Janelle Molony holds a Master’s degree in Leadership from Grand Canyon University, AZ. She is a freelance news journalist and guest writer for print and online magazines.
In 2019, she completed a memoir of her journey as a foster parent. The story invites readers to dive deep into the psyche of a mother given an opportunity to fall victim to fear or to hold fast to the only thing that remains true in life.
The success of this book prompted her to ask what other stories could she tell from her own family. As a result, the 2021 nonfiction, Poems from the Asylum emerged and a long-awaited western novel, From Where I Sat, is now in development. Significant critical acclaim has come from other stories derived from her family history such as the critically acclaimed 1864 Diary of Mrs. Sarah Rousseau (Unabridged Ed.) and the ELEVEN-TIME award-winning discovery of a major Civil War engagement as outlined in Emigrant Tales of the Platte River Raids.
In addition to writing, Janelle has worked in the education/consultancy/training field for more than a decade. Janelle has a soft spot for live theatre, art museums, and psychology. (See some of her writing credits here)
She is currently available for live and online speaking engagements. (See the Wyoming Historical Society’s Speaker’s List)
Member of…
Western Writers of America (learn more); Women Writing the West (learn more); Oregon-California Trails Association (learn more); Wyoming Historical Society (learn more); Wild West History Association (learn more); National Authors in Grocery Stores (learn more)
Awarded for…
- Evelyn Mae Depew Storyteller of the Year (2024), National Authors in Grocery Stores Program
Emigrant Tales of the Platte River Raids
- GOLD, U.S. History – American Writing Awards (2024)
- SILVER, Military History – American Writing Awards (2024)
- SILVER, Nonfiction History – Dan Poynter’s Global EBook Awards (2024)
- 3rd, History – The BookFest Awards (2024)
- WINNER, Scholarly Nonfiction – Women Writing the West (2024)
- FIRST RUNNER-UP, Non-fiction – New York Book Festival (2024)
- BRONZE – Nonfiction Authors Book Awards (2024)
- FINALIST, General History & Western Nonfiction – National Indie Excellence Awards (2024)
- HON. MENTION, Self-Published Books – Wyoming Historical Society (2024)
- IR-APPROVED – IndieReader (2024)
- 5-STARS – Readers’ Favorite (2024)
The 1864 Diary of Mrs. Sarah Jane Rousseau
- FINALIST, Scholarly Nonfiction – Women Writing the West (2024)
- 1st, Editing – National Federation of Press Women (2024)
- 3rd, History – The BookFest Awards (2023)
- 4/5 STARS – Merrill Mattes’ Platte River Road Narratives (1988)
Poems from the Asylum
- 1st, Social Media Presence (@SevenYearsInsane)- National Federation of Press Women (2023)
- 2nd, History – The BookFest Awards (2023)
- 3rd, Biographies – The BookFest Awards (2023)
- HON. MENTION, Introduction – National Federation of Press Women (2024)
- 2nd HON. MENTION, Cowboys Award – Arizona Poetry Society (2022)
- 1st MERIT, Woodticks Award – League of Minnesota Poets (2022)
“1864: More Than Massacres” (Annals of Wyoming)
- HON. MENTION, History – National Federation of Press Women (2022)
“On Mother’s Advice” (Turning the Corner: Unity, A Poetry Anthology)
- FINALIST – Poetry Nation Contest (2022)
Un-Adoptable? Faith Beyond Foster Care
- FINALIST – National Indie Excellence Award (2020)
- HON. MENTION – Arizona Author’s Association Annual Lit. Award (2020)
- 5-STARS – Readers’ Favorite (2020)
- PERFECT SCORE – Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards (2020)
Book Janelle Molony for Your Next Event
Senior Living Homes
Organizational Events
School Presentations
Molony is available for corporate/organizational conferences, public events and private group storytelling events. Past events include the Wyoming State Fair (Douglas, WY), Wyatt Earp Day (Pella, IA), Pranic World Festival (Coccore, Italy).
