Jones Defines "Fratire" at West Hollywood Book Fair

Comic novelist Gerald Everett Jones will discuss and sign his book "My Inflatable Friend: The Confessions of Rollo Hemphill" at the West Hollywood Book Fair on Sunday, September 30. Jones will be in Booth 62F, hosted by the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC.org) from 12 - 2 p.m. and from 3 - 5 p.m. He has been a member of IWOSC since 1985 and is a past director of this professional organization for working journalists and authors.

A term coined just last year by reporter Warren St. John, "fratire" means "fraternity satire." It describes male-centered fiction aimed primarily at young men (or men who fantasize about being young). These books are a counterpoint to the wildly popular genre "chick lit," aimed at women, with such familiar titles as "Bridget Jones's Diary," "Sex and the City" and "The Devil Wears Prada."

According to Jones, "'My Inflatable Friend' is hipper fratire. It's not a book about drinking to excess, picking fights in barrooms, or what you can do with a slick pickup line. It's about finding out who you are and who you are with other people, particularly women. Call it pathetic, call it funny—it's what guys really worry about."

"My Inflatable Friend," published by the LaPuerta imprint of La Puerta Productions, is available in softcover from booksellers everywhere for suggested list price $15.99 (UK 8.99). Convenient e-book versions have been released in Adobe PDF (available from Diesel E-books) and PDA (from Mobipocket).

Novelist Quentin Cain, author of "Notes from the G Spot: The Uncensored Diaries of Slick F. Worthy," apparently regards Jones as kindred soul. As he said in his recent review: "A hilarious read, 'My Inflatable Friend' is also a clever poke in the eye at celebrity culture, as well as America's intrigue with the famous and infamous."

This Sunday's book fair opens at 10 a.m. in West Hollywood Park, 647 San Vicente Blvd., in West Hollywood, California (on the Westside of Los Angeles). The theme of this year's fair is "Fall into Reading."

Jones and Cain are obviously hoping that male readers (and the women who love them) will fall into fratire.

La Puerta Productions is a developer and producer of books and digital media. The La Puerta name and its logo — an open door — symbolize unlimited access to knowledge, opportunity, innovation, fascination, and delight. La Puerta is also the publisher of Jones's previous title "How to Lie with Charts."

For more information or to reach the author about appearances and interviews on the hot topic of fratire, contact Jason Teahan, LaPuerta Marketing Manager, ph. 310 749-9668.