J. Renee has been fortunate enough to follow many passions in life, including nearly twenty years in the financial industry (she misses her clients but not the paperwork), a lifelong love of writing (to date one published novel in 2016 and others that need to get off of her computer!), many years of community service involvement, advocacy for education reform (almost a decade as a founding member and board president of a private academic school), and (above all) always acting as a champion for her children.
She also enjoys cooking, baking, and traveling. But most of all, her favorite place is the beach, where nothing can compare to the calming sound of the waves and the distinct smell of salt in the air.
J. Renee was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where she still resides today with her husband and two children (that is, until she can move to the beach). The J. is short for Jennifer, Jen, Jenni, or whatever version of her first name is being used at the time.
Her most recent venture is the new Jenni Olson platform, where she aims to help people who have been affected by childhood traumas heal old wounds and become conscious parents themselves.
I’ve had the privilege of doing a lot of things in my life—from advising people as to how to invest their money to participating as a founding member of a private academic school, publishing a novel, and more.
Writing is something I love. It allows me to connect with people in a very human way. As long as I can make the time and it remains meaningful, I’ll keep doing it.
Women’s fiction. The genre is a subcategory of commercial fiction that focuses on a woman’s emotional journey through human experiences—like love, loss, relationships, and family—that eventually lead to personal growth.
Basically, I write about relatable life experiences. We all have them. My hope is that readers will walk away from my words uplifted and more confident. Maybe they’ll identify with the struggles of a main character and realize they’re not alone.
I read a lot. Jane Green, Emily Giffin, Colleen Hoover, Nicholas Sparks, Mary Kay Andrews, Sophia Kinsella, Laura Dave, Kristin Hannah, Elin Hilderbrand, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Jane Moore are just a few of the authors who reside on my bookshelves.
For some reason, I’ve always particularly enjoyed reading stories crafted by English authors. I love their terminologies, and the Brits are long on wit.
One genre I'm not particularly drawn to is horror, but I have a great deal of respect for Stephen King and will sometimes make an exception for him. His book, On Writing, was highly entertaining, and I believe it would be an interesting read for anyone, not just writers.
And then there’s always a serious book or two for personal growth. There are three that I feel are broad enough to be worthwhile for just about anyone. If you look carefully, they include invaluable life lessons. They are:
Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne