“Parade is a pop lit gem. With neon prose, Graves weaves a tale of two heroes, Reggie and Elmer, who are trying to sort out the mess that is America. Government, religion, civic responsibility, general kindness. The lessons in Parade might just be the answer.”
– James Frey –
Author of A Million Little Pieces, Bright Shiny Morning and The Last Testament
Reggie Lauderdale suffers from a crisis of faith. His cousin, Elmer Mott, dreams of becoming their hometown mayor. Both boys are stuck in suburbia trying to be adults ... but they aren’t sure how to be themselves yet. When a twist of fate sends them fleeing in a stolen limousine, the cousins escape to Florida where they meet a retired televangelist, who inspires them on a path of glitzy sermons and late-night parties. But are the celebrations sincere or deceptive? And who is keeping tabs? Who is watching? Parade is a tour-de-force, comic tale of faith and friendship.
“Michael Graves is one of those super rare storytellers who is magically able to write with wisdom, poignancy, and dark wit. Paradeis a joy to read – it plums the troubles, foibles, and disconnects of our world in an incredibly timely and wonderfully timeless way that’s hilarious, steely-eyed, and hopeful.”
– John Jodzio –
Author of Knockout and If You Lived Here You’d Already Be Home
“Michael Graves’ Parade is a tipsy Southern gothic with a Northern accent, featuring a classic array of characters. Graves has a knack for captivating dialogue, and his ease with comedy and drama, sometimes in the same scene, earns this literary road-movie-in-a-limo-spectacle a well-deserved confetti and ticker tape shower.”
– Gregg Shapiro –
Author of How to Whistle: Stories – Expanded Edition
“Parade is a madcap blasphemous Bildungsroman that is equal parts zany and profane. And ultimately, profound. Say your prayers before climbing into this stolen limo because everything is about to change.”
– Josh Denslow –
Author of Not Everyone is Special
“Michael Graves has written a comic yarn that will both make you laugh and move you to tears. Reggie and Elmer are the queer Thelma and Louise I never knew I needed, complete with sexy Jesus-dreams, grand theft auto, and a retired televangelist. Y’all don’t want to miss this wild yarn – a true triumph!”
– Nick White –
Author of How to Survive a Summer and Sweet and Low
Michael Graves is the author of Parade and Dirty One, a collection of short stories which was a Lambda Literary Award Finalist and an American Literary Association Honouree. Michael’s fiction has been published in numerous literary publications. He can be found online at www.michaelgravesauthor.com @MGravesauthor