When Jeff Downs isn’t hard at work teaching math to students at Madison Junior High School, he’s writing his latest novel. His newest release titled “Shaken” came out in July, and he says it symbolizes a lot more to him than just a good idea and hard work.
“Shaken” is about a man who has a bad relationship with his father. One day he leaves his dad’s house after an argument. Shortly after leaving, an earthquake hits, putting the man in danger and making him want to return to his father to make things right. He encounters dangerous side quests and meets a religious girl along that way who helps him in his journey.
Downs says this story took 20 years to write.
“Little did I know that my family would be facing a major health crisis in these last several months and many of the themes my younger self was writing about all those years ago, my family needed to be reminded about today,” Downs said.
While Downs began writing the book about two decades ago, he stopped because the publishing company he was working with at the time let him go. Downs saw that as a blessing and has used the last 20 years to focus on his family.
“Note the beauty of all this. I wrote it for my children, put it aside for the benefit of my children and now my children and I are finishing creating it together, and you can’t tell me God’s not in the details there,” Downs said. “I’ve had the experience of publishing in the past and then I’m revisiting it one more time, and this time involving all my kids.”
“Shaken” is the sixth book Downs has written and published.
Downs is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has always stayed true to the way he writes and the audience he writes for.
“I try to weave in gospel-related themes in subtle ways to try to lift and inspire,” Downs said. “Over the years, some people have encouraged me to rip out some of those gospel themes so I can sell more or reach a broader audience, but my target audience has always been my kids and my grandchildren. I want to unapologetically share my testimony through my writing. I don’t back away from the gospel themes; I lean into them. I think that’s more important now than ever.”
You can find “Shaken” on Amazon or on Downs’ website.