Jill grew up in a super creative home on the South Shore of Long Island. Even though her family lived in a hundred-year-old house, Jill and her siblings were encouraged to paint murals on the walls; her inventor dad built a mad-scientist’s workshop in the garage; and her mom had a dance studio in the living room, where she developed a program that taught early learning skills through movement stories.
After graduating from the University of Buffalo with a degree in theater, Jill became a professional storyteller with her mom’s Motion Potion program. She soon moved from stage to screen, joining FOX Kids as a writer, producer, and host, earning an Emmy for outstanding children’s special along the way. Jill has also written and hosted programs for the Travel Channel, Scholastic Bookfairs, and the International Reading Association.
One of her TV assignments was an interview with Ringling Bros. Clown, Kenny Mikey. They fell in love and created Page Turner Adventures, a touring theater company that combines circus and storytelling. Together they perform at theaters, schools, and libraries around the world, inspiring kids to collect, tell, and write stories.
Jill has also written leveled readers for Fountas & Pinnell and a middle grade novel about an unusual girl who visits the world’s strangest roadside attractions.
In addition to stories, Jill collects names. She’s been known as both Riley Roam and Storyologist, Page Turner.
When she’s not writing or performing, Jill can be found curled up with a good book, visiting weird museums, or creating robots out of Altoid tins. She lives in South Florida with her husband and way too many cats.
About Photo By: Mikiodo Home Page Photo By: Kirk Marsh Photography