Jeff Sturgeon has called North Granby home for more than 20 years. A proud Navy veteran and retired correctional lieutenant, Sturgeon’s life has been defined by service, discipline and an unwavering commitment to his family and community. He and his wife of 33 years, Jennifer, raised their daughters, Danielle and Gabrielle, here in Granby. Both girls are graduates of the Granby school system—an experience Sturgeon credits with helping prepare them for success in college and beyond.
After retiring from the department of corrections, Sturgeon trained as a licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in East Granby and now works as an event coordinator for a local security company. Since 2012, he’s also volunteered as a football coach for the Granby/Canton Bears—an experience he finds both fulfilling and fun.
But behind the scenes, another passion had quietly been building.
“I’ve had a love for storytelling since 2005,” Sturgeon said. “Life got busy, as it does, but the stories never left me. Eventually, I knew I had to return to them—no matter how full my schedule was.”
That commitment led to Ghost Peppers, his debut psychological thriller. The idea for the book came during a walk along the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine, where inspiration struck.
“My wife and I were trying to take a selfie with the moon rising over the ocean,” he recalled with a laugh. “A woman walking by offered to take our picture. After she walked away, I turned to Jennifer and said, ‘And then the woman pushed the couple off the cliff, and they fell to their death. The next morning, Detective Penelope Peppers arrived at the grisly scene.’ That’s how Penelope was born.”
From that vivid moment, the character of Penelope Peppers began to take shape. Sturgeon quickly envisioned her nemesis, Julia Stein, and a rich cast of supporting characters.
As for the writing process, Sturgeon took a practical and disciplined approach. “I wrote whenever I had a free moment—early mornings, late nights, you name it,” he explained. “I posted my chapters on Writing.com, and a fellow author reviewed and critiqued them. That feedback made a huge difference.”
Ghost Peppers is an emotionally driven thriller that weaves together themes of trauma, love and survival. Sturgeon’s life experiences—both personal and professional—inform his storytelling in meaningful ways.
“My background has shown me how resilient people can be, but also how fragile,” he said.
With one novel published (available from Amazon) and more in the works, Sturgeon is showing that it’s never too late to chase a creative dream. Granby has long benefited from his service—and now readers can enjoy the stories he’s ready to share.