Jenny Lee Wheeler

Jenny Lee Wheeler is a high school student living in Southwest Florida who loves to write. She began writing short stories in fourth grade, thanks to a teacher who believed that creative writing should be an important part of elementary education curriculum. Noticing that Jenny was a born editor with a firm grasp on grammar, punctuation, and spelling, the teacher often asked Jenny to edit stories written by her peers. Jenny was fortunate that her love of writing and natural knack for editing were applauded and celebrated by every teacher through the years. At the end of eighth grade, her English teacher presented her with the annual award for creative writing, noting that the quality of Jenny's writing was such that -- if she desired -- she could be a successful published author at age 14! Jenny received that creative writing award just months after her beloved father had died of cancer. Little did she know that her journey through grief would inspire her to journal her grief experiences for the benefit of other grieving teens, and she would become a published author while still in high school! As she grieved the death of her beloved father, Jenny began to notice that she grieved differently than the adults around her. Her grief attacks -- those waves of grief that come crashing down upon us, often unexpectedly, seemed to be triggered by things that were unusual, even weird! She also noticed that her openness to signs of continued love from her dad, which often came in the form of things like frogs and dragonflies, was not shared by everyone around her. She decided to write a book to help other teenagers who had lost someone dear through death. Jenny wanted to validate that they aren't alone in their sadness, that their grief journey will be different from that of the adults around them, and that if they find comfort in seeing signs of continued love, embrace these synchronicities and stay open to more signs! Jenny enjoys speaking to groups about her grief journey, especially the importance of staying open to signs of continued love. She has spoken to groups in California, Texas, and other locales, including being a co-presenter to bereavement counselors across North America attending the annual symposium of the National Alliance for Grieving Children. She is the author of the upcoming book, Lunch Box Love Notes from Dad, based on the charming, clever, and heartfelt notes her father used to write her each morning and tuck into her lunch box for her enjoyment (and that of many of her classmates!) She is the illustrator of two children's grief support books, Heart-Shaped Pickles and Timmy's Christmas Surprise. Jenny also likes to write poetry and song lyrics, illustrating her writings as time permits. In high school, she enjoys cross country, track, and playing flute in the orchestra. In her spare time she likes to rollerblade, play electric guitar, travel, and watch the Animal Planet and SyFy channels. A devoted vegetarian, she is passionate about animal rights and hopes to study science in college so she can better understand how to protect animal habitats and the environment.