JEAN VALLESTEROS
Creator | Editor
Reading has always been a huge part of my life. Remembering as a kid the excitement that would overcome me whenever I stepped into a library. I would spend most of my younger days sitting in the aisles and easily getting lost in the stories, the adventures, the characters and the settings that came bursting from within the pages and pulling me into them, allowing me to journey through my own imagination. At some point, I had also discovered comic books as an alternative form of literature and became an avid subscriber to Marvel, Archie, DC, Disney and many more. It became an amazing form of entertainment for my growing mind and an outlet for my creativity as a youth. Even now as I have matured into an adult, I still find appreciation in all styles of storytelling including but not limited to stories of horror, suspense, drama, mystery, action and romance.
In early summer of 2011, I decided to open up a blog just to share my thoughts and ideas about the books that I was reading. Unbeknownst to me, there was a huge community of book lovers on the Internet. It was great! Being able to discuss the books that I had been reading with others, I really didn’t know what to expect but it turned out for the best. Also getting the chance to meet new people along the way and develop some great friendships.
I was reading Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck and I instantly fell in love with the series. This is when I began to wonder how amazing it would be to get to know the author and receive answers to my questions about her work first-hand from the creator. In an effort to reach out to Mrs. Houck, a reply came back to me almost instantly! She was extremely humble and easy to talk to, making the conversation (not to mention my first effort in speaking directly with an acclaimed author) much more comfortable. From there on the wheels kept turning and I realized that this communication between myself and a well known author could be a great event to share with my growing number of followers. Furthermore, I would like to give thanks to Colleen Houck and Katie of Sterling Publishing for donating items for my giveaway and for giving me the opportunity to share it with everyone. It is because of them that my blog is the way it is now.
Other than reading, I enjoy cooking, exercising, and life in general. I really hope you guys will find my blog to be fun, exciting, and informative. I thank you for visiting my blog. I also would like to extend my thanks to all of the authors and publishers; because without their dedication to their work and all the generous offerings, JeanBookNerd blogsite may not have been able to attract such an awesome, interesting and dedicated group of individuals that share the same love for reading that I have.
Erik Werlin, JBN Journalist | Videographer
James Vallesteros, Photographer | Editor | Artist
ERIK WERLIN is a digital artist, Photographer, Director, Editor and everything in between. He is an all around geek and nerd. Erik loves reading and telling great stories. He loves science fiction and fantasy stories more than anything else. With an artistic eye, Erik tries to incorporate love of nerd culture with passion for stories to tell new stories in both photography and videography.JAMES VALLESTEROS developed a love for drawing at an early age, driving interests in animation and art. This drive would morph into digital media, photography, videography, and coding. He has a degree in IT Security and is a freelance graphic artist and photographer. An avid fan of comics, graphic novels, and popular culture, James is an admirer of all things geeky and nerdy. He is a lifetime fan of the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, Sacramento Kings, San Jose Sharks, and WWE.
Americo Galli, JBN Journalist
Jordan Parker, JBN Journalist | Middle Grade Reviewer
Narry Ouk, JBN Journalist | Reviewer
Allan Forte, JBN Journalist
NARRY OUK was born and raised in the New England suburbs, right outside of Boston. When winter storms lingered for months on end, her favorite pastime was to tell fantastical stories around the fireplace or curl into the warmth of a good book. She's most intrigued by the genres of horror, suspense, thrillers, and adventure. She's been an avid fan of comic books and anime since elementary school, especially DC Comics and Studio Ghibli. This led her to pursue numerous hobbies involving art and illustration. In her free time, Narry loves learning new recipes, running with her dog Buddy and exploring the vast Arizona landscapes.
Diana Lopez, Storytellers BOX Creative Director
Sofia Anguita, Storytellers BOX Creative Director
DIANA LOPEZ is a Bay Area native that has always dreamed of pursuing a career with the creative freedom to express her passions. With her love for photography and film, she moved to Los Angeles to make her dreams a reality. She is a recent graduate of California State University of Los Angeles where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Television, Film, and Media Studies. Besides film and literature, Diana is a fanatic of music, baking, crocheting, exercising, and all things pop culture.
SOFIA ANGUITA is a recent graduate from California State University Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in Television, Film, and Media Studies. She has gained experience in many aspects of the production process with a specific interest in picture and sound editing. Her passion for film while studying also sparked an appreciation in the value of animation and children’s programming. When she isn’t watching her favorite films, you can find her playing Animal Crossing, reading up on art history, or taking on small painting projects of her own.Charlie Nguyen, Journalist | Marketing
Alexis Cruz, Journalist
CHARLIE NGUYEN is a 22-year-old journalism student at CSU Long Beach with a focus in writing and photography as well as an interest in general multimedia. Cultivated from a love for nuanced storytelling, Charlie is focused on platforming diverse creatives all throughout the art industry. From books to film, if there’s an authentic story to be told, he wants to hear it! Beside an interest in the visual arts, Charlie loves to cook and take care of his three cats but when he’s not working or in school, can probably be found playing video games.
ALEXIS CRUZ is a South Los Angeles native. Although he has worked in politics, since he was a kid he has had a big interest in books, film, and television. Those interests took him to working in a lot of different areas in the entertainment industry. In his free time, he likes to play guitar, write, watch movies and go crazy over soccer games.
