In 1984, Jenkins published Life Its Ownself , whose subtitle is The SemiTougher Adventures of Billy Clyde Puckett & Them. It continues the story of "them," telling of Billy Clyde's career change, from football hero to color commentator, and of the troubles of Billy Clyde and Barbara Jane's marriage which are, according to Barbara Jane, "nothing that a faith healer can't fix."

The hero of Jenkins's 1974 novel, Dead Solid Perfect, is professional golfer, Kenny Puckett, Billy Clyde's uncle and role model. In all three novels, frequent reference is made to Herb's Cafe, a bar in Fort Worth that is Billy Clyde's emotional home. Herb's Cafe is the setting of the 1981 novel, Baja Oklahoma.