Today we’d like to introduce you to J. L. Jensen.
Hi J. L. , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I’m J. L. Jensen, and I am a five-time published author! My current books so far are “Reginald America” (a sci-fi novel), “Dino Detectives” (a mystery novel that’s been recently republished), and “Furry High,” “Furry High 2: Furry Friends,” and “Furry High: Extended Edition,” (which are short story books that are about to be republished). I also plan on writing more books in the future, and I already have a new book project that I’m working on now. My goal is to write books that are fun to read and intellectually stimulating at the same time, especially since reading can be daunting for both kids and adults.
For as long as I can remember, I have always shown a higher proficiency in reading and writing, and I was enrolled in advanced-level English classes in school. I even got a perfect score on a standardized exam for writing and was congratulated by my principal, and I completed a whole semester worth of college credits (including English) while I was still in high school. I was also in the National English Honor Society and National Honor Society in high school, which later on helped me get into Phi Theta Kappa and on the President’s List in college. While I was in college, I decided to publish my first book with a publishing house called iUniverse. Then, I decided later on that I wanted to learn even more about the process of publishing books and switched over to self-publishing with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.
For my 2025 nominated best sci-fi novel of the year with the Eric Hoffer Book Awards, inspiration can come from where you least expect it. I was sitting at Lone Star College Montgomery brainstorming a new book idea after finishing all of my “Furry High” books (set in modern times) and “Dino Detectives” (set in prehistoric times), when I decided to tackle a futuristic idea with an AI as the first astronaut to live on the Moon using NASA-style language. I remembered back during my Senior Year of high school that I was chosen to participate in a specialized program called the “NASA HUNCH Program,” where I was asked to sew ammonia cartridge bags for the astronauts in training for the International Space Station (ISS). From that, I felt inspired to write “Reginald America” and dedicate it to the NASA HUNCH Program.
I wanted to create a new type of superhero with space adventure and exploration that inspires the future generations who encounter this book to go into scientific fields for their career choice. I was chosen by the judges of the Conroe ISD science fair to receive a medal for the Perspective Scientist Award, and that gave me the confidence to pursue science as the nucleus for this book project. I also thought it was interesting to write books from different time periods because readers who discover my books can choose to travel back in time to the prehistoric era, read relatable slice-of-life short stories based in the times we live in, or blast off into the future and witness a space port being established on the Moon. My books are great gifts for readers who are space enthusiasts, like dinosaurs and mysteries, and like humorous short stories about school experiences and life lessons. You can find all of my books on Amazon.com in over twenty different countries in English. “Reginald America” was recently added to the South Montgomery County Library System, with its main location being at the new Kevin Brady Library in The Woodlands, Texas.
I also have a passion for art. I have always liked to make art, and all of my art teachers and professors have told me that I have a knack for it. I even had my pottery teacher handpick my black bear sculpture to be displayed in a glass case in the South Regional Library in The Woodlands. And, I had an art teacher submit my oil pastel blue cowgirl hat painting to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Program, where I won a blue ribbon for being first place in my category.
I have always loved nature, and it is a big inspiration for my art. After I graduated from college with an Associate of Arts degree, I took part in a collaborative public art project called “America Connects Heart and Home,” which is a large national mural mosaic made up of painted tiles that were assembled together and unveiled in Santa Anna, California at the Jerome Recreation Center in February 2024. I painted a tree frog on my tile because I was assigned to the “rainforest” color section of the mural.
I would really like to mention the importance of a teacher taking the time to compliment and encourage a student to go on a certain career path. I was a student that was interested in several different subjects, and the art teacher I had before graduating high school recommended that I go into Graphic Design. This was a pivotal moment for me, and I cannot say enough how thankful I am that I had that teacher and took her advice to go for an Associate of Arts degree. Now, I use this skill to design my book covers and create original works of art.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
What I found most challenging was deciding which career to go into. I was searching for a way that I could make a career path out of writing, and I landed on the art of writing and storytelling. After I published my first book with iUniverse, I approached a fork in the road when I came across the opportunity to self-publish with Amazon KDP instead. I ultimately made the decision to be the master of my own creativity and start self-publishing, and it was a smooth transition. I learned valuable lessons from working with a publishing house on the step-by-step process of the totality of what’s involved. And, I have always had a level of high achievement completing big projects with a sense of order, so I went running into my second book with full optimism.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work as an author and an artist. I spend my time writing my books and developing my art style for my career. I experiment with different styles of writing, and I’ve done research on different branches of science for my latest book “Reginald America.” I’ve taken numerous art classes on different mediums of art: including specialized subjects such as art history, humanities, pottery and ceramics, and graphic design and animation. I’ve also taken multiple drawing classes to improve my skills. I became certified in grammar after taking a grammar refresher course, which has really benefited me with writing my books. What sets me apart from others is that I came at an early age to this level of commitment towards a career.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was when my sister was born, and we’ve been very close ever since. We’ve gone to school and college together, and I often run ideas past her for my art and books: such as character designs and development. I’m very grateful that I have had someone that I traveled with and experienced new memories in places like Jamaica, Mexico, and Grand Caiman. We’ve also traveled a lot to Florida and spent time swimming, going to beaches, shopping, and staying at places such as the Nickelodeon Hotel and going to Disney World and Universal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jljensen.carrd.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.l.jensenauthor/
- Other: https://www.deviantart.com/jennabunnies
