Jared has worked with children and youth for most of his career, including at a YMCA, a pediatric clinic, and church. From a very early age he knew he wanted to be an artist, but only in recent years did he decide he also wanted to be a writer. Throughout middle school, high school, and college he dreaded writing assignments...especially the long ones. In his thirties he realized that it would be great to create artwork and stories. He now hopes to help youth realize the value of developing writing skills by mentoring tweens and teens as they write their very own novels. Through his youth writing program (http://www.teennovelist.com), students can overcome the fear of writing and work toward the publication of their novels. He also hopes to make an impact on the environment by publishing the print version of his novels, along with themed school supplies, on wheat-straw paper.
