Bret Bodlovic’s life reads like a story waiting to be told. Born just south of St. Louis, Missouri, he traded the gentle flow of the Mississippi River for the wild, rushing waters of Montana’s Blackfoot River at the age of six. “It was like swapping the patient giant of the Mississippi for the untamed sprint of the Blackfoot,” he laughs, reflecting on how the rugged Montana landscape supercharged his imagination. Now a senior executive recruiter at Amazon and a published author, Bret’s debut short story, “Performance on the Bluff,” blends humor, suspense, and a touch of the supernatural into a tale that’s as unexpected as a curveball. In a recent interview, he shared the inspirations, challenges, and personal milestones behind his writing journey.

A Childhood Shaped by Nature and Imagination

Growing up in Montana with five siblings, Bret found solace in solitary hikes, often perching on a bluff to gaze over valleys and treetops. These moments of quiet reflection planted the seeds for “Performance on the Bluff.” “I’d sit there, legs dangling over the edge, and just wonder, ‘What if?’” he recalls. Those childhood adventures, coupled with a vivid dream about a Bigfoot encounter, sparked the idea for his story: a tale where a cocky narrator’s theatrical mockery of the cryptid takes a surprising turn. Bret’s background in sociology and criminology, earned at the University of Montana, also informs his storytelling. “Studying why people do what they do is like secret sauce for cooking up tales where reality meets that ‘wait, what just happened?’ moment,” he says. His academic focus on human behavior shines through in his writing, where characters grapple with the consequences of their actions in delightfully unpredictable ways.

The Genesis of Performance on the Bluff

The inspiration for “Performance on the Bluff” came from a blend of personal experience and a cosmic sense of humor. A dream last year transported Bret back to his childhood bluffs, but with a twist: an encounter with a Bigfoot who wasn’t amused by being mocked. “I started thinking, what if someone was out there faking these encounters, and the universe decided to call their bluff?” he explains. This “what if” became the heart of the story, weaving together humor, suspense, and a dash of karma.

Bret’s approach to balancing these elements is rooted in timing, a skill he likens to his days playing baseball. “You start with a light pitch, let the readers settle into a laugh, then throw some curveballs to build tension,” he says. His criminology studies taught him that suspense thrives in the moment before something happens, a space he plays with masterfully to keep readers teetering between a grin and a gasp. “You want them chuckling nervously, not sure if they should laugh or look over their shoulder,” he adds.

A Bigfoot with Feelings

One of the story’s standout features is its portrayal of Bigfoot not as a mindless monster, but as a creature with emotions specifically, one fed up with being the punchline of campfire tales. “Every interaction has two sides,” Bret notes, drawing on his sociology background. “What if Bigfoot is real and has feelings about how it’s portrayed? It’s like the kid always picked last for baseball, except eight feet tall and able to toss you off a cliff.” This emotional depth adds a layer of relatability, turning the cryptid into a figure that’s both comical and menacing.

The narrator’s over-the-top performance, mocking Bigfoot’s existence, sets the stage for a karmic twist. “We’ve all been on the receiving end of mockery,” Bret says. “I flipped the script to make Bigfoot aware and unamused, which ties the suspense and comedy together.” This approach resonated with readers, many of whom connected with the story’s theme of cosmic comeuppance. “People shared their own stories of when life handed them a reality check,” Bret shares, surprised by how readers saw themselves in the narrator’s humbling moment.

Crafting Comedy in a Suspenseful Setting

Writing humor that doesn’t overpower suspense is a delicate dance, and Bret compares it to cooking his favorite chili. “You want enough heat to wake up your taste buds, but not so much you lose the other flavors,” he says. Growing up fishing on the Blackfoot River taught him the importance of rhythm and timing and these lessons he applies to his writing. “Humor works best when it’s layered naturally into the tension, not dumped on like hot sauce trying to save a bland dish,” he explains. By letting funny moments bubble up through the narrator’s voice, Bret ensures the suspense remains taut, creating a story that’s both thrilling and laugh-out-loud funny.

The most challenging part? Crafting the pivotal moment when the narrator realizes he’s not alone. “I rewrote that scene five or six times to get the timing just right,” Bret admits. “It’s like throwing a perfect change-up in baseball, too fast, you lose the impact; too slow, the readers see it coming.” Another challenge was making the narrator cocky yet relatable. “He’s bold enough to mock Bigfoot on a cliff, but you don’t want readers thinking he deserves what’s coming,” Bret says. “It’s like walking a tightrope.”

Milestones and Personal Inspirations

Beyond his writing, Bret’s proudest accomplishments are personal. “Being a dad to my son and daughter, ages 10 and 12, is the best thing I’ve done,” he says warmly. His children have influenced his writing, and he credits his family: his wife, parents, and siblings for shaping his stories. Tragically, his sister recently lost an 18-month battle with cancer, a loss that has deeply affected him. “She’s with me in so many ways,” he says, noting that her sense of humor inspired one of his upcoming works. “My stories are like rivers, constantly moving, shaping things, going places you wouldn’t expect.”

Professionally, Bret thrives as a senior executive recruiter at Amazon, supporting teams like Prime Video and People Experience Technology. “I love working with bright people on programs that impact 1.5+ million Amazonians worldwide,” he says. His career in HR and talent acquisition, spanning nearly two decades, complements his writing by deepening his understanding of human behavior.

Looking Ahead

With “Performance on the Bluff” published and two more books in the pipeline, including one he first drafted in fifth grade, Bret is just getting started. “I’ve got plenty more stories swimming in my head,” he says, promising more tales filled with humor, twists, and life’s absurdities. He’s also building an author’s website, BwB-Works, set to launch in August 2025, and he also maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram under his name, Bret Bodlovic.

For readers and aspiring writers, Bret offers a heartfelt message: “The best tales come from moments when reality does a backflip. Life’s challenges can inspire stories that make us laugh, even in tough times.” Drawing from his own experiences, he encourages finding joy amid adversity, a theme woven into his work and his life.

“Performance on the Bluff” is more than a story, it’s a reflection of Bret’s journey, from Montana’s wild rivers to the unpredictable twists of life. As he continues to write, one thing is clear: his stories will keep readers grinning, gasping, and eagerly awaiting what’s next.

About The Author

Bret Bodlovic, a Montana and Nevada-based author, debuted with “Performance on the Bluff,” a story blending humor, suspense, and supernatural twists. Born near St. Louis and raised in Montana, his love for nature and sociology degree with a criminology focus shape his storytelling. As a senior executive recruiter at Amazon for just over 10 years, he supports global teams. Inspired by childhood hikes, a Bigfoot-themed dream, and his family, including his two children, Bret crafts tales of cosmic karma. He’s working on two more books, one drafted in fifth grade, and an author’s website, BwB-Works. His stories, rooted in life’s absurdities, resonate with readers through his active social media presence.

Get Your Copy Now: Performance On The Bluff
Follow the author here:
Instagram: Bret W Bodlovic
Facebook: Bret W Bodlovic
LinkedIn: Bret Bodlovic