By Michael D. Wynne
There are many ways that a person can become a great author. One is to learn the craft of writing, through, for example, attending and learning at local great institutions like LSUA, LCU, LSU or Northwestern. Other ways include working your way up slowly by starting to write for yourself, some through diaries, blogs or even short stories. Another method is attending and learning from local writing groups, like the Cenla Author’s Club. But one thing that is needed that is certain in order to create great works of literature; it is that the writer must have something important or relevant or truly entertaining to say to the reader.
Jamar L. Gailes is one such new writer. His riveting story, based on his life and of his family’s life, “Loving 42: A Mother’s Prayer, A Son’s Journey, A Father’s Strength,” is a major step above the average family journey book. It combines all facets of the human condition, from tragedy to recovery, from insurmountable odds to triumph. His book chronicles the real-life story of how fate met faith head-on at the intersection of life and death without any warning or preparation.
Jamar, a native of Alexandria, has an amazing personal biography himself. A graduate of Peabody Magnet, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and English from Grambling and a MBA from North Central State University. “I was always fascinated with government and politics and how it worked for us,” said Jamar. The future then was unlimited for Jamar, and he rightly took advantage of it.
Lt. Colonel Gailes is a 28-year, 3 tours of duty, decorated Bronze Star recipient veteran of the U.S. Army and the Louisiana National Guard. “I volunteered for the military,” Jamar shared. “It gave me an outlet, some discipline and the opportunity to pursue a college degree.”
He fought in Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991), Operation Enduring Freedom (2004-2005) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2010-2011), then, later he was the Chief of Assistance and Investigations for all U.S. forces in Iraq. He later served as the LA State Inspector General of the LA National Guard.
But his career did not stop there. He later worked at the Pentagon and even later for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in various important positions. He has also run for the position of Mayor of Alexandria. Currently, he serves as Deputy Director of Workforce Relations for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, headquartered in Atlanta, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Jamar is also the President/CEO of The Gailes Group, LLC that provides training and consulting for Team Building activities.
In September of 2025, Jamar released his long-anticipated memoir, “Loving 42.” It is based on his son’s serious illness with Lupus which occurred at the same time as his wife’s premature death. When asked why he choose to write a book about his tragedies, he said, “Writing the book was very therapeutic to me. Also, people did not fully understand what was going on in my family’s life so I wanted to set the record straight.”
Jamar was recently recognized for his book in December of 2025 as an International Award-Winning Author in the Inspirational category and is being considered now for the Book of the Year award.
Jamar is truly an amazing man, an amazing leader, an amazing parent, and now, an amazing author. His plans for his next book are under wraps for now, but his many fans will patiently await for his next book. As Jamar said, “I don’t believe God gives his toughest assignments to weak people.”
I heartily recommend Jamar”s book as a good read. It is available on Amazon and at his website: jamarlgailes.com
