Who is Jen Rassler?

Jen Rassler is a former teacher, current writer and editor, and perpetual learner. She divides her time between freelance writing, editing, and consulting in the field of educational publishing and serving as scribe for the youthful but demanding author, JR Porpentine.

Jen saw her first Shakespeare play at the age of seven and grew up thinking she was very smart, indeed. Luckily she went to a fine liberal arts college that quickly disabused her of this notion. She is still getting over the disappointment.

Two colleges and several jobs later, Jen secured a degree in Radio-Television-Film with a concentration in Screenwriting from the University of Texas at Austin and has called Austin home ever since. 

Jen’s diverse professional experience includes school cafeteria worker, movie theater assistant manager, telephone operator, retail clerk, temporary office assistant, webmaster, elementary school teacher, editor, writer, and restaurant hostess (see below). 

Fun facts!

• Jen’s birth certificate lists her place of birth as “Rural Las Vegas, Nevada.” What that means is anyone’s guess.
• Jen lived in Minnesota for six years before she donated a very good pair of snow boots and moved to Texas. 
• Jen is married to her college sweetheart, her partner and best friend ever since freshman year.
• Jen worked as a restaurant hostess for one day and was so traumatized that she never went back, not even to pick up her check. 
• Jen continues to tip all bar and restaurant workers exceedingly well.

 

Who is JR Porpentine?

JR Porpentine is the prickly but likable mastermind behind the Porpentine’s Shakespeare book series. Despite limited education and even less skill, JR has an unshakable belief in writing one’s own story, whether or not one actually exists.

A combination inner child, alter ego, and imaginary friend, JR’s voice brings to mind characters whose lack of worldly knowledge is outweighed only by their humanity and enthusiastic perseverance.

“How clever I am!” he crowed rapturously, “oh the cleverness of me!”
—Peter Pan (J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan)

“When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”
—Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner)

“I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly.”
—Elizabeth Bennett (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice)

“I’ve got an idea and I need some money.”
—Max Fischer (Wes Anderson, Rushmore)