About the Book
Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound: Tales about brotherhood from Bear Creek
In the heart of 1960s rural America, where frosted landscapes meet crackling fireplaces and the rhythms of farm life pulse through each season, Stephen E. Johnson invites readers into a world both intimately personal and universally resonant.
Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound is a tender memoir that captures the essence of childhood in the Pacific Northwest, where nature serves as both playground and teacher. Through vivid storytelling, Johnson reflects on the formative moments that shaped his youth—from snowy sledding escapades that ignited wonder to quiet family traditions that anchored his sense of belonging.
Structured around the natural cycles of farm life, each chapter offers a glimpse into the joys and challenges of growing up in Bear Creek, where brotherhood wasn’t just about blood relations but about the bonds forged through shared adventures and life’s inevitable lessons. Rich in sensory detail, the narrative transports readers to a simpler time when the beauty of the natural world provided endless discovery and the warmth of family created lasting memories.
This heartfelt memoir explores universal themes of resilience, love, loss, and the enduring power of memory, balancing humor with introspection as it chronicles the awakening curiosity of adolescence. Johnson’s beautifully crafted prose celebrates not just his own childhood, but invites readers to reflect on their own cherished memories while immersing them in a world where every season brought new lessons about life, family, and the ties that bind us together.
A celebration of simpler times and the profound impact of place and family on who we become.
About the Author
Steve Johnson is an author, musician, songwriter, composer, and arranger residing in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Johnson is Berklee-trained and arranges for small to mid-sized ensembles, bands, and orchestras. His music has a Latin influence, but his songs also reflect smooth jazz and American pop styles. Much of his music has a strong Christian message reflecting his religious foundation.
Steve actively plays clarinet and guitar in community orchestras, bands, and jazz ensembles. Local and area bands have played Steve’s arrangements, and his songs are published on digital forums such as Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, sheetmusicdirect.com, and sheetmusicplus.com. And, be sure to check out his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@StephenEjohnson1252) for documentary-style music videos of his songs. Steve’s ever-expanding creative portfolio can be followed on his website
at https://www.sonatasbysteve.biz/
Dr. Johnson is a well-published and recognized academic and professional author in the area of safety, risk management and statistics with over a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles. In addition, Steve holds a professional doctorate in leadership and two advanced degrees in applied statistics/mathematics. Steve has expanded this scholastic and professional foundation with the publication of his novel to demonstrate his creative writing ability – Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound. This memoir speaks to his childhood adventures with his brothers Jeff and Rick in Woodinville, Washington. While 75% accurate, Steve takes literary license to expand his childhood with a few stories to make the read more interesting and entertaining. Plans are in the works to use the book as a launch pad for more fictitious novels involving his three brothers.
You can follow the progress of the author on https://www.instagram.com/stephen_e_johnson
or at https://www.sonatasbysteve.biz/
Qn 1: Can you tell us more about your book, Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound, What is it about?
Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound is a memoir that captures the essence of growing up in rural America in 1966. Through vivid storytelling, the book reflects on the author’s childhood adventures, family traditions, and the rhythms of farm life in the Pacific Northwest. The book is divided into seasons, mirroring the passage of time and the cycles of farm life, with each chapter offering a glimpse into the joys, challenges, and transformative moments of youth.
Qn 2: Who do you think would be interested in this book, Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound, is it directed at any particular market?
In this chaotic, politically charged atmosphere, anyone, young and old, wishing to settle and slow down to see how life be and was would like to read this book. For those that lived in the 60’s, it will provide a nostalgic reliving of times gone by. For those living in more modern times, it provides an image of what life could be.
Qn 3: Out of all the books in the world, and all the authors, which are your favourite and why?
Stephen King’s “The Body. It provides a coming-of-age story which, in fact, stimulated me to write this memoir.
Qn 4: What guidance would you offer to someone new, or trying to enhance their writing?
Just write, feel the freedom of the pen, and don’t worry whether it is going to be good or bad. Be sure to reread your writings and rewrite wherever possible based on what you learn.
Qn 5: Where can our readers find out more about you, do you have a website, or a way to be contacted?
sonatasby steve.biz
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