I grew up a baseball fan. By the time I was ten, it had become a part of my being. I primarily consumed baseball through the radio. The announcers had to use descriptive language to relay the layout of venues, the players’ uniforms, and even the sun’s position in the sky. Between pitches, announcers had a knack for storytelling; describing the styling of legends that shaped the game. The radio talent knew all the rules, the superstitions of every pitcher, and more statistics than humanly possible. They perfected the ability to let the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd convey unfolding emotions even as I sat hundreds of miles from the action. You see, they told the audio story of the game, and I was along for the ride.
I think that’s why baseball, good fiction and podcasting go so well together, and no one knows this better than Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the year, Mark Stevens. His latest novel, The Fireballer, is the story of Frank Ryder, a Major League picture who can hurl an unhittable fastball at 110 miles per hour. The story balances multiple subplots, including how Major League Baseball attempts to deal with a picture of this magnitude, his relationship with his girlfriend, Maggie, and most importantly Ryder’s mental struggles concerning an incident that occurred while he was in Little League that haunts him to this day.
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Mark Stevens and talk about The Fireballer, his love of baseball, his inspirations, and advice for aspiring novelists.
It was such a pleasant conversation that I have officially decided to launch a Podcast called Timberline, and will repost this interview when those steps are completed.
While I am currently hosting more guests and working on the ability to broadcast on a variety of platforms, I could not wait to offer this conversation exclusively for you, my loyal Substack audience.
If you love this interview, please do me a favor and share it with your friends and family. Post a link on your social media page and let’s grow together. In exchange, I will continue to focus on great content. I have some truly amazing offerings in the works!
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To pick up a copy of the Fireballer, or for more information about Mark’s award-winning Allison Coil Myster Series, follow this link: Mark Stevens
Today’s cover art is a picture of Mark holding a copy of his book after a signing event at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
Now it’s time to enjoy an exclusive preview of what will soon be my first official podcast. Listen-Smile-Share!
Intro/outro music: Evidence of Wind, GC19