GREENVILLE – Local resident and founder of the Ohio non-profit Good Samaritan Home, John David Graham, spent 50 years preparing and 10 years writing his debut novel, RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN.
Rejected nearly 200 times by traditional publishers, he started his own publishing company called Don Quixote Press. As a result, his debut novel has far exceeded expectations, garnering 48 awards, including the prestigious Grand Prize Award for Fiction by the Independent Authors Network.
“When I hear stories of how authors like you were passed over by mainstream publishing, it makes me proud to help indie authors stand out year after year,” IAN spokesman William Potter said when announcing the award.
John David Graham’s journey to becoming an author is as unique as the story he tells. At the age of 75, Graham ventured into the world of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and even TikTok, to bring an important message to a new generation. Graham combines his eclectic background as a truck driver, construction worker, social service advocate, journalist, minister, and especially founder of a rehabilitation program for people coming from prison, to craft a tale that is deeply rooted in real-life struggles and the belief in redemption.
RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN bridges the gap between literary and commercial fiction. Drawing inspiration from heartrending narratives like “Forrest Gump” and “Where the Crawdads Sing.” Graham’s debut brings to life a traumatic period in American history while addressing intense emotional and social issues that remain relevant today.
More than the awards, Graham said it has been the reaction of readers that means the most. “So many people have written me saying how much they identified with the story. I think people are hungry for a second chance story—a story of hope.”
RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the belief that, no matter our background or circumstances, we all deserve a second chance.
“This particular journey belonged to Daniel Robinson, but his story belongs to each of us.”
Viga Borland / Readers’ Favorite
Novel excerpts can be found at www.johndavidgraham.com
