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Janeen Ippolito believes in profound fun. She is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy author of 27+ books, writing steampunk fantasy, urban fantasy, fairy tales, and superhero stories that blend escapism and fresh story worlds with plenty of plot twists and hope-filled endings. Behind the scenes, Janeen is an experienced author coach, editor, and speaker, with 16 years of industry experience, including seven years as the CEO of a publishing house. When she’s not writing, she swordfights, cooks fun food, mood-reads, and plays the ukulele.
Connect with her at jiauthor.com.
I'm a huge fan of the following three things:
Fantastical Stories
As a dye-in-the-wool geek, hanging out in scifi and fantasy worlds is my jam. You name the fandom and I'm either in it, I've heard of it, or I'm Googling it as we speak. I especially love stories involving people with different backgrounds and abilities. As someone who is highly neurodivergent, I've always felt a little out-of-sync with my own world, so reading about other kinds of misfits just makes sense!
Sustainable Success
Telling stories and doing creative work is fun. I think more people should do it! However, author & creative biz life can get overwhelming quickly and totally kill your initial spark. So as an editor, teacher, and coach, I'm all about helping people create profitable book and book-adjacent businesses that they love. The world needs more beauty, truth, and joy!
Profound Fun
Throughout a rather tumultuous childhood (Air Force brat here), stories were my favorite safe place amid all the moves and life changes. And as a driven person, I've learned over and again how important it is to find moments of deep escape, adventure, and joy when the workload piles up and life is way, way too much. Adventure, mystery, thrills, cozy moments, and laughter are great medicine!
Whether it be through stories that make you hope (even when life sucks), insightful author help that equips and encourages (even in the trenches), or just a funny question or meme, I hope you come away from my work inspired and ready to take on life.
I met my husband swordfighting in college.
I fenced in middle and high school, won medals, and then started full contact sparring in college. That’s when this fun guy with curly hair showed up. And I’m honored to help him in his youth swordfighting ministry to this day.
I can see sounds, feel sounds, taste words, and numbers/letters have personalities.
Yup, I'm highly synesthetic (9 types and counting).
I will try any food you put in front of me.
I’m gluten and dairy free (due to not wanting to be sick and unalived), but I’m also a massive foodie, so if won’t make me sick, I’ll give it a try. Fun things I’ve eaten include tarantula, raw quail egg, and fish eyeballs.
I'm a massive info-junkie.
I enjoy researching just about everything, from the latest publishing news to philosophy to the world building of Harry Potter (even though I’ve only read the first two books, though I have seen all the movies - also, I would test into all the houses, but would likely end up in Hufflepuff because I like a chill, low-drama environment).