Whether she is writing, teaching, or speaking to groups, Jeanette savors every opportunity to use her experiences to encourage and inspire others. As a woman who had been visually impaired since birth and became a single mom after twenty-three years of marriage, she has learned to see the beauty of God’s faithfulness in what appears impossible and joy in His new things.
Since beginning her writing journey in 1995, she has written hundreds of articles, devotions, and stories, contributed to books such All God’s Creatures and Every Day with Jesus, and written for series created by Focus on the Family, Guideposts, and Annie’s Fiction. She is also the author of Suddenly Single Mom: 52 Messages of Hope, Grace, and Promise, Running with Roselle (co-authored with blind 9/11 Survivor Michael Hingson), and the Christmas Novella Gifts.
She enjoys equipping writers and has done just that through her involvement with West Coast Christian Writers (she served on the board and was a long-time member of the leadership team), Mary DeMuth’s Writing Intensive in Burtigny, Switzerland, and other conferences.
When she isn’t writing, Jeanette loves to travel and gravitates toward all things creative and musical, including singing, lettering, art, knitting and crocheting, and of course ukulele playing. Basically anything the vision experts from her early childhood said she would never be able to do.
3 Random facts about Jeanette:
Have you noticed pictures featuring Jeanette with a ukulele? She took up the instrument during the pandemic and fell in love with its joyful sound and versatility. She can even play classical music on it. A travel ukulele fits in a suitcase or carry-on, so she takes one on all her trips. In May 2023, she had the fun of spontaneously accepting an offer to join a traditional Irish music session at O’Brien’s Pub in Liscarroll, Ireland. So now she can call herself an international musician, even though she didn’t know the songs and often resorted to muting her strings and using her uke as a percussion instrument.
Jeanette was born with a rare vision impairment called congenital achromatopsia. She is considered legally blind, has no color vision (picture a black and white movie), and is extremely sensitive to light. She was the first visually impaired student at her elementary school, which wasn’t fun but makes for great stories. Ironically, she is known for her color coordinated wardrobe and fascination with colors.
Jeanette could spend all day in a bookstore followed by an art supply store. The only drawback is her budget (sigh).