25 July 2026
The Authors Quill Artist Jennifer Mellen Writer John Eric Schleicher guest host Carmen Bartolo
United Public Radio
About
JENNIFER MELLEN
Artist & Illustrators of the Future Winner – Biography
Jennifer Mellen is an artist, illustrator, creator and mother living in the beautiful state of Utah. She was born in 1988 in Salt Lake City and raised in Magna, Utah. She has always been passionate about art and expanding her skills with a love for all things fantasy which includes creating strange creatures and dragons in her artwork. Her body of work mainly consists of fantasy creations, realistic works, and bold logos.
Jennifer has been drawing from a very young age and, in growing up, she has explored every medium she could find including traditional, digital, and sculpting mediums such as pencils, watercolor, oils, polymer clay, wax, and digital programs. JOHN ERIC SCHLEICHER
Author & Writers of the Future Winner – Biography
John Eric (“J. E.”) Schleicher is an award-winning author who writes stories that leave behind a fantastical aftertaste long after reading. His short fiction has appeared in L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40, Creepy Podcast, The Colored Lens Speculative Fiction Magazine, and Tiny Terrors Volume 1, among other publications.
His short story, “Squiddy,” was a winner of the Writers of the Future contest and is currently being novelized. When not reading or writing, he enjoys wandering wonderstruck (on two legs or knobby wheels) the mountains near his home in Missoula, Montana.
Can’t get enough of J.E.? You’re coming on a bit strong. But okay. He came ready. Discover his delights on his blog Dopamine’s Delight or connect with him on Threads & Instagram @JESchleicher.
Find out more at: www.JESchleicher.com
In 2014 she experienced great inspiration after attending the first and only Fantasy Con getting to meet amazing illustrators who she is each a big fan of today.
In 2016 Jennifer earned an associates degree in Visual Arts and Design with an illustration emphasis from Salt Lake Community. While attending college she had her first two children with her husband Nathan Mellen.
Ms. Mellen worked for some years in graphic design for a company called High School Blanket and developed her graphic design skills further having created many mascot designs.
In 2020 she had her third child and started to have dreams of doing more art. Having been unsuccessful at becoming an illustrator, she looked into using her graphic design skill to benefit her family.
In 2021 she and her husband started a business called SeaDragon Cove producing and selling fantasy products at various renaissance festivals, conventions, and Evermore Park theme park. This became a successful business and they have now joined their company with We Geek Together Entertainment.
In 2023 Jennifer was inspired to submit illustration work she created in college to the Illustrators of the Future contest having met Joni Labaqui (contest director) and Brian Hailes (contest judge) in their panel at the Life, the Universe and Everything Symposium. After receiving encouragement from other fantasy illustrators at Evermore Park theme park and at The Dog and Dragon group at various conventions, she entered the contest which resulted in her winning her most recent award and having her art published in L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40.United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com
Artist & Illustrators of the Future Winner – Biography
Jennifer Mellen is an artist, illustrator, creator and mother living in the beautiful state of Utah. She was born in 1988 in Salt Lake City and raised in Magna, Utah. She has always been passionate about art and expanding her skills with a love for all things fantasy which includes creating strange creatures and dragons in her artwork. Her body of work mainly consists of fantasy creations, realistic works, and bold logos.
Jennifer has been drawing from a very young age and, in growing up, she has explored every medium she could find including traditional, digital, and sculpting mediums such as pencils, watercolor, oils, polymer clay, wax, and digital programs. JOHN ERIC SCHLEICHER
Author & Writers of the Future Winner – Biography
John Eric (“J. E.”) Schleicher is an award-winning author who writes stories that leave behind a fantastical aftertaste long after reading. His short fiction has appeared in L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40, Creepy Podcast, The Colored Lens Speculative Fiction Magazine, and Tiny Terrors Volume 1, among other publications.
His short story, “Squiddy,” was a winner of the Writers of the Future contest and is currently being novelized. When not reading or writing, he enjoys wandering wonderstruck (on two legs or knobby wheels) the mountains near his home in Missoula, Montana.
Can’t get enough of J.E.? You’re coming on a bit strong. But okay. He came ready. Discover his delights on his blog Dopamine’s Delight or connect with him on Threads & Instagram @JESchleicher.
Find out more at: www.JESchleicher.com
In 2014 she experienced great inspiration after attending the first and only Fantasy Con getting to meet amazing illustrators who she is each a big fan of today.
In 2016 Jennifer earned an associates degree in Visual Arts and Design with an illustration emphasis from Salt Lake Community. While attending college she had her first two children with her husband Nathan Mellen.
Ms. Mellen worked for some years in graphic design for a company called High School Blanket and developed her graphic design skills further having created many mascot designs.
In 2020 she had her third child and started to have dreams of doing more art. Having been unsuccessful at becoming an illustrator, she looked into using her graphic design skill to benefit her family.
In 2021 she and her husband started a business called SeaDragon Cove producing and selling fantasy products at various renaissance festivals, conventions, and Evermore Park theme park. This became a successful business and they have now joined their company with We Geek Together Entertainment.
In 2023 Jennifer was inspired to submit illustration work she created in college to the Illustrators of the Future contest having met Joni Labaqui (contest director) and Brian Hailes (contest judge) in their panel at the Life, the Universe and Everything Symposium. After receiving encouragement from other fantasy illustrators at Evermore Park theme park and at The Dog and Dragon group at various conventions, she entered the contest which resulted in her winning her most recent award and having her art published in L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40.United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com