2022 Global Awards Gold Medal Winner for Contemporary Fiction

A fifteen-year-old youth escapes a toxic home and joins the circus. For five decades, he embarks on a journey shared with the oddest characters of our society. He learned to swallow swords while traveling with the circus freaks across the United States. But unfortunately, the sword swallower grew up quickly without a blueprint for living a purposeful life. After a terrible accident ended his career with the circus, he retires in a small town in Northern California, where he meets a troubled youth struggling to find purpose in his life. Duke Reynolds decides to take the Chico Kid (Gary Robinson) on his last adventure as he attempts to save Gary from destroying his life.

“There is nothing to dislike about this book. The story was fascinating, and every aspect of the book taught me several lessons about life that I will not forget in a hurry. The story was heart-wrenching and, at the same time, inspirational.” Seyi Aralepo - OnlineBookClub.org

“Gary Robinson is an adept storyteller who perfectly aligns his lexicon and tone to fit the story’s setting and keeps a chokehold on his reader’s attention throughout the entire book. The characterization is well-balanced, and the plot is not lacking in suspense, intrigue, and thrill.” M Darling

“Robinson’s playful, uninhibited style and fine ear for dialogue come through on every page, while his open, unsparing depiction of the life of an addict has the ring of authenticity. Through moments that range from wonderfully comical to devastatingly sad to achingly sweet, Robinson presents the full range of emotions in clear, powerful prose." Skip Schmidt - SkipSchmidt9999.com