because of all the math and science she’d have to take, Jenny
instead opted to follow in her father’s footsteps, graduating in
1979 with a degree in journalism from Arizona State University.
Jenny, who’d started as an art major, switched to journalism her
second year, and immediately got a job at The Arizona Republic in
Phoenix as the newspaper’s first female copy boy. She worked
full-time at the paper for the next four years, while also carrying a
full load of classes. She also managed to play lots of late-night
tennis. She rarely slept.
After college (and a four-month camping trip around the US and
Canada with two dogs and a friend), Jenny landed a job at the
Pasadena Star-News in Pasadena, CA. There, she worked not only
as a feature writer and Friday night police reporter, but also as
the paper’s first editorial art department – a department of one.
After five years at the Star-News, Jenny set her sights on a larger
paper and in early ‘85, she took a job as a general assignment
entertainment writer for the Orange County Register, south of
LA. For the next five years, Jenny covered entertainment,
features, fashion, food, and, most extensively, travel. Her
Still, Jenny loved cartooning. And so, in a radical move, she quit her job in 1988 and moved to Philadelphia,
where she began a new life as a freelance cartoonist.
She made $3,000 her first year.
Eventually, an agent picked her up, and jobs starting coming with a little more regularity. Over the years,
her forte became children’s illustration, and she has worked extensively for the educational arms of most
major publishers and is a monthly contributor to Highlights for Children and Weekly Reader. In ’96, Jenny
dropped her agent to begin representing herself, and moved to Chagrin Falls, where she lives in the village
with her cat. When not drawing until the wee hours most nights, Jenny plays lots of tennis and basketball
and is an avid bicyclist. She still travels home to Phoenix several times a year to visit her mother and
brother and to seek out some sun.
In 2000, her first two children’s storybooks were published – a locally produced book based on the
Steamship William G. Mather, and “Lazy Daisy”, published by Ideals Children’s Books.
“Lazy Daisy” was included on the American Booksellers’ Association’s “Pick of the List” as one of the year’s
best children’s books, and was chosen by Barnes & Noble Booksellers as one of its national notable books of
the month in December, 2000. Her third book, “Herbie’s Easter Bunny” came out in the spring of 2001,
followed in the fall by her fourth book, “At the Zoo,” published by Williamson Publishing of Vermont.
Her next book, “Max’s Rules,” written by Sandy Philipson, is due out in October, 2004, and follows the
exploits of a trio of Springer Spaniels.
In November of 2001, Jenny and two writing partners, were awarded a syndication contract for a new daily
cartoon strip, “Flo & Friends”. The strip, which follows a group of senior citizens and friends, was launched
by Creators Syndicate in L.A. in March, 2002, and currently is being peddled to newspapers nationwide. So
far, “Flo and Friends” appears in 26 newspapers from Hawaii to Connecticut.
Grant-Meet the Artist-Special Thanks-Promote the Plate
