Helping children discover who they are - one story at a time.

Running Back To Me by Jen Zelinsky is an enchanting story about self-discovery, kindness, and emotional resilience. It is great for readers who love animals and heartfelt adventures. This book is printed locally in Boise, Idaho.‍ ‍

I personally coordinate local donations to shelters, schools, counseling offices, and community organizations to help ensure books reach those who need them most. Already donated to:

  • Women’s & Children’s Alliance (WCA)

  • St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital

  • Boise School District

  • Saint Alphonsus Inpatient Behavioral Health

  • Faces of Hope

Thank you for helping this story reach children (and adults) who need it most.

Buy or Donate a Book

Who this Book is For

When I wrote Running Back to Me, I knew it was meant to reach all children, especially those who may be carrying heavy feelings from difficult experiences, trauma, or abuse.

Even though this book was written with a young audience in mind, this book is for anyone who is struggling to make sense of their feelings and find their smile. It is a journey to help with self-discovery. Additionally, it is for parents, therapists, teachers and advocates who seek gentle ways to support children through tough times.

If you or someone you know could benefit from this story, please reach out to me through the contact us.

My Self-Discovery Journey

My creative journey began as a quiet way to process life in early 2025 - an outlet for emotion when words felt limited. What started as personal expression slowly became something larger: a way to connect, to heal, and to make sense of experiences that don’t always have clear answers.

Art and then writing became places where I could slow down, listen inward, and create without needing everything to be resolved. Over time, I realized my work could also help guide and support others through their self-discovery.

I began painting with watercolors in early 2025, picking up a paintbrush the first time since high school - which felt like a lifetime ago. While navigating a deeply challenging year, when calms felt out of touch, I turned to painting as a way to reconnect with myself.

At first, it was slow and exploratory. I started with landscapes that were a little rough around the edges, then moved on to painting fruit. But it was when I began painting animals that I discovered a pure, unexpected joy.

Through this creative process and my own self-discovery, I uncovered lessons that helped me find my sunlight and my smile. These reflections became the heart of my recent book, Running Back To Me.

Now I’m embracing acrylics, exploring new textures and colors - as you can see in my most recent work shown here. And next, I’m excited to dive into landscapes within my animal pictures knowing it will be a journey of patience, learning and growth.

Today, my creativity is guided by intention rather than perfection. My work is an ongoing conversation - between where I have been, where I am, and what continues to evolve.