The folks of Argus, Illinois, from the small-time dealer to the returning Vietnam vet, the townie grocery clerk and the new sheriff, all know what they want out of life, but the paths to their desires are conflicted and unclear. In a narrative with all the clarity and determination of a prophecy, Well Deserved chronicles the struggles of these four people as they come to the stark realization that their paths are not solitary, but entwined, and their very lives hinge on one shared moment. "Gray's clear straightforward prose is aimed directly at the revelation of character and unspools with the unmistakable cadence of a storyteller." - Stuart Dybek, author of I Sailed with Magellan "Gray is an expert weaver of fates, a wistful manager of lives, a wordsmith playing with texture, tone, and that all-important element, the balance of tension. For as he wrenches our hearts, he also pushes us to turn the next page, and the next, and the next. " - Monique Raphel High, author of Between Two Worlds "Gray's captivating tale of 1970s Lake Argus is ultimately endearing and memorable, and convinces me that this is a writer with some serious chops." - Darren DeFrain, author of The Salt Palace and Inside & Out: Stories