Jerry Banfield — Author in St. Petersburg, Florida

I’m Jerry Banfield, a full-time author living in St. Petersburg, Florida. I spend my days writing, speaking, and meeting readers in person. My work is rooted in honesty, curiosity, and self-discovery — the kind of stories that make you stop and think about your own life.If you’ve read any of my books and want to contact me or would enjoy receiving a message when I release a new book, text or WhatsApp me at 727-339-0333.

How I Write

What makes my writing process unique is how alive it feels. I start every book by dictating off the top of my head, speaking naturally as if giving a live talk or coaching session. Then I transcribe those recordings into the written page, refining the rhythm but keeping the raw energy intact.This approach lets me create books quickly and authentically, so each one feels like a conversation rather than a performance — spontaneous, direct, and real.My nonfiction titles often read like live lectures: part memoir, part self-help, part storytelling. I’m also currently developing several fiction projects, applying the same immersive, unscripted approach to new creative worlds.

How to Experience My Books

The best way to experience my work is through audiobooks — because that’s how they were born. You can listen to them on Audible, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy audiobooks.If you prefer reading, my books are also available in print and Kindle editions on Amazon, and you can read them for free through Kindle Unlimited.

I Was Famous on the Internet

Step inside my world of online fame — millions of followers, billions of views, six-figure months, and fans in every country. From the outside, it looked like I had achieved everything people dream of: money, freedom, and recognition. But behind the screen, it felt like a prison I built myself. Every click, every comment, every dollar came at the cost of my peace, my family, and my sanity.In I Was Famous on the Internet, I take you behind the curtain of what online success really feels like — not the highlight reel, but the raw, unfiltered truth. I went from being a broke ex-police officer to one of the top Udemy instructors in the world, earning millions teaching marketing and entrepreneurship. Then I became one of the first crypto YouTubers and a top Facebook Gaming partner, living the digital dream until it all became unbearable. I burned out so many times that I eventually did what few creators ever do: I deleted everything.This book exposes how social media platforms manipulate creators and audiences alike, rewarding obsession and punishing authenticity. It reveals the emotional rollercoaster of living for algorithms, the addiction to validation, and the emptiness that follows even the biggest wins. You’ll hear stories of wild success — $90,000 months, viral videos, and endless attention — alongside the darker moments of bankruptcy, exhaustion, and public collapse.Yet beneath all that chaos is something deeper: a journey of awakening. You’ll see how fame reshaped my family, how screens rewired my mind, and how I learned to rebuild a real life after walking away from the illusion. I Was Famous on the Internet is both confession and cautionary tale — a book for anyone chasing influence, creating content, or just trying to understand the digital world we live in.If you’ve ever dreamed of going viral or wondered what it’s truly like behind the fame, this story will change the way you see the Internet forever. By the end, you’ll understand why deleting everything wasn’t the end of my career — it was the beginning of my freedom.Available on Amazon and coming soon to Audible, Spotify, and other audio platforms

Author in St. Petersburg (Daily Autobiography Book 1)

If you’ve ever wondered what it truly feels like to start over — not in theory, but in real time, with all the uncertainty, doubt, and grace that come with it — Author in St. Petersburg is that story. This is my unfiltered diary of what happened after I deleted everything online — billions of views, millions of followers, and more than a decade of chasing fame — and decided to live as a full-time author in St. Petersburg, Florida.Rather than polishing the past, I began documenting life as it happened: the mornings with my kids, long walks in the Florida heat, AA meetings, tennis games, yoga classes, money worries, and quiet breakthroughs at the keyboard. You’ll see what it looks like to rebuild an identity without algorithms, to rediscover purpose after letting go of the digital world, and to find meaning again in simple, offline living. Every entry captures a different state of mind — sometimes confused, sometimes inspired, often both — as I learned to trust my own voice again.This book isn’t a motivational blueprint or success formula; it’s a living record of transformation. I share my reflections on marriage, recovery, parenting, and creativity without censoring the messy parts. You’ll watch me experiment with writing routines, wrestle with self-doubt, and rediscover joy in the process of being human. The lessons aren’t taught — they’re lived.If you’ve ever dreamed of walking away from the noise to create something timeless, Author in St. Petersburg will show you what that journey really looks like. It’s not easy, it’s not glamorous, but it’s real — and that’s what makes it worth reading. This is where my life as an author began, the first book in my daily autobiography series, and the foundation for everything that came after.Available on Amazon and coming soon to audio.

The Kind Divorce (Daily Autobiography Book 2)

The Kind Divorce is the most intimate and emotional story I’ve ever shared — a real-time diary of the days leading up to, through, and after the end of my twelve-and-a-half-year marriage. Written as it happened, it captures the raw moments of heartbreak, honesty, and grace that defined the most transformative season of my life. What began as daily reflections before starting massage school turned into a detailed chronicle of two people consciously choosing compassion over conflict as they untangled their lives with love still intact.This isn’t a manual on how to end a marriage, nor is it a polished self-help book. It’s a living record of what it feels like to go through divorce with open eyes and an open heart — the confusion, the fear, the moments of laughter that sneak in, and the quiet strength that grows when you refuse to turn love into resentment. You’ll walk with me through our final weeks together: the difficult conversations, the nights alone, the move just two blocks away, and the rebuilding of a new life from the ground up. Alongside that, you’ll see me begin massage school in my forties, find balance in co-parenting, and rediscover myself financially, spiritually, and emotionally.Throughout the book, I share the daily practices that helped me stay grounded — my sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous, yoga and tennis, meditation, and the act of writing itself. Every entry is a snapshot of presence, dictated within a day or two of the events, showing what healing truly looks like in motion. There’s no hindsight here — only real-time growth, vulnerability, and the courage to face each day with love instead of bitterness.By the end, you’ll see how the end of a marriage became the beginning of a friendship, how grief transformed into gratitude, and how a life once defined by partnership evolved into one of peace, independence, and possibility. The Kind Divorce is Book Two in my Daily Autobiography series, following Author in St. Petersburg. Together they form a continuous, living memoir — an honest exploration of what it means to begin again, one day at a time.Given I'm single now, you can text me at 727-339-0333 if you're interested in dating me in Saint Petersburg, Florida.Available on Amazon and coming to audio soon!

Officer Banfield

Buckle up for a wild, unfiltered ride through my three years in law enforcement and corrections from 2006 to 2009. Officer Banfield is a brutally honest memoir that takes you deep inside the real world of policing — from juvenile corrections at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, to transporting mental health patients for the Department of Mental Health, to patrolling the campus streets at the University of South Carolina Police Department. Nothing here is sugarcoated. You’ll see the chaos, the courage, and the confusion that come with wearing the badge — both on duty and off.This book starts with the purpose behind it: to tell the truth about what happened and why it matters, shared as raw and real as possible. You’ll follow a workplace romance gone wrong that ultimately ends Officer Banfield’s law enforcement career, then travel back to the beginning — from choosing criminal justice as a college major to the police academy, and through the intense, often absurd realities of each job along the way. What unfolds is not just a story about policing, but about ego, ambition, pain, and redemption.For readers who love shows like Cops or CSI, or anyone fascinated by what really happens inside the system, this book offers a front-row seat. And for those in recovery or familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous, it also serves as part confession, part spiritual inventory — a living Fifth, Ninth, and Twelfth Step in written form. Officer Banfield is at once gritty and redemptive, heartbreaking and funny, a look at how far one man can fall — and how honesty, humility, and service can bring him back.Available on Amazon and Audible.

Speaker Meeting 2017

Join me for a twelve-hour journey through addiction, depression, and recovery — told with total honesty, no filters, and no shame. Speaker Meeting 2017 is my life story from rock bottom to redemption, written like a long, raw, live speaker meeting. I share every detail of my addictions — sex, alcohol, gambling, gaming, food, and more — along with the emotions, failures, and breakthroughs that shaped my recovery. This isn’t the sanitized version of recovery you usually read about; it’s a full fifth step shared openly with the world.The story begins with my childhood, exploring how body shame and sexual confusion set the stage for later addictions. I talk about how my first addiction — to sex and pornography — distorted my sense of connection and self-worth, and how that pain led me to seek relief through alcohol. You’ll see how alcoholism took me to the edge, how gambling nearly destroyed my finances and sanity, and how the chaos finally pushed me into recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous, where I found a higher power and a community that saved my life.From there, I dive into the more everyday addictions — video games, food, work, and the endless chase for control — showing how each one became a substitute for real peace. You’ll follow my 14-year cycle of weight gain and loss, my obsessive need for achievement, and the inner torment that came with never feeling “enough.” Along the way, I share how I turned all of that pain into gratitude, service, and daily spiritual practice.Speaker Meeting 2017 is more than a memoir — it’s a mirror for anyone struggling to make sense of their own compulsions. Whether you’re in recovery, curious about it, or simply looking for hope, this book will show you that no matter how deep you fall, you can always rise again. It’s my testimony of transformation — from isolation and fear to a life of peace, joy, and freedom — lived one day at a time.Available on Amazon and Audible.

Start a Freelance Business Today

If you’ve ever dreamed of working for yourself, setting your own hours, and earning a living doing what you love from anywhere in the world, this book will show you exactly how to start. In Start a Freelance Business Today, I share the real tools, systems, and daily habits that allowed me to build a full-time freelance career using just a laptop, an internet connection, and platforms like WordPress, YouTube, Upwork, and Fiverr.Inside, you’ll learn how I built a sustainable online business that combines content creation, client work, and passive income — and how you can model the same approach for your own success. I break down each platform step by step: how to use Upwork to land higher-paying clients, how to start small and earn your first $20 on Fiverr, and how to build your long-term brand with a WordPress website and YouTube channel that attract work while you sleep.This isn’t theory or hype — it’s the exact process I used to go from struggling freelancer to earning a full-time income online. You’ll see how I managed hundreds of clients, hired freelancers myself to grow my business, and discovered what truly works to scale without burning out. Whether you’re just getting started or already freelancing part-time, this book will give you a roadmap to create stability, freedom, and purpose in your online career.Start a Freelance Business Today is both a guide and a personal story — proof that anyone willing to learn, serve clients well, and show up consistently can build a life of freedom through freelancing. If you’re ready to take control of your work and income, this book will show you the practical steps to get there, one client and one project at a time.Available on Amazon and Audible.

Let’s Connect

If you’d like to share your feedback about one of my books, invite me to speak at your event or group, get help writing your own book, receive a text message when I release a new book, or meet up in person here in St. Petersburg, the best way to reach me is by text message at 727-339-0333.