Chris Parker’s career as a journalist has taken him all over the country. First, he started in music, covering talents ranging from The Black Eyed Peas to David Bowie. Then he moved into feature writing, during which he wrote cover stories for magazines such as LA Weekly, Dallas Observer, Miami New Times and Orlando Weekly.

The past two years, however, have sent Parker to press rows at NBA games all over the country as he served as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat writer for Cleveland Scene magazine. That experience helped Parker pen “King James Brings The Land a Crown,” a novel that chronicles the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 title run.

Parker will be in the Kent State Student Center this Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. to sign copies of his novel.

“Part of the reason (I wanted to write about the Cavaliers) was the prodigal story of it,” Parker said at his book signing at Last Exit Books and Coffeehouse on April 6. “The fact that LeBron James, like the old biblical story, left his home to make his own way in the world … but he came back. He came back to bring the championship to Cleveland … I thought it would be a great story.”

The Cavaliers’ first run at the NBA title after James returned was something that hurt Parker’s original prospects for the book.

“I followed the team all year (in 2015) … thinking ‘This is going to be it, (LeBron’s) going to come back and immediately do it,’ so there was a huge letdown,” Parker said when the Cavaliers lost in 2015. “When I pitched my book after the (Warriors’ victory), nobody wanted it.”

Even after the Cavaliers’ victory this past June, Parker still ran into problems getting his book published.

“As it turned out, a month (after the Cavaliers’ victory), I couldn’t get a book deal,” Parker said. “And I just said that it was such an unbelievable experience; I’m just going to write the book and publish myself.”

Henry Palattella is the sports editor, contact him at h[email protected].