Bathing With JFK
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Pub Date Sep 1 2026 | Archive Date Sep 11 2026
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Description
Politics. The aura of John F. Kennedy. And the cost of finally growing up.
Austin Grant has spent his life chasing the next thrill—booze, women, and just enough lunacy to keep boredom at bay. A trial lawyer with charm to spare and a lack of discipline to match, he’s never had much use for purpose—until a grudge against a powerful state senator pushes him into a race he has no business running.
What begins as revenge quickly spirals into a chaotic, no-holds-barred campaign filled with missteps, imbecility, and moments of surprising brilliance. As Austin stumbles toward something resembling conviction, he’s forced to confront the wreckage of his choices—and the people he’s hurt along the way.
Set against the sharp-edged backdrop of Texas politics, this is a story of mindless ego, casual recklessness, and perhaps second chances—where winning the race may mean losing everything that matters.
A Note From the Publisher
He lives in grandeur with six females, two of which are human, and both of whom have asked—pointedly and repeatedly—not to be identified or in any manner associated with this project. He questions their judgment.
The author has no plans for the future. None.
Advance Praise
"Ken Wall’s Bathing With JFK is brilliant literary fiction, and the humor is sharpest when Austin’s self-image collides with ordinary public life. [...] This is smart and darkly humorous, and among one of the best literary political satires I have read this year. Very highly recommended." – Readers' Favorite
"Ken Wall's latest book is a sharp, cleverly satirical look at politics. Sometimes subtly humorous, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, he has a unique mastery of the written word. A worthwhile read." – Larry Barthurst, author of The Philosopher's Stone
"Ken Wall’s novel does humor well, but if a story is just a load of laughs, it never develops the gravitas to stir the heart. Bathing With JFK does both – offering humor and pathos. After the celebration and belly laughs, Austin Grant has won a battle and lost a war, and implores us to consider the toll of addictive self-indulgence, suggesting that although mirth can lighten an atmosphere, love and human connection are far from laughing matters, and provide the keys to emerging victorious in the campaign of life." – Gardner Landry, author of The Jezebel Tracks, Songs of My Father and Other Essays, and Merlin of the Magnolias
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Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798901743782 |
| PRICE | $22.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 520 |