Failing ever upward isn''t as much fun as you''d expect.

In this hilarious sequel to My Inflatable Friend, clueless tyro Rollo Hemphill continues to fail upward to become the youngest-ever director of a multimillion-dollar charitable foundation. Far too late, he begins to suspect it''s a money laundry for sinister players in the Secret Government who are setting him up to take the fall for an international fraud.

But his paranoia becomes most acute when he gets entangled with a succession of women he calls "rubber babes." Claiming he was inspired by the satiric novels of P. G. Wodehouse and Peter De Vries, author Gerald Everett Jones calls this genre boychik lit.

-

“Gerald Jones takes puerile to new levels. Just when you thought Rollo was deepening into a rich and thoughtful character, he reminds us exactly what he''s made of. "Rubber Babes" is a clever, hysterical, and fun romp which you can read fast, and enjoy secretly. Just don''t tell your feminist friends.”

 - Magdalena Ball, The Compulsive Reader http://www.compulsivereader.com

“Rollicking Rollo is back in action! He''s a walking, talking warning about the pitfalls of being a genius. As you follow his merry way into and out of absurdity, you will find yourself looking in a mirror. Learn from Rollo--the only fun teacher of life lessons you will ever meet.”

- Thomas Page, author of The Hephaestus Plague

“This is a very funny book by a skilled and confident author. The further adventures of Rollo Hemphill are a welcome respite from the real world but one definitely gets the impression that Jones is making a lot of it up.”

- Morrie Ruvinsky, novelist/screenwriter/film director

“Woody Allen meets Nick Hornby in this hilarious beach read. Gerald Everett Jones, who is every bit as clever as Larry David (and has more hair!), has created a witty, literate George Costanza for us to savor. NBC, are you paying attention?”

- Paula Berinstein, producer and host of The Writing Show podcast, http://www.writingshow.com

From the acclaimed author of 2020 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorites Clifford''s Spiral and Preacher Finds a Corpse. In 1945, Milton Reynolds introduced the ballpoint pen to the United States and triggered the biggest single-day shopping riot in history. Reynolds, an exuberant huckster who had already made and lost several fortunes, again became an overnight millionaire and then bragged that he “stole it fair and square.” Milton was a man ideally suited to his time – the post-war boom when the salesman was king and all of the rules had yet to be written. He was an old-fashioned silver-tongued American peddler who would do almost anything – ethical or otherwise – to close a deal. His son Jim was a quiet Boy Scout who couldn''t tell a lie – even when he needed to. Mr. Ballpoint is a humorous father-son relationship story, told from Jim''s point of view, about coping with Milton’s outrageous schemes, then their sudden success. The conflicts between these two fundamentally different characters drive the comedy of the story.

From the acclaimed author of 2020 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorites Clifford''s Spiral and Preacher Finds a Corpse. Christmas Karma is author Gerald Everett Jones''s homage to Anne Tyler, whom he regards as his literary mother. It''s about the travails of a dysfunctional family around the holidays, narrated by an angel who has a wicked sense of humor. Main character Willa Nawicki is bewildered by a series of curious karmic events that literally ring her doorbell during the frantic season, awakening years-old resentments and stimulating ever-more-intense personal confrontations. These bizarre visitations include a grizzled old man claiming to be her father, who has been missing for some thirty years but now says the title to the family home is in his name - and now he wants the place back. As the angel observes, "The surest way to invoke the laughter of the universe is to make plans, particularly devious ones."

From the acclaimed author of 2020 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorites Clifford''s Spiral and Preacher Finds a Corpse.

Hank Ellis was murdered in his own home for dissing the cops.

Cynical personal-injury attorney Eli Wolff rediscovers his idealism for simple justice when he sues the city for the wrongful death of an unarmed African-American man at the hands of two police officers. Ellis was killed in his own home, choked to death, after angry officers stormed in without a warrant, anxious to teach him a lesson for disrespecting them in front of his neighbors.

Recognized by 2020 Independent Press Awards as Distinguished Favorite in Literary Fiction. Clifford’s Spiral is a quirkily comic literary novel. Its sardonic tone recalls the wry wisdom of Kurt Vonnegut, and its preoccupation with male centeredness is reminiscent of Philip Roth. Stroke survivor Clifford Klovis tries to piece together the colorful fragments of his memories. He fusses over his lifelong curiosities about astrophysics and metaphysics, Christian faith and New Age philosophy, and why the spiral shape appears in bathtub drains and at the centers of galaxies. He has imaginary conversations and arguments with wives and lovers, as well as with Hypatia of Alexandria, René Descartes, his old mentor Reverend Thurston, and Stephen Hawking. Clifford''s best teacher turns out to be his paraplegic son Jeremy, who has found his father''s old letters and journals. Jeremy also wonders: Who was Clifford Olmstead Klovis?

No job? Fresh out of school? Laid off? In the rapidly emerging gig economy, millions of workers will never have a job. But they can have a lifetime of profitable and satisfying assignments and projects. Written by an adept consultant who hasn’t had “permanent employment” since 9/11, this handy little book will help you survive – and thrive – as an independent contractor. Don’t wait for someone else to decide your future – here’s how to write your own story.

In the heart of rural Missouri, former physicist-turned-preacher Evan Wycliff is no stranger to mystery—or pain. 2020 New York City Big Book Award – Distinguished Favorite (Silver) in MysteryStill grieving the death of his fiancée and navigating the spiritual minefield of small-town faith, he’s trying to live a quiet life. But when Melissa Benton, a troubled teen mother with epilepsy, is forcibly taken from her sister’s trailer by child welfare officers—and separated from her newborn—Evan’s life of uneasy peace is shattered.

He quickly learns Melissa isn’t just another runaway. Her baby may be the illegitimate son of Luke Shackleton, a wealthy banker’s schizophrenic teen heir, now locked away in a questionable mental clinic. Evan’s mission to find Melissa becomes more urgent as he uncovers a chilling web of corruption: a manipulative psychiatrist, complicit clergy, human trafficking masked as adoption, and a mysterious Eastern European syndicate with secrets to keep.

Evan’s investigation pits him against power players who consider people like Melissa disposable. His only ally may be Luke, whose psychic connection to Melissa might be real—or madness. To protect them both, Evan must do something he’s never done before—fake a miracle so convincing, it just might save a life.

But the deeper he digs, the higher the stakes—and the more Evan questions whether justice can ever come without sacrifice.

Blending spiritual suspense, gritty noir, and sharp-witted dialogue, Preacher Fakes a Miracle is a soulful mystery of love, faith, and the lengths one man will go to uncover the truth. Fans of Louise Penny, Julia Spencer-Fleming, and James Lee Burke will find a new hero to root for in Evan Wycliff.“This is literature masquerading as a mystery. Carefully yet powerfully, Gerald Jones creates a small, stunning world in a tiny midwestern town, infusing each character with not just life but wit, charm and occasionally menace. This is the kind of writing one expects from John Irving or Jane Smiley.” - Marvin J. Wolf, author of the Rabbi Ben Mysteries, including A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn

A near-death experience looks like a miracle, but it won’t be this rural preacher’s only confrontation with suspicious demise.

Four-time winner in 2022, including Silver in both the Independent Press Award and New York City Big Book Award. The Preacher Evan Wycliff series has won 10 awards in mystery.When former seminary student Evan Wycliff learns that a woman believed to be dead has returned to life, he’s skeptical. With locals divided between awe and suspicion, Evan must cope with rumors he’s a healer.Evan’s newfound fame tempts him with ambitions for a megachurch empire, drawing him into a web of secrets where miracles are manufactured and believers manipulated. Evan must confront not only a cunning schemer but also the almost certain death of one he loves, culminating in wrenching questions of his own beliefs.Taut and evocative, Preacher Raises the Dead delivers a slow-burning, southern noir with soul. Fans of Louise Penny and Julia Spencer-Fleming will savor its blend of moral tension, character depth, and gripping suspense. In Evan Wycliff’s third mystery, the line between faith and fraud blurs—and only the truth can resurrect the innocent.

Praise for Preacher Finds a Corpse (Evan Wycliff #1) – Winner NYC Big Book Gold, IPA Silver, Eric Hoffer Finalist, NABE Pinnacle Best Mystery

This is literature masquerading as a mystery. Carefully yet powerfully, Gerald Jones creates a small, stunning world in a tiny midwestern town, infusing each character with not just life but wit, charm, and occasionally menace. This is the kind of writing one expects from John Irving or Jane Smiley. - Marvin J. Wolf, author of the Rabbi Ben Mysteries, including A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn

This is an excellent read. Such an engaging storyteller! It really sucked me in. That last page did cause a triple-take, quadruple-take, and whatever comes after, up to about eight. Jones is definitely one of my favorite authors. - John Rachel, author of Blinders Keepers and The Man Who Loved Too Much

Jones manages to infuse a deceptively simple story with suspense, angst, and whimsy, as well as surprise. His command of setting, history, and behavior is beyond exceptional. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. - Paula Berinstein,author of the Amanda Lester Detective series and host of “The Writing Show” podcast

Praise for Preacher Fakes a Miracle (Evan Wycliff #2) – NYC Big Book Silver

As anyone who’s spent time in a small town the American Midwest knows, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than you’d expect. Or suspect. And there are plenty of suspects in the latest Evan Wycliff mystery by Gerald Everett Jones. Preacher Fakes a Miracle haunted my dreams as I read it, in the way that a good story about a bad situation should. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment of the Evan Wycliff mystery series. - Pamela Jaye Smith, Mythworks, Award-Winning Writer-Director-Producer

A fast-moving mystery with twists and surprises that take you in unexpected directions.  Jones is adept at creating unique and fascinating characters.  His mystery sleuth is a part-timer with lots of heart who splits his time between religion, skip tracing and sometimes the metaphysical. The hero''s search for a missing girl and his interactions with various eccentric individuals in the small town make him both sympathetic and compelling. A bit of a shock to learn what''s really going on with the abducted young unwed mother... and amazing how it relates to real stories in the news today. - M.J. Richards, Coauthor of Dishonor Thy Father

Failing ever upward isn''t as much fun as you''d expect.

In this hilarious sequel to My Inflatable Friend, clueless tyro Rollo Hemphill continues to fail upward to become the youngest-ever director of a multimillion-dollar charitable foundation. Far too late, he begins to suspect it''s a money laundry for sinister players in the Secret Government who are setting him up to take the fall for an international fraud.

But his paranoia becomes most acute when he gets entangled with a succession of women he calls "rubber babes." Claiming he was inspired by the satiric novels of P. G. Wodehouse and Peter De Vries, author Gerald Everett Jones calls this genre boychik lit.

-

“Gerald Jones takes puerile to new levels. Just when you thought Rollo was deepening into a rich and thoughtful character, he reminds us exactly what he''s made of. "Rubber Babes" is a clever, hysterical, and fun romp which you can read fast, and enjoy secretly. Just don''t tell your feminist friends.”

 - Magdalena Ball, The Compulsive Reader http://www.compulsivereader.com

“Rollicking Rollo is back in action! He''s a walking, talking warning about the pitfalls of being a genius. As you follow his merry way into and out of absurdity, you will find yourself looking in a mirror. Learn from Rollo--the only fun teacher of life lessons you will ever meet.”

- Thomas Page, author of The Hephaestus Plague

“This is a very funny book by a skilled and confident author. The further adventures of Rollo Hemphill are a welcome respite from the real world but one definitely gets the impression that Jones is making a lot of it up.”

- Morrie Ruvinsky, novelist/screenwriter/film director

“Woody Allen meets Nick Hornby in this hilarious beach read. Gerald Everett Jones, who is every bit as clever as Larry David (and has more hair!), has created a witty, literate George Costanza for us to savor. NBC, are you paying attention?”

- Paula Berinstein, producer and host of The Writing Show podcast, http://www.writingshow.com

From the acclaimed author of 2020 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorites Clifford''s Spiral and Preacher Finds a Corpse. In 1945, Milton Reynolds introduced the ballpoint pen to the United States and triggered the biggest single-day shopping riot in history. Reynolds, an exuberant huckster who had already made and lost several fortunes, again became an overnight millionaire and then bragged that he “stole it fair and square.” Milton was a man ideally suited to his time – the post-war boom when the salesman was king and all of the rules had yet to be written. He was an old-fashioned silver-tongued American peddler who would do almost anything – ethical or otherwise – to close a deal. His son Jim was a quiet Boy Scout who couldn''t tell a lie – even when he needed to. Mr. Ballpoint is a humorous father-son relationship story, told from Jim''s point of view, about coping with Milton’s outrageous schemes, then their sudden success. The conflicts between these two fundamentally different characters drive the comedy of the story.

From the acclaimed author of 2020 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorites Clifford''s Spiral and Preacher Finds a Corpse. Christmas Karma is author Gerald Everett Jones''s homage to Anne Tyler, whom he regards as his literary mother. It''s about the travails of a dysfunctional family around the holidays, narrated by an angel who has a wicked sense of humor. Main character Willa Nawicki is bewildered by a series of curious karmic events that literally ring her doorbell during the frantic season, awakening years-old resentments and stimulating ever-more-intense personal confrontations. These bizarre visitations include a grizzled old man claiming to be her father, who has been missing for some thirty years but now says the title to the family home is in his name - and now he wants the place back. As the angel observes, "The surest way to invoke the laughter of the universe is to make plans, particularly devious ones."

From the acclaimed author of 2020 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorites Clifford''s Spiral and Preacher Finds a Corpse.

Hank Ellis was murdered in his own home for dissing the cops.

Cynical personal-injury attorney Eli Wolff rediscovers his idealism for simple justice when he sues the city for the wrongful death of an unarmed African-American man at the hands of two police officers. Ellis was killed in his own home, choked to death, after angry officers stormed in without a warrant, anxious to teach him a lesson for disrespecting them in front of his neighbors.

Recognized by 2020 Independent Press Awards as Distinguished Favorite in Literary Fiction. Clifford’s Spiral is a quirkily comic literary novel. Its sardonic tone recalls the wry wisdom of Kurt Vonnegut, and its preoccupation with male centeredness is reminiscent of Philip Roth. Stroke survivor Clifford Klovis tries to piece together the colorful fragments of his memories. He fusses over his lifelong curiosities about astrophysics and metaphysics, Christian faith and New Age philosophy, and why the spiral shape appears in bathtub drains and at the centers of galaxies. He has imaginary conversations and arguments with wives and lovers, as well as with Hypatia of Alexandria, René Descartes, his old mentor Reverend Thurston, and Stephen Hawking. Clifford''s best teacher turns out to be his paraplegic son Jeremy, who has found his father''s old letters and journals. Jeremy also wonders: Who was Clifford Olmstead Klovis?

No job? Fresh out of school? Laid off? In the rapidly emerging gig economy, millions of workers will never have a job. But they can have a lifetime of profitable and satisfying assignments and projects. Written by an adept consultant who hasn’t had “permanent employment” since 9/11, this handy little book will help you survive – and thrive – as an independent contractor. Don’t wait for someone else to decide your future – here’s how to write your own story.

In the heart of rural Missouri, former physicist-turned-preacher Evan Wycliff is no stranger to mystery—or pain. 2020 New York City Big Book Award – Distinguished Favorite (Silver) in MysteryStill grieving the death of his fiancée and navigating the spiritual minefield of small-town faith, he’s trying to live a quiet life. But when Melissa Benton, a troubled teen mother with epilepsy, is forcibly taken from her sister’s trailer by child welfare officers—and separated from her newborn—Evan’s life of uneasy peace is shattered.

He quickly learns Melissa isn’t just another runaway. Her baby may be the illegitimate son of Luke Shackleton, a wealthy banker’s schizophrenic teen heir, now locked away in a questionable mental clinic. Evan’s mission to find Melissa becomes more urgent as he uncovers a chilling web of corruption: a manipulative psychiatrist, complicit clergy, human trafficking masked as adoption, and a mysterious Eastern European syndicate with secrets to keep.

Evan’s investigation pits him against power players who consider people like Melissa disposable. His only ally may be Luke, whose psychic connection to Melissa might be real—or madness. To protect them both, Evan must do something he’s never done before—fake a miracle so convincing, it just might save a life.

But the deeper he digs, the higher the stakes—and the more Evan questions whether justice can ever come without sacrifice.

Blending spiritual suspense, gritty noir, and sharp-witted dialogue, Preacher Fakes a Miracle is a soulful mystery of love, faith, and the lengths one man will go to uncover the truth. Fans of Louise Penny, Julia Spencer-Fleming, and James Lee Burke will find a new hero to root for in Evan Wycliff.“This is literature masquerading as a mystery. Carefully yet powerfully, Gerald Jones creates a small, stunning world in a tiny midwestern town, infusing each character with not just life but wit, charm and occasionally menace. This is the kind of writing one expects from John Irving or Jane Smiley.” - Marvin J. Wolf, author of the Rabbi Ben Mysteries, including A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn

A near-death experience looks like a miracle, but it won’t be this rural preacher’s only confrontation with suspicious demise.

Four-time winner in 2022, including Silver in both the Independent Press Award and New York City Big Book Award. The Preacher Evan Wycliff series has won 10 awards in mystery.When former seminary student Evan Wycliff learns that a woman believed to be dead has returned to life, he’s skeptical. With locals divided between awe and suspicion, Evan must cope with rumors he’s a healer.Evan’s newfound fame tempts him with ambitions for a megachurch empire, drawing him into a web of secrets where miracles are manufactured and believers manipulated. Evan must confront not only a cunning schemer but also the almost certain death of one he loves, culminating in wrenching questions of his own beliefs.Taut and evocative, Preacher Raises the Dead delivers a slow-burning, southern noir with soul. Fans of Louise Penny and Julia Spencer-Fleming will savor its blend of moral tension, character depth, and gripping suspense. In Evan Wycliff’s third mystery, the line between faith and fraud blurs—and only the truth can resurrect the innocent.

Praise for Preacher Finds a Corpse (Evan Wycliff #1) – Winner NYC Big Book Gold, IPA Silver, Eric Hoffer Finalist, NABE Pinnacle Best Mystery

This is literature masquerading as a mystery. Carefully yet powerfully, Gerald Jones creates a small, stunning world in a tiny midwestern town, infusing each character with not just life but wit, charm, and occasionally menace. This is the kind of writing one expects from John Irving or Jane Smiley. - Marvin J. Wolf, author of the Rabbi Ben Mysteries, including A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn

This is an excellent read. Such an engaging storyteller! It really sucked me in. That last page did cause a triple-take, quadruple-take, and whatever comes after, up to about eight. Jones is definitely one of my favorite authors. - John Rachel, author of Blinders Keepers and The Man Who Loved Too Much

Jones manages to infuse a deceptively simple story with suspense, angst, and whimsy, as well as surprise. His command of setting, history, and behavior is beyond exceptional. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. - Paula Berinstein,author of the Amanda Lester Detective series and host of “The Writing Show” podcast

Praise for Preacher Fakes a Miracle (Evan Wycliff #2) – NYC Big Book Silver

As anyone who’s spent time in a small town the American Midwest knows, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than you’d expect. Or suspect. And there are plenty of suspects in the latest Evan Wycliff mystery by Gerald Everett Jones. Preacher Fakes a Miracle haunted my dreams as I read it, in the way that a good story about a bad situation should. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment of the Evan Wycliff mystery series. - Pamela Jaye Smith, Mythworks, Award-Winning Writer-Director-Producer

A fast-moving mystery with twists and surprises that take you in unexpected directions.  Jones is adept at creating unique and fascinating characters.  His mystery sleuth is a part-timer with lots of heart who splits his time between religion, skip tracing and sometimes the metaphysical. The hero''s search for a missing girl and his interactions with various eccentric individuals in the small town make him both sympathetic and compelling. A bit of a shock to learn what''s really going on with the abducted young unwed mother... and amazing how it relates to real stories in the news today. - M.J. Richards, Coauthor of Dishonor Thy Father