543 ratings | 35 reviews | avg rating:4.10

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Michael’s Year In Books

Michael’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Michael’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Kevin Michaels’s Followers (49)

Michael’s Bookshelves

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Michael’s Friends (379)

Jamie Perez

1,165 books | 303 friends

Bradley

3,146 books | 1,383 friends

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1,343 books | 9,772 friends

Dawn

335 books | 25 friends

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5,210 books | 372 friends

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945 books | 4,418 friends

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682 books | 2,220 friends

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275 books | 284 friends

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Michael Downing has read 2 of 50 books.

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 new release, SAINTS of the ASPHALT which was released on 6/24/2025.

Writing as Kevin Michaels, Downing is 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. 2x Pushcart Nominee.It's a New Jersey thing: attitude, edginess, and Bruce Springsteen... and sometimes even Bon Jovi.
Originally from New Jersey, I live with my wife Helen and write in a small town in North Georgia.

Founder/Creative Director at
StoryTellers

StoryTellers ...more

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Combine Editions
Kevin Michaels’s books

Average rating: 4.24 · 102 ratings · 26 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) 4.56 avg rating — 9 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

More books by Kevin Michaels…

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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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Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Downing is currently reading

Nice Girls Don't Win: How I Burned It All Down to Claim My Power

by Parvati Shallow

bookshelves: currently-reading

read in December 2025

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Dec 20, 2025 08:31PM

Michael Downing is currently reading

Shadow Ticket

by Thomas Pynchon

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Oct 18, 2025 09:02PM

Michael Downing is currently reading

The Night We Lost Him

by Laura Dave (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Apr 12, 2025 07:43PM

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Michael’s Recent Updates

Michael Downing rated a book liked it All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (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
Feb 01, 2026 07:45PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Downing rated a book it was amazing The Uncool: A Memoir by Cameron Crowe	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
Jan 22, 2026 07:03PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Uncool by Cameron Crowe. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Uncool by Cameron Crowe <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jan 22, 2026 07:02PM · 1 like · like
Michael Downing liked Whiskey Leavins's review of Saints of the Asphalt: "Michael Downing’s Saints of the Asphalt is equal parts crime, sports, coming of age, inner-personal struggle, vanquishing demons-of-the-past novel. The book excels at weaving each theme into one cohesive and satisfying narrative. Timmy Davenport is a" Read more of this review »
Dec 22, 2025 08:01PM · 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">
Michael Downing started reading Nice Girls Don't Win: How I Burned It All Down to Claim My Power by Parvati Shallow	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
Dec 20, 2025 08:31PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Nice Girls Don't Win by Parvati Shallow. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Nice Girls Don't Win by Parvati Shallow <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Downing rated a book it was amazing Murder in Greasepaint: A Rock Cobbler Case by Whiskey Leavins (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
Nov 24, 2025 06:16PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Murder in Greasepaint by Whiskey Leavins. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Murder in Greasepaint by Whiskey Leavins <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Downing and 1 other person liked Joel Nedecky's review of Saints of the Asphalt: " Set in Atlantic City after Tim’s first year at college playing basketball, this book is equal parts crime fiction, coming of age, and sports drama. Tim lives to play ball, but he’s got issues. Booze. Dope. PST from a death in the family. A father he h" Read more of this review »
Nov 18, 2025 09:08AM · 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">
Michael Downing is now following kenneth m gray and J. Marquez Jr.
Nov 18, 2025 08:44AM
Michael Downing rated a book liked it Fast Boys and Pretty Girls: A Novel by Lo Patrick	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
Nov 14, 2025 08:38PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fast Boys and Pretty Girls by Lo Patrick. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fast Boys and Pretty Girls by Lo Patrick <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

Michael’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

5820 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

More of Michael’s quotes…