J. Anthony Graves: Digital Writer Spotlight

Novelist and retired hip hop artist J. Anthony Graves used one community writing site to find a new kind of audience. Follow this link to read his work at Off the Bookshelf.

Founder Scott Weisenthal praised his work: “Graves’ Dead End is a hard hitting street-lit fictional narrative. Graves yanks the skirt off the plain sight underworld in urban Chicago with deft command, searing scope and true thuggish nuance.”

Welcome to eBookNewser’s newest feature, Digital Writer Spotlight. We’ve launched this feature to recognize the established and emerging voices within online communities. On a regular basis, we will feature hand-picked reading recommendations from community leaders at writing sites–introducing readers to the world of socially networked fiction. If you want to nominate a writing community, email eBookNewser with your recommendation.

Here is a brief excerpt from Dead End:

The merciless wind whipped across Lake Michigan at a hundred miles an hour. Or so it felt. It traveled over the sand and snowy beaches that dotted Chicago’s waterfront. Winters here have always been bone chilling, and this one was no exception. As the gusts continued the circuitous route through the East Side, they ended up crossing paths with a gaggle of young men standing in a dirt lot. The lot stood in between a three flat building and another three story apartment with two separate entrances. The latter had two apartments on each floor, which made it a twelve unit complex. Anyone who had lived in the neighborhood long enough knew the dirt lot was once occupied by the twelve unit’s twin. They formed a ushaped, courtway building when connected. The departed half was razed after some bodies were found buried in the basement.

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