Jay Ingleston and Only So Many Times: The Dad Clock

When Jay Ingleston sits down to write, he isn’t just producing words on a page—he’s capturing fragments of life that many of us let slip by unnoticed. His latest release, Only So Many Times: The Dad Clock, is a heartfelt meditation on fatherhood, childhood, and the finite nature of time. It’s his fifth published book, and arguably his most personal to date, a project that left him so emotionally invested he admits he could not write or even read it aloud without tears.

A Writer’s Path: From Journals to Published Author

Ingleston’s literary journey stretches back to the early 1990s, when he first filled notebooks with love letters, poems, and raw reflections on life. At the time, he was a teenager dealing with loss, family upheaval, and the search for meaning. Writing became both catharsis and creative outlet. “Back then, you don’t really know how you cope with grief,” he explained, reflecting on the passing of a cousin and his parents’ separation. “I didn’t realize until much later that I was working through it on paper”.

Like many aspiring writers of that era, Ingleston dreamed of traditional publishing. He studied the thick Publisher’s Market guides, sent submissions to literary agents, and held onto the hope of seeing his work on bookstore shelves. But the gatekeepers were silent, and life moved on. It wasn’t until 2020—during the global pause of the COVID-19 pandemic—that he revisited his old material and discovered the possibilities of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

Self-publishing offered him creative control without prohibitive upfront costs. From learning how to design his own covers to mastering the formatting quirks of KDP, Ingleston embraced the DIY ethic. Over time, the process became second nature, and he has since released multiple titles—two journals and three full books—each one sharpening his voice as an author.

Writing with Vulnerability

If there is a common thread in Ingleston’s catalog, it’s vulnerability. His earliest publications leaned into stream-of-consciousness style, intentionally defying grammar conventions. His later works explored family stories, memory, and the tension between humor and grief. But with Only So Many Times: The Dad Clock, he brought that vulnerability to the forefront.

Publishing, he recalls, once felt like “running into a football field naked” where everyone could laugh, point, or criticize. Over time, however, his perspective shifted. Age and experience have dulled his concern for outside judgment. “This is me,” he says. “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to read it.” That sense of authenticity is what gives this book its resonance—Ingleston isn’t trying to impress; he’s trying to connect.

The Heart of Only So Many Times: The Dad Clock

At its core, this book is about fleeting, ordinary moments that, in hindsight, prove to be extraordinary. The title itself conveys urgency: a reminder that fatherhood doesn’t offer endless repeats of the same scenes. There are only so many bedtime stories, only so many snow days, only so many art projects taped to the refrigerator.

The book is dedicated to his daughter, Sage, who appears both in its anecdotes and on its cover. One striking image shows her as a young girl holding a stuffed bear she’s cherished since birth, walking alongside her father. The visual, Ingleston explains, symbolizes the journey of moving through time together.

Inside the pages, readers encounter simple but profound reminders of how quickly childhood slips away:

• “Only so many trips to the playground.”
• “Only so many birthday candles.”
• “Only so many times they laugh at your dad jokes.”

These lines read almost like incantations, urging parents to savor the now because one day it will be the last. For Ingleston, writing them was not an abstract exercise but an act of emotional reckoning. “I couldn’t write this book without crying,” he admits. Even in public readings, he struggles to make it through without breaking down.

Family Stories and Broader Projects

While Only So Many Times: The Dad Clock captures his present as a father, Ingleston has also mined his family’s past for inspiration. One forthcoming project reimagines the adventures of his late grandfather, Paul, who spent decades working as a tugboat engineer on the New York canals. Ingleston is recasting him as a storytelling sea otter—an imaginative tribute that mixes truth, folklore, and whimsical illustration.

These stories, often humorous, reflect Ingleston’s broader mission: preserving the fleeting. Whether recounting his grandfather’s improbable hover-round rides down steep hills or the innocent messiness of raising a daughter, Ingleston reminds readers that memory is both fragile and precious.

The Challenges and Triumphs of Self-Publishing

Like many independent authors, Ingleston has faced his share of frustrations with KDP. He has battled formatting errors, mysterious delays, and the quirks of producing hardcover editions. Yet he remains a vocal supporter of the platform. It has allowed him to bypass industry barriers, share his work directly with readers, and even experiment with AI tools for proofreading.

For him, publishing is not just about sales numbers—it’s about legacy. He sells most of his books through Kindle or by hand to friends and local supporters. Each copy represents another chance to touch someone’s life with words he once kept private.

Why Only So Many Times: The Dad Clock Matters

What makes this book stand out among Ingleston’s works is not just its emotional depth but its universality. Though it springs from one man’s relationship with his daughter, it resonates with anyone who has ever felt time slipping through their fingers. Parents, grandparents, even adult children will find echoes of their own lives in its pages.

By framing these moments as finite—“only so many times”—Ingleston reframes the ordinary as sacred. A trip to the movies or a laugh at a silly joke becomes something to treasure, not dismiss. In a culture obsessed with productivity and rushing toward the next milestone, his book serves as a gentle but powerful reminder: slow down, notice, and cherish what’s here.

Conclusion

Jay Ingleston’s journey from handwritten poems in school notebooks to publishing his fifth book is as much a story of persistence as it is of creativity. Only So Many Times: The Dad Clock marks a culmination of his growth as a writer—technically, emotionally, and personally. It is a book born from tears, love, and the recognition that parenthood is measured not in years, but in moments.

For Ingleston, those moments may be fleeting, but through his writing, he has ensured they will never be forgotten. Readers can purchase their copy of Only So Many Times: The Dad Clock on Amazon at this link.