Rising Stars: Meet Jeb Bohn of Greenville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeb Bohn.

Hi Jeb, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’ve always loved movies; something about being sucked into a story resonates with me. When I was maybe 8 or 9, I decided that I wanted to tell stories. I started by writing little illustrated books, taking movies I liked, and creating sequels. They weren’t outstanding, but my mom liked them, which was enough for me.
Writing fell by the wayside when I became a teenager. I still enjoyed it, but I became completely wrapped up in music. I played in a handful of bands, and I loved it, but the itch to write came back with a vengeance. My mom agreed to let me have a drum set through some twisted magic, and I spent hours learning some of my favorite songs. For the next decade and a half, that became my creative outlet.

In early 2014, I began writing a few short stories, not knowing what I would do with them. I put them up on Amazon with a little forethought and quickly moved on to other endeavors. Nearly a year passed before I remembered what I did, so I logged in and checked on them. Naturally, they hadn’t sold much, though they had sold some.

Better yet, a few readers left reviews.

While the sample size was small, the feedback was largely positive, which was enough to push me forward.

In late 2017, I had a very vivid, bizarre dream. This dream was so engrained in my mind that I could remember specific details hours after waking up. The more I thought about it, the more I realized, “Hey, there’s a story here.”
That was the birth of ‘Bermuda,’ my first full-length novel. In August 2018, I published the book with absolutely no idea of what to expect. I spent hours each day writing and revising, sometimes agonizing over a single word. Frustration crept in, but, ultimately, the excitement of sharing the story with the world pushed me through.
Bear in mind that I was a complete novice. I had no clue about promoting and advertising. It sold a few copies despite those shortcomings, and I began getting ratings and reviews. I was fortunate enough to be invited for a handful of radio and television interviews, each of which gave me a boost. There was, however, a new problem.

“What do I do now?”
The answer was horror. I’ve always enjoyed horror movies and stories, so I decided to try them. I wrote one short story, then another, and then a third. Instead of publishing them individually, I put them together and released them as ‘Random Synapse Misfire,’ a horror novella. Again, sales were okay, and the feedback was positive, but I pondered my next move.

To be clear, there are always around a dozen ideas in my head; the issue is in deciding which one to focus on first. Ultimately, I returned to Herman Ingram, the protagonist of ‘Bermuda.’ That book wasn’t written with the intent of starting a series, but, upon reflection, I realized that I was attached to the character and those around him. Building on that, I wrote two more novels featuring the sarcastic journalist: ‘The Hangman’s Soliloquy and ‘The Devil’s Backyard,’ both published in 2020.

My biggest driver is staying busy, so I’ve focused on several projects. First came a second installment of ‘Random Synapse Misfire,’ then ‘Closing Time,’ a non-fiction book focusing on an unsolved crime. After that, I returned to horror with ‘Strange Skies,’ a novella focusing on seemingly supernatural events that struck a small town in 1987. During this time, I spent more time advertising and streamlining my website, working on ways to raise awareness around myself and my work.

I just released ‘A Storm In Carolina,’ which focuses on professional hockey history in North Carolina. Since I was a kid, I’ve loved hockey, and I spent years playing the game. Of course, North Carolina isn’t the first state people typically think of when it comes to hockey. That’s a shame, given the game’s backstory here goes back nearly 70 years and features several players who went on to the NHL. In the vein of staying busy, I have several projects going on. One is a book aimed at 10-14-year-olds in which the Sandman is a despot ruling over a land of dreams. He takes children prisoner, using their nightmares to increase his power until one boy discovers he also has very potent dream powers. It may seem like an odd choice, but it spawned from wanting to write something that my son could enjoy.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. As is the case for any creative person, the single biggest issue is exposure. You can create a musical masterpiece or write the greatest novel in history, but it will just sit and gather dust if people don’t know about it. Unfortunately, that can snowball; you have this piece of art, and you’re proud of it, and you believe in it, but it’s not selling; it’s not getting the attention that will help it take off. Your confidence takes a hit, and you start wondering if your work is good enough or if you’re good enough.

Unfortunately, I’ve always battled with anxiety, which amplifies every negative aspect. It’s something that I have to remain mindful of and not allow to override the things I want to accomplish. There’s also the fact that being independent means everything falls to you, so you have to have a plan. You need to be prepared to execute your vision, be it marketing or anything else. It can be daunting, even discouraging, at times.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I used to consider myself a fiction author, but I think that term is too generic and too broad. Now, I think of myself as a storyteller. No, that’s no more specific, but it fits who I am and what I do much better. Whether I’m writing a thriller novel, a horror story, or a non-fiction piece, I focus on conveying the story behind it. That includes depth with the characters: who are they, why they are in their position, and why they do what they do?

I think the thing that sets me apart, for better or worse, is how much of myself I inject into my writing and how much my personality comes into play. We’re all similar in a lot of ways, but we’re still our own unique selves. I think all art should be personal, and no artist should close themself off when they’re creating. People can enjoy art regardless, but it strikes a chord with the audience when something is personal and genuine.
In terms of what I’m proud of, it’s two-fold. First, I never get tired of hearing from readers. They trust me with their time and money; they expect to be entertained in return. When something I created clicks with them, it’s a wonderful feeling. One of the first reviews I received for the audiobook of ‘Bermuda’ bore the headline “Excellent! I would like more from this new author.”

Wow. That floored me. What sealed it was the first line of the review: “Jeb Bohn has written an outstanding debut thriller.” That single line has fueled me since it made me realize that I can write something that pulls people in and holds their attention.

The second part of that is that I’ve refused to give up. I’ve pressed on through slow sales, self-doubt, and every other speed bump. More than that, I’ve developed the confidence that I have the talent for what I do. I always strive to be sincere and grounded, though I’m still working on the things that trigger my anxiety.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
There are a few, though they all tie together. I used to go on car rides all the time with my Oma. Sometimes we would go up I-95 to shop at the commissary at Fort Lee; sometimes, we would roam the backroads outside of town. Regardless, it fostered my love of getting out and exploring, and I still love taking those types of drives today. Building on that is the summer trips my family used to take. I have an aunt and cousins who live in Colorado, and every year we would drive out and bring them to North Carolina. Then, as summer drew to a close, we would take them back. We drove along interstates and secondary roads, seeing mountains and plains, cities, and tiny towns.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how much those trips shaped my outlook on life. Seeing so much of the country and meeting people from different areas opened me up to various ideas and experiences. Seeing all the beauty also serves as an excellent remedy for my cynicism and anxiety. My significant other and I, along with our kids, recently took that same drive out to Colorado, and so many of those feelings came back to me. It refreshed my mind in a way I hadn’t experienced in a long, long time, and it did more good for me than I could ever sum up. Even if I tried, I doubt I would do it justice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jebbohn.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatwriterguyjeb/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jebbohnauthor
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jebbohnauthor
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jebbohn
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00IS2SOAA