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566 ratings | 35 reviews | avg rating:4.10

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Kevin’s 2025 Year in Books

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Kevin Michaels has read 27 of 50 books.

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Kevin Michaels

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://downingfiction.com/

Twitter

KMWriter01

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Fiction, Crime

Influences

Hemingway - Mailer - Sam Shepard - Elmore Leonard - Robert Parker - Mi ...more

Member Since

January 2011

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Author also writes as Michael Downing

Author of the novel, SAINTS of the ASPHALT which was released in 2025, and editor of the recently released anthology Bad Intentions: A Crime Fiction Anthology Based On The Music of Warren Zevon.

Writing as Kevin Michaels, Downing was the author of the novels STILL BLACK REMAINS (published by Literary Wanderlust) and NINE IN THE MORNING (published by Death Row Books), as well as 2 Fight Card books - FIGHT CARD: HARD ROAD, and FIGHT CARD: CAN'T MISS CONTENDER.

Writer. Literacy advocate. Surfer. Activist. Playwright.
Attitude, edginess & Springsteen songs. 3x Pushcart Nominee.It's a New Jersey thing: attitude, edginess, and Bruce Springsteen... and sometimes even Bon Jovi.
Originally from New Jersey, I live ...more

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Combine Editions
Kevin Michaels’s books

Average rating: 4.24 · 103 ratings · 27 reviews · 10 distinct works

	Hard Road by Jack Tunney (Goodreads Author), Kevin Michaels (Goodreads Author) 4.53 avg rating — 30 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Action: Pulse Pounding Tales Volume 2 by Matt Hilton (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Iain Purdie (Goodreads Author), Ian Graham 3.58 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Still Black Remains 4.52 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Saints of the Asphalt by Michael Downing, Kevin Michaels (Goodreads Author) 4.60 avg rating — 10 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fight Card: Can't Miss Contender 4.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nine In The Morning 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fight Card: CAN'T MISS CONTENDER by Kevin Michaels, Kevin Michaels (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Paul Bishop (Goodreads Author) (Editor) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	5x5 Fiction: Issue One - Murder, Monsters and Misfortune by Angel Zapata (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Michael J. Solender, Laura Eno (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Six Sentences, Volume 2 by Rob McEvily (editor), Kevin Michaels (Goodreads Author) (contributor) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2009	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Kevin Michaels's Blog

Between The Lines at The Yard: Crime Blog

BETWEEN THE LINES

My short story: BETWEEN THE LINES was published at The Yard: Crime Blog.

You can check it out HERE (if you're so inclined):

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Published on August 22, 2024 10:28

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Kevin is Currently Reading

Kevin Michaels is currently reading

Death's Other Kingdom: Horror Tales of World War I

by Coy Hall (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 22, 2026 06:50PM

Kevin Michaels is currently reading

Don't Be Boring & Other Ways to Develop Your Fiction Writing

by Jody Wenner (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 13, 2026 07:40AM

Kevin Michaels is currently reading

I, Medusa

by Ayana Gray (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 25, 2026 07:26PM

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Kevin’s Recent Updates

Kevin Michaels liked LiA's review of Saints of the Asphalt: "Ever since I learned that Atlantic City was the first place my grandma in exile moved to, before she went to live in Chicago, I was kind of intrigued by the city. I remember the photograph of her and her sister on the boardwalk, with those "funny" Am" Read more of this review »
Aug 25, 2026 02:24PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Saints of the Asphalt by Michael Downing. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Saints of the Asphalt by Michael Downing <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kevin Michaels liked Sally Shelton's review of Bad Intentions: A Crime Fiction Anthology Based on the Music of Warren Zevon:
Aug 25, 2026 02:23PM · see review
Kevin Michaels liked Tom Myers's review of Bad Intentions: A Crime Fiction Anthology Based on the Music of Warren Zevon:
Aug 25, 2026 02:23PM · see review
Kevin Michaels liked Lorenzo Nicodemo's review of Bad Intentions: A Crime Fiction Anthology Based on the Music of Warren Zevon:
Aug 25, 2026 02:23PM · see review
Kevin Michaels rated a book it was amazing Welcome to Your Life: Love, Death & Tears For Fears – An Iconic Musician's Journey Through Grief, Addiction, and Recovery by Roland Orzabal	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 22, 2026 07:47AM · like
Kevin Michaels rated a book really liked it Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 16, 2026 05:08PM · like
Kevin Michaels rated a book really liked it The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 16, 2026 04:59PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kevin Michaels rated a book it was amazing The Final Score by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 09, 2026 07:09PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Final Score by Don Winslow. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Final Score by Don Winslow <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kevin Michaels rated a book it was amazing The Final Score by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 09, 2026 07:09PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Final Score by Don Winslow. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Final Score by Don Winslow <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kevin Michaels rated a book it was amazing The Reluctant Sheriff (Mick Hardin #4) by Chris Offutt (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 05, 2026 07:17PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Reluctant Sheriff by Chris Offutt. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Reluctant Sheriff by Chris Offutt <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Kevin Michaels (?)

“Greatness is measured not in your achievements but in the things you have overcome.”
― Kevin Michaels

1 likes

“Now is all that matters.”
― Kevin Michaels, Saints of the Asphalt

0 likes

Kevin’s Quotes

“I make writing as much a part of my life as I do eating or listening to music.”
― Maya Angelou

23 likes

“Greatness is measured not in your achievements but in the things you have overcome.”
― Kevin Michaels

1 likes

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

tags: adventure, death, life

5853 likes

“Life is not a PG feel-good movie. Real life often ends badly. Literature tries to document this reality, while showing us it is still possible for us to endure nobly.”
― Matthew Quick, The Silver Linings Playbook

tags: endurance, feelings-of-weakness, happiness, life, literature, movie, sadness

761 likes

“We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold.”
― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream

207 likes

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