Award Winning Author

My Story

Jonathan Shuerger is an indie author blending dark fantasy, military realism, and post-apocalyptic thrills into stories of faith, courage, and high-stakes adventure. Known for series like Shades of Black and the Marine-vs-zombies thriller Semper Die, Jonathan writes with cinematic depth and battle-hardened authenticity.

From Madrid to the Marine Corps

Jonathan’s story began in Madrid, Spain, where he was born to Air Force parents. After his father left the Air Force to become a missionary in Mexico, Jonathan spent his formative years traveling across the country, learning Spanish, soccer, and what real tacos taste like. As a teenager in Aguascalientes and Zacatecas, his love for storytelling grew out of a life steeped in culture and constant change.

Jonathan earned his B.S. in Commercial Writing from Pensacola Christian College before heading to South Florida to work with kids at West Park Baptist Church’s summer camp. During this time, he trained under Sifu Michael McClure in Temple Chinese Boxing, eventually earning a 3rd-degree black sash.

A Marine’s Perspective

In 2012, Jonathan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an Arabic Cryptologic Linguist (2671) at the age of 26. He trained at Parris Island, graduated with honors from the Defense Language Institute, and married his wife Amanda during his service. Jonathan deployed to Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq during the height of the ISIS surge in 2015—just one month after the birth of his first daughter.

Jonathan EASed from the Marine Corps in 2017, leaving ISIS a smoking husk, and turned his focus to writing, bringing his military experience and deep understanding of conflict into his stories.

Author Journey

Jonathan’s debut, The Exorcism of Frosty the Snowman, released in 2017, setting the stage for his signature blend of supernatural intrigue and dark humor. His Shades of Black fantasy series began with In Darkness Cast in 2020 (funded through a successful Kickstarter), followed by Afterlight in 2023. Also in 2023, Jonathan released his storytelling podcast for his girls, Stories With a Marine Corps Dad. In 2025, Jonathan launched Semper Die, a gripping military zombie thriller rooted in real-world Marine Corps experience.

Life Beyond the Page

Today, Jonathan lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife and five daughters. When he’s not writing, he teaches martial arts, works with kids in his church, and takes on challengers in Smash Bros. (few succeed).