Keith O’Brien

The HEARTLAND book tour begins, unshaven and way too early, on a bus headed south through the snow. But for this tour, starting Monday night in Terre Haute, Indiana, I think I chose the proper headwear. Hope to see you on the road in the next two weeks! We’ve got some fun events on the schedule. 🏀📚

Absolute banger of an episode this week, with books by three authors who are NOT on bluesky and @keithob.bsky.social - who we'll be chatting with March 10, at the Beverly Farms Library! Larry Bird!

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

If you like books, and you’re not listening to the Four Books podcast by @bfbookshop.bsky.social, then what are you really doing, anyway?! Thrilled to have HEARTLAND get a little love here. Come see me at the Book Shop of Beverly Farms on 3/10!

We are days away from the launch of HEARTLAND in Terre Haute on Monday, March 2, at 6 pm. Register today to attend what will be far more than just a book event. Most of the 1979 miracle Indiana State team will be in attendance & in conversation about this story. www.eventbrite.com/e/heartland-...

Here's a great new book by Keith O'Brien--it focuses on the crucial period in Larry Bird's life, around ages 18-22. Brilliant writing, great story. @indianastateuni.bsky.social @hoosierhoop.bsky.social @keithob.bsky.social @espn.com @sethdavishoops.bsky.social

Come see the author, @keithob.bsky.social, talk about it with Chad and Bob Ryan at my shop on March 11th!!!

Event info: silverunicornbooks.com/events/49134

Thanks, Chad!

This book is so good.

Thanks for ordering, John! I love those details!

I’m so thrilled that Ellen Adair will be the audiobook narrator for HEARTLAND. If you enjoy listening to your books, I’m sure you will love this one! 🙌🏀🔥

Where did it all begin for Larry Bird? In a very unlikely place. Check out my new book HEARTLAND coming on March 3. Preorder your copy today! #indiana #nba #larrybird #marchmadness #heartland TikTok video by Keith O’Brien

HEARTLAND comes out on March 3. So what are you waiting for? Preorder your copy today! www.tiktok.com/t/ZP89GrYuN/

It's been a blast recording @keithob.bsky.social's HEARTLAND, about Larry Bird & the 1979 Indiana State Sycamores -- a Cinderella season held aloft by more miracles than any fairy godmother could give. And maybe the biggest miracle of that season was...it saved basketball? Out 3/3! Pre-order now!

Register today to attend the HEARTLAND book launch on Mon, March 2, at the Terre Haute Convention Center where I will be in conversation with several members of Indiana State's 1979 miracle team. It'll be a night to remember. Hope to see you there! 🏀📚🔥 www.eventbrite.com/e/heartland-...

How misguided visionaries and negligent owners threaten journalism at CBS News and The Washington Post At a time when the public needs strong, trustworthy journalism more than ever, why do strategies unfolding at CBS News and The Washington Post seem to undermine their work more than uplift it?

Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos says nothing as 1/3 of paper's staff is laid off. CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss says nothing after a newly hired contributor appears in over 1,700 documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Read this on how terrible leaders are destroying journalism. loom.ly/f_FqSFk

With the Washington Post layoffs this morning, I’m reposting my Atlantic piece from 2024. In the past month alone, we’ve had gambling scandals, allegations of fixed games & owners in the Epstein Files. Who’s going to cover it, if no one is there? www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

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.

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?

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

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...

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!

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.

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-...

The Slow, Inevitable Death of the Bowl Game For college-football fans, the playoffs are now everything.

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.

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

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...

Traci Thomas' Most Anticipated Books of 2026 - She Reads I’m back! Did you miss me? Here is my list [...]

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...