The Velvet Sledgehammer

Sex. Commitment. The Fate Of The World Economy. It's December, 1993-a pivotal moment in human history-and these are the things hijacking Billy Gerrick's brain.

The Wall Street Journal calls him "The best thing to happen to international trade since the boat." The President praises him as: "A great American." His brilliant, beautiful, well-connected girlfriend thinks he's the kindest, most generous man alive.

Only Billy Gerrick knows the truth...he's a ticking time bomb. An overachieving bundle of fear, denial, and desire who has held it together for three-plus decades by sheer will.

Now, on the eve of finalizing the most comprehensive, far-reaching global agreement ever proposed, Billy Gerrick is forced to confront a past he'd rather forget-the painful childhood, the embarrassing failures, the impressive string of romantic flameouts-when his perfect fiancée chooses this historic moment to pressure him about settling down, getting married, and having kids. But if Billy Gerrick knows anything, it's that he's the last person on earth that should be in charge of raising a child.

Edward Savio's return to mainstream adult fiction takes us on a hilarious, unbridled, unapologetic journey to find love, understanding, and redemption through the eyes of a flawed hero who is part Holden Caulfield, part Alexander Portnoy, part Sun Tzu all rolled into one.

A relentless, raw, surprisingly poignant exploration of the turning point we all must face: Finally coming to terms with growing up.