Author Jason Born started applying himself seriously to writing just a few years ago, self-publishing his
first historical novel in 2011.
He saw it as a way of bringing to life his interest in history, and putting some of his excess energy to
use.
Since then he’s sold more than 70,000 copies of his five novels with the sixth, "Wald
Vengeance," just released on April 1. Born will be participating in the Local Author Book Fair
Saturday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Wood County Library in Bowling Green. (See story below.)
That will complete his Wald Trilogy culminating in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest where an alliances of
Germanic tribes decisively beat the Roman Army. His first three books chronicled the story of a Norseman
that took him all the way to the shores of the New World.
Next, Born said, his literary travels will take him to the Dark Ages where he "explore that vacuum,
the big power implosion."
Born’s day job is an analyst and portfolio manager, but he makes sure he carves out enough time write on
a regular basis. If he has an idea, he’s anxious to get it on paper. "I’m afraid it’ll
disappear."
"I’ve always been a little bit hyper, so this helps," he said of his literary avocation.
(See NOVELIST on 15)
That constant work "has given me the chance to improve my craft" making the writing more vivid
and exciting, and further defining "the proclivities" of his characters. "I’m writing
more forcefully, more confidently."
Born sells most of his books online, and mostly in e-book format. He has his fans, many of them overseas.
The United Kingdom is his best market. He sells two-thirds of his books there, and he has corresponded
with fans from all over including Scandinavia.
He is self-published by necessity. He was rejected by numerous agents. But rather than give his work over
to a vanity publisher, who would handle all the details of editing and printing, he handles the
publishing duties himself. That gives him the control to make sure the details are right. He hires an
artist to do the cover art, rather than use generic, clip art images. And he hires a professional
editor, not stinting at the cost. "It takes a lot of time to painstakingly go through the
story," he said. "I want a quality product."
He lives in Henry County between Grand Rapids and McClure with his wife and three children.