
He had just weathered one of the darkest periods in his life. But he emerged on this day unchanged, defiant and bold and lying about betting on baseball.
The older teenager got me a Christmas gift. It is perfect. And with this mug at the ready, I am back at it, closing out the year with (hopefully) another productive day at the Word Factory. #amwriting
December 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The older teenager got me a Christmas gift. It is perfect. And with this mug at the ready, I am back at it, closing out the year with (hopefully) another productive day at the Word Factory. #amwriting
Massive preorder sale happening right now @barnesandnoble.com … Check it out and preorder your copy of HEARTLAND today at a serious discount! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heartland-...
December 30, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Massive preorder sale happening right now @barnesandnoble.com … Check it out and preorder your copy of HEARTLAND today at a serious discount! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heartland-...
Fans have been complaining this month about the death of the college bowl. Turns out, the men who created the first real national title game back in 1998 predicted this future. We should have seen it coming all along. My latest for @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
The Slow, Inevitable Death of the Bowl Game
For college-football fans, the playoffs are now everything.
www.theatlantic.com
December 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Fans have been complaining this month about the death of the college bowl. Turns out, the men who created the first real national title game back in 1998 predicted this future. We should have seen it coming all along. My latest for @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Philip Rivers is every dad. Ever.
December 23, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Philip Rivers is every dad. Ever.
If you’ve never seen Larry Bird in a cowboy hat, you have now. My new book, HEARTLAND, comes out on 3/3/26. Preorder your copy today wherever they sell books. 🏀🤠🔥 www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8yM1bbh/
If you’ve never seen Larry Bird in a cowboy hat, you have now. My new book, HEARTLAND, comes out on 3/3/26. Preorder your copy today wherever they sell books. 🏀🤠🔥 #larrybird #basketballtiktok #booktok...
TikTok video by Keith O’Brien
www.tiktok.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
If you’ve never seen Larry Bird in a cowboy hat, you have now. My new book, HEARTLAND, comes out on 3/3/26. Preorder your copy today wherever they sell books. 🏀🤠🔥 www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8yM1bbh/
Dear readers: If you are looking for personalized gifts this holiday season, my local independent bookseller is ready to help. Order your signed copies today. Water Street Books ships for free. Your books will arrive in time for Christmas, and everyone wins! waterstreetbooks.com/keith-obrien...
December 9, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Dear readers: If you are looking for personalized gifts this holiday season, my local independent bookseller is ready to help. Order your signed copies today. Water Street Books ships for free. Your books will arrive in time for Christmas, and everyone wins! waterstreetbooks.com/keith-obrien...
The great Traci Thomas—the heart of The Stacks podcast and one of best literary voices out there today—has named HEARTLAND as one of her “most anticipated” books of 2026. And apparently, I am now the “Larry Bird of sports biographers." Amazing! Truly. Wow. shereads.com/traci-thomas...
Traci Thomas' Most Anticipated Books of 2026 - She Reads
I’m back! Did you miss me? Here is my list [...]
shereads.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The great Traci Thomas—the heart of The Stacks podcast and one of best literary voices out there today—has named HEARTLAND as one of her “most anticipated” books of 2026. And apparently, I am now the “Larry Bird of sports biographers." Amazing! Truly. Wow. shereads.com/traci-thomas...
This is a no-brainer, folks. Vote him in! And while you’re at it, vote in Roger Craig too. If you watched football in the 1980s, you know.
December 4, 2025 at 12:57 AM
This is a no-brainer, folks. Vote him in! And while you’re at it, vote in Roger Craig too. If you watched football in the 1980s, you know.
My new book HEARTLAND has a trailer! Watch, enjoy, share with friends, spread the word, and preorder your copy today. It comes out on 3/3/26 from @atriabooks.bsky.social, and I can’t wait for you to read it. Thanks, everyone! 💙🏀💙
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H6_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H6_...
HEARTLAND — video trailer
YouTube video by Keith O'Brien
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
My new book HEARTLAND has a trailer! Watch, enjoy, share with friends, spread the word, and preorder your copy today. It comes out on 3/3/26 from @atriabooks.bsky.social, and I can’t wait for you to read it. Thanks, everyone! 💙🏀💙
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H6_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H6_...
I am thrilled that my home state of Ohio has selected Charlie Hustle as a community read in 2026! Thank you to the @statelibohio.bsky.social, the Ohio Center for the Book & the Ohioana Library for this honor. This book just keeps chugging around the bases... library.ohio.gov/home/news-an...
December 1, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I am thrilled that my home state of Ohio has selected Charlie Hustle as a community read in 2026! Thank you to the @statelibohio.bsky.social, the Ohio Center for the Book & the Ohioana Library for this honor. This book just keeps chugging around the bases... library.ohio.gov/home/news-an...
The best story you’ll ever hear about softball and two future Hall of Famers. Check out my TikTok account to give it a listen. 🥎🏀🏈 #heartland
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UhvRos/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UhvRos/
The best softball story you’ll ever hear involving two future Hall of Famers. #heartland #larrybird #larrylegend #joemontana #marchmadness
TikTok video by Keith O’Brien
www.tiktok.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The best story you’ll ever hear about softball and two future Hall of Famers. Check out my TikTok account to give it a listen. 🥎🏀🏈 #heartland
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UhvRos/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UhvRos/
In the summer of 1978, two future Hall of Famers—Larry Bird and Joe Montana—squared off for a state title in slow-pitch softball. Can you guess who performed better that weekend on the dusty fields of Indiana? Make your choice in the comments. I’ll reveal the answer later this week. #heartland
November 24, 2025 at 6:46 PM
In the summer of 1978, two future Hall of Famers—Larry Bird and Joe Montana—squared off for a state title in slow-pitch softball. Can you guess who performed better that weekend on the dusty fields of Indiana? Make your choice in the comments. I’ll reveal the answer later this week. #heartland
Nothing made me feel older today than the death of the penny.
November 13, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Nothing made me feel older today than the death of the penny.
In an age of gambling scandals, this is just another. Prop bets are dangerous to all the sports you love.
November 9, 2025 at 10:02 PM
In an age of gambling scandals, this is just another. Prop bets are dangerous to all the sports you love.
Quietly, the NCAA has banned six players in yet another sports gambling scandal. Just another day in America.
www.espn.com/mens-college...
www.espn.com/mens-college...
NCAA: Six hoops players banned for betting plots
Six former men's college basketball players at New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State and Arizona State participated in gambling schemes that included game manipulation or sharing information with know...
www.espn.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Quietly, the NCAA has banned six players in yet another sports gambling scandal. Just another day in America.
www.espn.com/mens-college...
www.espn.com/mens-college...
The switch to standard time means one thing: it already feels like winter in New Hampshire. This is a live view of the sky at 4:53 p.m.
November 3, 2025 at 10:02 PM
The switch to standard time means one thing: it already feels like winter in New Hampshire. This is a live view of the sky at 4:53 p.m.
Baseball. There’s nothing like it.
November 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Baseball. There’s nothing like it.