Rated 5 stars by Readers’ Favorite

Our Debut Book

Running As Fast As I Can vividly portrays a traumatic period in our history, while grappling with intense emotional and social issues we still face today. It is an epic journey of love and forgiveness. Most importantly, it is a beautiful story that readers will identify with because it is, on some level, everyone’s story.

What People Are Saying

Running As Fast As I Can is a genuine page-turner. A good writer makes you either laugh or cry. John David Graham did both. Daniel’s story had me struggling at times to read through my tears. Graham is a truly great author, in my view, because long after putting the book aside, the characters still live with you. Graham takes you into their world to walk in their shoes, to feel what they feel, to think what they think, and to know what they know. You learn with them. You love with them. You cry with them. And in the end, you draw on the experiences you share with them to shape your view of the world. This book shines a light in dark corners. The author does not hold back in his judgment of human behavior and a society shaped by prejudices. But he reminds us that life is written in pencil so that we can erase a mistake and start over. As we join Daniel on his journey, I suspect most of us will reflect on the times we needed to erase a chapter and rewrite it. We ponder the race we are running; our own search for love, for a place to belong in the world, and for a way to light the path for those who struggle in a dark place. Running As Fast As I Can is told with deep compassion and understanding. It’s a story of love and forgiveness. Intensely emotional, it is also timely and relevant, highlighting social issues our society still struggles with today. It is, in my opinion, truly a masterpiece.”

Lorraine Cobcroft for Readers’ Favorite

How we came to be

John David Graham spent a lifetime preparing, and 10 years writing what he called “everyman’s story” of second chance. But no one wanted to publish a story about an outsider struggling to fit in with normal society…

Is it better to go the traditional route?

Most books don’t sell many copies—even those marketed by traditional publishers.

A study by Neilson Bookscan in 2004 revealed of the 1.2 million books tracked, 79% sold fewer than 99 copies. Another 200,000 sold fewer than 1,000 copies. Only 25,000 sold more than 5,000 copies. 

The average book in America sells about 500 copies. 

In fact, those blockbusters we all dream about are an anomaly. Only 10 books that year sold more than a million copies. It’s no better today. A new book, on average, will sell around 250 copies and no more than 2,000 copies in its lifetime. 

It’s no wonder publishers are scared to death of a new author, an out-of-the-box story.

Don Quixote Press Newsletter

Don Quixote Press focuses on stories of second chances, stories of redemption, stories of hope, stories of new beginnings. What’s your story?

Our Work

  • Running As Fast As I Can

    John David Graham

    Order now on Amazon

  • Citizen Circle

    An academic study of the positive impact of mentoring men and women reentering the community following incarceration.

    To be released 2024

  • Life on the Streets

    One inmate’s story of life on the streets.

    To be released 2024

  • Inmate Stories

    An anthology of stories / events in the life of men and women that forever changed their lives—for good or bad. In their own words.

    To be released 2025

“We tilt at windmills—passionately!”

— Don Quixote