Mark Donahue Discusses the Inspiration for His Bestselling Book "Last At Bat"
by Farhan Malik -- The Vistek
March 12, 2021
LIGHTNING STRIKES. A LIGHTBULB GOES OFF. The infamous eureka moment. Only for Mark Donahue, it came in a cramped airplane bathroom thousands of feet above ground, on his way home from the Men’s Senior Baseball League championship. The turbulence turned out to be nothing more than a scare but it left Mark thinking about second chances at life and inspired him to write his first novel, Last At Bat.
A former Fortune 500 executive and an avid athlete, Donahue has since gone on to publish five books, and write five more along with 12 screenplays.
Now Mark has agreed to sit down and talk baseball, second chances, and what goes into professional writing.
As a former amateur baseball player who played over 2500 games from Little League to college to the Men’s Senior Baseball League, did you find writing the narrative for Last at Bat easier or harder then perhaps some of your other books?
I think familiarity in any endeavor means you inherently have a deeper understanding than someone who does not have that experience. In his great book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell says it takes 10,000 hours to be great at anything. Well, I sure as hell played more than 10,000 hours of baseball and have watched 10,000 hours more. And while I didn’t have the physical skill to play at the big league level, I learned the game and all its nuances and tried to impart that knowledge within the broader storyline of my book that includes some locker room humor, romance, modern day and historical social issues along with some cool baseball action.
Without giving away any spoilers, talk to us about the internal struggles that Matt Wolf faces as he tries to remember that he is in fact Dylan Michael, the greatest baseball player of our generation?
Matt Wolf is given something all of us wish we had; a second chance. A do-over to make things right. Not on the field, but in his life. His second chance also allowed him to enjoy the ride the second time around. To appreciate the smells of the grass, the pine tar on his bat, the leather of his glove. His second chance put things in perspective.
What common theme or message do you hope will resonate most with people who read Last At Bat?
The message is we all have a “Blossom” in our minds. A place where people are kind, considerate and take care of their own. A place where doing the right thing isn’t for chumps. Where things are done just because they are the right thing to do.
Talk to us about the search for Dylan Michael, I hear there is some talk of it possibly becoming a featured film, can you tell us anything more on what movie and baseball fans can expect?
A script has been written for Last At Bat, a budget prepared, and we are in discussions with a studio. At the same time we are in preparations to find the actors who will play Matt and Dylan through a worldwide talent search. Obviously, our “unknowns” will have to not only be excellent ball players at various times in their lives (we will be looking for 3 age groups), but also have some acting chops.
A former Fortune 500 executive and an avid athlete, Donahue has since gone on to publish five books, and write five more along with 12 screenplays.
Now Mark has agreed to sit down and talk baseball, second chances, and what goes into professional writing.
As a former amateur baseball player who played over 2500 games from Little League to college to the Men’s Senior Baseball League, did you find writing the narrative for Last at Bat easier or harder then perhaps some of your other books?
I think familiarity in any endeavor means you inherently have a deeper understanding than someone who does not have that experience. In his great book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell says it takes 10,000 hours to be great at anything. Well, I sure as hell played more than 10,000 hours of baseball and have watched 10,000 hours more. And while I didn’t have the physical skill to play at the big league level, I learned the game and all its nuances and tried to impart that knowledge within the broader storyline of my book that includes some locker room humor, romance, modern day and historical social issues along with some cool baseball action.
Without giving away any spoilers, talk to us about the internal struggles that Matt Wolf faces as he tries to remember that he is in fact Dylan Michael, the greatest baseball player of our generation?
Matt Wolf is given something all of us wish we had; a second chance. A do-over to make things right. Not on the field, but in his life. His second chance also allowed him to enjoy the ride the second time around. To appreciate the smells of the grass, the pine tar on his bat, the leather of his glove. His second chance put things in perspective.
What common theme or message do you hope will resonate most with people who read Last At Bat?
The message is we all have a “Blossom” in our minds. A place where people are kind, considerate and take care of their own. A place where doing the right thing isn’t for chumps. Where things are done just because they are the right thing to do.
Talk to us about the search for Dylan Michael, I hear there is some talk of it possibly becoming a featured film, can you tell us anything more on what movie and baseball fans can expect?
A script has been written for Last At Bat, a budget prepared, and we are in discussions with a studio. At the same time we are in preparations to find the actors who will play Matt and Dylan through a worldwide talent search. Obviously, our “unknowns” will have to not only be excellent ball players at various times in their lives (we will be looking for 3 age groups), but also have some acting chops.
Mark Donahue Hits A Homerun With His Bestselling Book "Last At Bat"
by Wilber Hubbard
May 29, 2021
May 29, 2021
MARK DONAHUE KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK with Last at Bat, one of his many bestselling books. This breakout book hits all the sweet spots needed for a book that keeps readers all-in from beginning to end -- secrets, the love of baseball, overcoming obstacles and, yes second chances. Authors find inspiration in many things, and in this case a real life brush with death inspired this phenomenal book.
Donahue was thousands of feet in the sky heading back from a Men's Senior Baseball League championship game (and yes his team won). “I was in the bathroom, the jet hit an air pocket and we dropped what seemed like a million feet. I hit the ceiling and got a bump on my head and a little cut, but I really thought we had all bought the farm. Once back in my seat, and with baseball and second chances firmly in my mind, I came up with the story found in Last at Bat .
Since that fateful day Donahue has written five books, with more to come. Last at Bat has already become a classic, and there is no doubt that people will be reading and talking about it for years to come. Recently we caught up with Donahue to talk about everything from inspiration and baseball to literary success and what’s next.
Last at Bat is a compelling book, one that is not just about baseball, but it is also about secrets, community and finding your way in life. What inspired you to write this book brilliant book?
Last at Bat came as a result of my own experiences playing baseball, but more importantly it is a story about people doing the right things in life. The town of Blossom is a mythical place where doing the right thing is not a question but a way of life.
You did play on 5 World Series Championship teams in the Men’s Senior Baseball League. How much of that experience did you use to write the story of Matt Wolf, your protagonist?
The baseball action in my story is accurate. Having played in over 2,000 games in my amateur career I think I know the game pretty well. But the story is far more than just about baseball. It’s about people and how the game and an injured player brings them together.
You’re a bestselling author, and I am sure you have a lot of fans. What was the most interesting feedback or question you have received from a reader?
The most touching thing I heard from a reader of Last at Bat was from a 75 year old Marine who came up to me at a book signing several years ago and said, “I wanna talk to you about your book.” He didn’t seem real friendly. But then he told how LAB, and particularly the town of Blossom, reminded him of a small town he grew up in and the people who lived in that town. Tears began to roll down his face and he said, “I sure miss that place. Thanks for writing Last at Bat. That got me.
You’ve written five bestselling books. How would you compare all of your novels? Which one is your favorite?
That’s like picking your favorite child. I did want all my books to be different. I think they are.
Did the book change a lot through different drafts? How so?
The basic story did not change, although I would say it evolved. I added more depth to characters and expanded the social aspect of the story.
Donahue was thousands of feet in the sky heading back from a Men's Senior Baseball League championship game (and yes his team won). “I was in the bathroom, the jet hit an air pocket and we dropped what seemed like a million feet. I hit the ceiling and got a bump on my head and a little cut, but I really thought we had all bought the farm. Once back in my seat, and with baseball and second chances firmly in my mind, I came up with the story found in Last at Bat .
Since that fateful day Donahue has written five books, with more to come. Last at Bat has already become a classic, and there is no doubt that people will be reading and talking about it for years to come. Recently we caught up with Donahue to talk about everything from inspiration and baseball to literary success and what’s next.
Last at Bat is a compelling book, one that is not just about baseball, but it is also about secrets, community and finding your way in life. What inspired you to write this book brilliant book?
Last at Bat came as a result of my own experiences playing baseball, but more importantly it is a story about people doing the right things in life. The town of Blossom is a mythical place where doing the right thing is not a question but a way of life.
You did play on 5 World Series Championship teams in the Men’s Senior Baseball League. How much of that experience did you use to write the story of Matt Wolf, your protagonist?
The baseball action in my story is accurate. Having played in over 2,000 games in my amateur career I think I know the game pretty well. But the story is far more than just about baseball. It’s about people and how the game and an injured player brings them together.
You’re a bestselling author, and I am sure you have a lot of fans. What was the most interesting feedback or question you have received from a reader?
The most touching thing I heard from a reader of Last at Bat was from a 75 year old Marine who came up to me at a book signing several years ago and said, “I wanna talk to you about your book.” He didn’t seem real friendly. But then he told how LAB, and particularly the town of Blossom, reminded him of a small town he grew up in and the people who lived in that town. Tears began to roll down his face and he said, “I sure miss that place. Thanks for writing Last at Bat. That got me.
You’ve written five bestselling books. How would you compare all of your novels? Which one is your favorite?
That’s like picking your favorite child. I did want all my books to be different. I think they are.
Did the book change a lot through different drafts? How so?
The basic story did not change, although I would say it evolved. I added more depth to characters and expanded the social aspect of the story.