Jenny Sjolund

Jenny Sjolund is a Long Beach, California-based writer renowned for her evocative poetry, engaging children's books, and facilitating a unique approach to expressive writing. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing for Entertainment Media and champions the transformative power of the expressive arts. Jenny's creative philosophy emphasizes that art is essential for processing life experiences and believes deeply in the vivifying power of creativity. Her artistic voice has been shaped by her admiration for those who boldly share their truths. Notably, she has contributed to an award-winning documentary, showcasing her diverse talents. Jenny's latest project is a children's book designed to support young patients undergoing open heart surgery, reflecting her commitment to empathetic, healing storytelling. Inspired by the potential of emerging technologies, Jenny explores how storytelling and gamification can help organize chaos and instill meaning, continually pushing the boundaries of conventional narrative forms. You can find her at jennysjolund.com.

About Jenny’s work “Before I Got Sick”:

After more than ten years navigating through a labyrinth of deteriorating health and the shadows of a congenital heart defect—a sinister surprise revealed tardily in my personal narrative—each day was a mere exercise in survival. Then, as if touched by some surreal reverie, I awakened one morning. It was as if the cloak of illness had been lifted by the night's fantasies, and I beheld a day as normal as those distant, almost mythical days of my youth in the halls of academia. This awakening was draped in melancholy yet sparkling with promise: a poignant sadness that the world remained oblivious to the heights of my potential recovery, coupled with a blossoming hope that I had indeed begun to claw my way back to the vivid tableau of the living. Such is the dual nature of existence, where each moment is a brushstroke of despair and aspiration on the canvas of our lives.

Instagram: jenny.sjolund

Website: jennysjolund.com