HBW Guest Blogger Kevin Reeves, in his blog post, reminds our readers of the importance of young writers having models. Reeves writes, “Young writers need models. Early in my apprenticeship my predecessors fed me greatly.”

With his debut novel, s.m.i.l.e., Reeves seeks to “add to America’s cross-cultural storytelling tradition, which was fortified by those who inspired me, those storytellers in literature and in Hip Hop.”

The HBW Blog encourages our readers to take a look at Reeves book trailer and visit his website

Book Reviews

“Finally a love story that is as real and honest as they come. Through riveting dialogue, beating against the sounds and sights of a Chicago we thought we knew, Kevin Reeves produces a first rate novel, not quite like anything we’ve ever seen.”
—Dr. Maryemma Graham, Professor of English, KU Project on the History of Black Writing

“s.m.i.l.e. keeps you restless for the next page…”
—Kyra Kyles Chicago Tribune

I completed your book last week! It was quite impressive. . . . hard to categorize as [simply] a love story, [it moves] on many different levels (e.g., love for self, love for your ancestors and family history, love for others and love for the passions that drive you to live life). It is truly a beautiful book. I will definitely suggest s.m.i.l.e. as a must read for our book club.
—Tina N., S.T.A.R.S. Book Club

I have to give credit where it is due. This brother is not playing! I started reading this literary gem on my way to work and home on the train. Once my eyes fixed on the pages, everything else going on in the train ceased to exist. I was hooked. Quickly I became wrapped up in Aaron and Aisha’s happiness, wishing I had a drop of it for myself in my life. Then came the story’s turning poing…my heart sunk. I wanted to cry with the characters because it reminded me of things that had happened in my life, the beauty of the friendship, camaraderie, and love with with friends now gone.

Man, I loved this book. It’s realer than a lot of stuff out there. You took it to a whole new level. I finished it and was inspired. I almost wanted to write and lay down a rhyme about the story. The dialogue was not only script, visual and dramatic, it was poetry. You blew my mind with this one. I hope it is a flagship for other Kevin Reeves greats. I’m definitely going to pass the word along to my book club and others. Peace.
—P. Franklin Hip Hop Heads Who Read Book Club