The Green Ninja

Jen Brister is a freelance writer from a small town in Louisiana where she is notorious for not fitting in. As a child, her favorite toy was a Little Red Riding Hood Doll that turned into the Big Bad Wolf when you lifted up her skirt. She has been fascinated with sexuality ever since.

Jen began her adult life by marrying a Baptist minister, going to college for an education degree and accidentally getting pregnant at age 18. She stayed married and involved in the church for 10 years until she one day had an epiphany while driving down I-20 which eventually led to agnosticism and an improved mental state. Her epiphany was this: life is too damn short to be miserable.

She left her husband and got a tiny apartment in a castle on the wrong side of town. She and her son Aaron lived there happily without heat or hot water and with a kitchen furnished mostly by cups that they caught at a Mardi Gras parade. They enjoyed their time at the castle, but had to eventually move out when Aaron hit puberty and needed some space.

Jen quit teaching high school English and became a nuclear lab tech when it became apparent that she could make more money at Wal-Mart than teaching at a public school in Louisiana. During this time, she made life long friends by meeting artsy looking stoners at the local bookstore and indie coffee shop. One of her artsy friends convinced her to go to massage therapy school and she has been a successful massage therapist for the last 5 years.

Her salvation in the small town where she lives has been the traveling open mic night that she has attended almost every Thursday night since 2004. Her friends there have encouraged her in her writing and helped her through many rough times. You can often find her there reading poetry, drinking coffee and listening to her friends play the guitar.

Jen has always been a writer, but her journey into freelance writing began only 2 years ago. She is currently employed by Demand Studios where she is known as “that girl who claims all the sex articles”. You can also find her online at eHow, Suite 101 ,and Bukisa among many other places. She maintains several blogs, but her favorites are her freelance writing blog, The Green Ninja, and Geek Girl Today….because she’s a dork. She does most of her writing in the evenings and on weekends. She plans to quit her day job and pursue full time freelance writing by the end of 2009.

Jen enjoys science, knitting and reading dirty books in her spare time. Her son is now a senior in high school and was voted Most Creative out of his class of 500. He has also won several writing awards that make his mama very proud. (Aaron pictured below)

Jen met The Amazing Scott (the love of her life – pictured with Jen at the top of this post) two years ago and they are getting married on the beach in April of 2009. Her son will play the guitar at the wedding and there will be bonfires and a party on the beach to follow. Jen, Scott and Aaron plan to spend their days learning, laughing and enjoying their church-free lifestyle in the woods of Louisiana for years to come.