Chandler novel writer inspired by northern Arizona

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

When Justin Verner headed to northern Arizona, he was inspired.

So inspired, that it prompted him to write his first novel.

“Jason and Catalina” is Verner’s 175-page debut novel.

What was it about northern Arizona that made the Kent State (Ohio) business administration and marketing major and musician decide to write a novel?

“You can see so many stars up there,” Verner says. “Like, 10,000 more than in the city, it seems.”

It also helped to see the northern Arizona wilderness in the late fall — when leaves change colors.

Verner, who moved from Ohio to Chandler about four years ago, said his novel, like many others, evolved as something autobiographical.

“The main character’s an alter ego of mine,” Verner said. “I wanted a character that’s a reflection of myself, but more exciting. He’s a more successful version of me.”

He said he wanted his novel categorized as adventure, though his publisher decided the title and focus on a relationship made it more marketable and recognizable as a contemporary romance novel.

Verner, 38, says what he likes about his story is that it mostly leaps across categories.
“He (the main character, Jason Morrison) just needs a small inspiration to turn his life around,” Verner says about Jason & Catalina.

Morrison, a character who was once a successful fiction writer, runs into some writer’s block amid the fast pace and busy life of Los Angeles, heads out among the ponderosa pines of northern Arizona, where his next-door neighbor ends up being a young woman named Catalina.

Their romance blossoms, Verner says, buoyed largely by her faith and the inspiration Jason finds from it. Their commitment to each other and to their faith is put to a test by a street gang that wants to prevent their message of faith from getting out to the rest of the world.

The battle of good vs. evil takes some twists and turns, Verner says, noting that the character Jason drinks too much and “learns many lessons” along the way.

Verner said his novel is sort of minimalist in that it tries to remain simple and sticks to a handful of elements. He said that’s something his novel ended up having in common with the music he writes, which he describes as “three-chord campfire songs” and resembles the chords and music of Greed Day or Credence Clearwater Revival.

“A lot of great movies, you could tell those were novels first, like Stephen King’s stories,” Verner said. “Although, a novel’s not quite as bare as a screenplay.”

Verner said Arizona is still where he gets his inspiration, as is learning about the lives and roles of Bible characters, such as King David, who, like Verner, was a songwriter.

Verner said his newest single, “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” will be released on Friday, Aug. 22. He said unlike his minimalist approach of the past, “Hallowed” will have the sound of a full band behind him.

Several of his singles and his 2024 EP “Mary Jane’s Revenge” can be heard on Spotify.

He said inspiration can come from many genres or types of art — even traditional American Westerns. That could be where he decides to take his future writing.

“If (Jason & Catalina) does well, I have some ideas,” he said.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.   Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.