We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Verner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It’s an outlet for my imagination. Plus, I want to pass down inspiration. I have always admired artists who seek to inspire other artists. A good song or good book can change your day, week, or life. The arts are much more important than we think.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My music is bare bones and focused on melody. Campfire songs with a splash of reverb. Very minimalist. A voice and a guitar.

My writing is about creating excitement and a sense of thrill. Never a dull moment. Pull the characters through unique situations and see how they react. Let each chapter take on its own feel.

It took awhile for me to muster up the confidence to release a book and an album. It’s hard to look at your own art objectively sometimes. But, you have to take the plunge.

If you’ve got something going, work at it. My songwriting, for example, has evolved, but it was solid at the beginning. Never give up the fight.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Mountain parks are great, especially in the morning. I love to run through the desert and the hills. There are a lot of panoramic views in the Sonoran Desert. Mountains in the background and saguaro cactus in the foreground. Beautiful. Oh, and the constant sunshine never gets old.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Thank you God. Thank you Jesus Christ. And a great thank you to my father & mother, Randy & Sharon, who have supported the dream.

Website: https://justinverner.hearnow.com/

Other: https://www.austinmacauley.com/us/book/jason-and-catalina

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.