Reverend Ripple$ Building Fund

Bobby Ripples, a thief, ex-con, and pretend preacher, meets a treasured mentor who brings him to an East Texas town for a fresh beginning. Ordained for $2, Reverend Robert Ripples skims the deposits of his Church of Heavenly Inspiration and Perpetual Spirit (CHIPS). His lust for fame and fortune parallels Miss Claudette Coleman's burning desire to work at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. Is Fuzzy Weaver, ex-cellmate and boastful liar, self-indulging with a dire warning? In a slight-of-hand shell game with satchels and cash, the Reverend enlists Boo Ballard and Clem Caine, on their way to see Elvis Presley perform at the Cotton Bowl, to take a bag to Dallas. Threatened by Momma Julia's church audit, will the Reverend fight or flee? Once again, Tank's characters take readers on an enjoyable, exciting journey with unforeseen twists and turns toward surprise solutions.

Bobby Ripples, a thief, ex-con, and pretend preacher, meets a treasured mentor who brings him to an East Texas town for a fresh beginning. Ordained for $2, Reverend Robert Ripples skims the deposits of his Church of Heavenly Inspiration and Perpetual Spirit (CHIPS). His lust for fame and fortune parallels Miss Claudette Coleman's burning desire to work at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. Is Fuzzy Weaver, ex-cellmate and boastful liar, self-indulging with a dire warning? In a slight-of-hand shell game with satchels and cash, the Reverend enlists Boo Ballard and Clem Caine, on their way to see Elvis Presley perform at the Cotton Bowl, to take a bag to Dallas. Threatened by Momma Julia's church audit, will the Reverend fight or flee? Once again, Tank's characters take readers on an enjoyable, exciting journey with unforeseen twists and turns toward surprise solutions.

Tank Gunner is the pen name of a retired combat cavalry trooper, Senior Parachutist, and Jumpmaster awarded a Combat Infantry Badge and decorated with a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, one for Valor, and a Purple Heart. He served his nation with pride and honor for more than a quarter-century as an enlisted soldier and officer. An award-winning author and speaker, Tank wrote and published Prompts a collection of stories at age 76; Prompts Too another collection of stories at 77; Cookie Johnson, his Vietnam historical fiction novel at 78; Palomino, Tank's immensely popular WWII historical fiction novel at 79; Porky Baycann, a coming-of-age, adolescent friendship, and WWII historical fiction novel – and companion to Palomino – at 80; and The Redeemer, his powerful drama of love, conflict, and redemption on the eve of WWII, that is a companion to Palomino and Porky Baycann, at 81. Reverend Ripple$' Building Fund, a story of a pretend preacher with a dishonest past, is Tank's seventh book, published at age 82. He and his wife live with Toby, 100 miles southwest of Palomino.