Jen Laffler is an award-winning poet, author, and educator who believes there's genius in every one of us. Her children’s book J is for Jitterbug: A Fanciful Animal Alphabet, illustrated by Tony Perrin, was published in 2016 (JALG, Ink). Jen's poems and prose have appeared in journals, magazines and anthologies. In March 2021, she was awarded a Poetry Fellowship from the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing.
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Jen is dedicated to writing, but she finds joy in teaching. She has taught writing, publishing and college essay writing workshops at San Diego Writers, Ink and on behalf of the Kids! San Diego Poetry Annual. She served as Director of Children’s Programming for the inaugural San Diego Writers Festival and directed their KidsWrite! San Diego Children’s Writing Contest for three years. Jen is a member of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild, the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and is a founding member of a dedicated Poetry Salon.
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Jen graduated summa cum laude from Wellesley College. Before focusing on writing and teaching, she was a Wall Street investment banker (who filled spreadsheets with poetry-ideas for years and didn't even try to hide it)! Her chief inspirations are her three daughters, fun/loving husband Bob, and their extremely handsome Labrador Retriever, Funston. She speaks fluent Spanish, lousy but enthusiastic German; and believes in magic — the magic of Pablo Neruda.
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