A Season with the Kansas City Royals: An Interview with Author Ethan Bryan
Oftentimes the best book ideas are the ones that catch you by surprise. They are a blend of passion and insight, brought together in a single idea.
Take Ethan Bryan’s book, Run Home & Take a Bow, for example.
After winning a contest for writing a new anthem for the Kansas City Royals, this lifelong Royals fan was given two tickets to twenty different games for the 2011 season. Beginning his journey on Opening Day, Ethan had no idea how these twenty games would change his life. Almost a year later, Ethan has just put the finishing touches on a memoir chronicling his year following the Kansas City Royals.
How did the idea for “Run Home & Take a Bow” come about?
On Opening Day 2011, my dad and I got to the stadium almost three hours before game time. There was a video special of Bob Costas interviewing George Brett playing on the mega-jumbo-HD-tron, and while we were watching the video and hoping for a batting practice ball, I felt a whisper say, “Write these stories.” At first, I tried to ignore it. After the game was over, we went out to dinner and ran into a boy I had coached in t-ball. I heard the voice a second time. The very next day I sat down and wrote the Opening Day story.
What was the best part of writing the book?
I loved this project. I loved going to the games with family and friends. I loved creating space to reflect and remember what happened at the game and how it helped me catch a glimpse of God’s Great Story. As the season continued, I got nervous that there might not be a story at each game, or that, somehow, I’d miss it. What truly amazed me was how different each game really was. Even though the stories all centered on the game of baseball, there were so many different lessons learned.
What do you hope people will take away from the book?
The book is a kind of a memoir, really. My hope is that as people read my story, they will be encouraged in their own faith journey. I hope that as people read these stories they would consider what creative ways God is trying to whisper to their hearts as well.
What advice would you offer to those who are thinking about writing?
One of my writing mentors is author Robert Benson. His advice to me was to write 600 new words a day. There are days when I write more than that, but for day after day after day writing, I find that 600 words is a solid amount. The world is desperate for good stories—stories that draw our hearts towards hope and beauty, grace and love. If you’ve got a story in you, write.
What are your five best Royals-related baseball memories?
5. Winning the contest for writing a new Royals’ anthem.
4. Playing catch with Frank White, and having that story published in a journal.
3. The stories of this season, sharing them with the people I love.
2. Meeting one of my childhood heroes for this project—Kevin Seitzer.
1. The 1985 World Series (of course).
What do you think about the Royals this upcoming season?
There has never been a better time to be a Royals fan.
If you’d like to hear more about Ethan’s project and how you can be involved, visit Ethan’s Kickstarter campaign, Run Home & Take a Bow.