Jel is a Marine Corps veteran, self-published author, and lifelong poet who has been writing since her teenage years. What began as a quiet way to process the world has grown into a lifelong passion for telling stories through poetry.


Inspired by her upbringing in suburban Illinois, her service in the United States Marine Corps, and the people and places she encountered while traveling the world, Jel writes with honesty, vivid imagery, and deep emotion. Her poems explore memory, resilience, love, loss, healing, and the quiet moments that shape who we become.


Her debut poetry collection, Little Rose, was born from memories of her 2015 deployment. Through its pages, she reflects on the beauty and complexity of life's journey, inviting readers to find comfort, strength, and connection in shared experiences.


For Jel, poetry is more than an art form—it's a conversation between hearts. With every poem, she hopes to remind readers that they are not alone in their struggles, their dreams, or their search for meaning. Little Rose is the first chapter of that conversation, and she looks forward to continuing to share her voice, one poem at a time.