The Cleveland setting of Joey Pompignano’s debut novel, LABOR DAYS, is one of few locations that connect him to his father, who died when Pompignano was an infant. Through fictional characters the author invites readers to delve into harsh realities faced by fatherless youth and offers inspiration to individuals of lower socioeconomic status to strive toward becoming the best version of themselves. A former reporter with Call & Post Newspapers, Pompignano is also a celebrated poet and spoken word artist, having performed at such prestigious venues as Cleveland Play House and Karamu House, but he considers his most important work to be his current role as a social studies teacher at Shaker Heights High School.