Meet Jen Rose Yokel, Spiritual Director & Poet

A literary meet-'n'-greet in 10 pictures or less

Welcome back, friends!

If you love poetry—or you want to love it—then you need to meet Jen Rose Yokel.

Her poetry collections will encourage you to look at everyday life with new eyes—and reclaim a sense of wonder for the mysteries that surround you.

Now, Jen, take it away!

All About Jen

I am a poet, writer, and spiritual director. My words have appeared at The Rabbit Room, She Reads Truth, and other publications, and I am the author of two poetry collections. I am also the co-founder of The Poetry Pub, an online community for poets.

Originally from Central Florida, I now make my home in Fall River, Massachusetts, with my poet/professor husband Chris, our rescue dog, and an assortment of books and houseplants. My latest book, Beneath the Flood, is available now from Bandersnatch Books.

I’m a sucker for candles, pottery mugs, interesting notebooks, and fun pens. (All the stereotypical cozy writer things.)

One of the hardest but most helpful things I’ve learned about writing poetry is that so much of the magic will happen in revision. You need some raw material to shape into a good poem, so you might as well write the messy first drafts! I love prompts and poetry challenges to get the juices flowing. Sometimes I handwrite and sometimes I sketch it out in the Notes app.

Yes, I contradict myself. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is my favorite version—please don’t come for me, Winona fans!—but Christian Bale is so delightful as Laurie that I wish I could import him into it. Sorry, Timothée.

All About Jen’s Books

• Ruins & Kingdoms

• Beneath the Flood

Ruins & Kingdoms was self-published in 2015 and brings together a collection of poems I wrote between rediscovering poetry and getting married.

Beneath the Flood was my first time working with a publisher and was released in 2023. Hopefully, it won’t be another eight years until the next one!

Book recommendations from Jen

• The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

• Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

• Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich

• I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

• The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón. (Everyone please go read her poem “Give Me This.”)

• The Understory by Lore Ferguson Wilbert

Honestly, this year has mostly been for reading contemporary fantasy novels that aren’t super life-changing but still a good time.

Honorable mention to Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree for being the cutest low-stakes fantasy ever, The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin for being absolutely bonkers, and Starter Villain by John Scalzi for actually making me laugh out loud a few times.

Here’s how you can connect with Jen

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Jen.

Be sure to subscribe to Jen’s Substack,

Alongside Journal

, where she explores faith and creativity—with the occasional nerdy detour.

And here’s where you can find her on Instagram.

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Thank you, Jen, for chatting books today!

And thank you for being here, readers.

Catch you next time,

Michelle