City Lives: a Six-Pack

The award winning stories that make up “CITY LIVES–a Six-Pack” provide gritty examples of the travail that common folks encounter as they manage surviving in a big city, in this case The Big Apple.
From these tales we learn the human details behind the outrages reported in the daily ‘police blotters.’ Violence in these stories is inevitable but never gratuitous, and the characters, though driven by harsh mores, are unexpectedly sympathetic.
For example, a Bag Lady who feeds pigeons, a Napoleon of petty crime, a crazed Avenger, a smooth and charming Thief—here everyone gets fair treatment.
The writer’s voice is catchy and clever, his narratives well paced with tension and ever-present action. With or without a beverage, you will enjoy this cool City six-pack.

AWARDS:
“Transaction” was first published in “Children of the Night – The Best Short Stories by Black Writers 1967 to the present.”
“Ties” won a New York Foundation of the Arts fellowship.
“Villain” won a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship.

REVIEWS:
“Beautiful, violent, and compelling stories—the beauty often unexpected and raw.” From Whitney Otto, author of “How to make and American quilt.”

“Kelvin’s writing is lively, warm, and wise . . . he writes of places few come back to tell of.” From Louis B. Jones, author of “Ordinary Money.”

“Kelvin writes with unflagging energy and insight . . . he’s a gifted writer with a salty imagination and a genuine understanding of the worlds he inhabits.” From Patrick McGrath, author of “Spider.”