Meet Jen Morgan | Author & Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jen Morgan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jen, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and have lived in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex since 2004. I am the youngest of 9 children and come from a Catholic backround built entirely on faith. My faith is what has impacted me the most in being able to tell my story of overcoming tragedy and other difficult circumstances in my life. Being from such a large family, it was difficult for my parents to give a significant amount of attention to any child and after tragically losing my oldest brother when he was only 22 years old, it became even more of a struggle. I was 8 years old and was craving attention. As I continued to grow up that eventually led to me having deep insecurities and the need for acceptance from family and peers. Thankfully, my parents instilled faith in me and, though I am not a practicing Catholic any longer, I am a practicing Christian woman who relies deeply on the Holy Spirit to guide me through all circumstances. All of the difficult experiences in my lifetime so far have given me the strength to use my story to inspire other women to find hope in even the most hopeless situations. I aspire to write and speak to women in order to rely on their faith in God to unmask, unveil and unleash their purpose.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I absolutely love to share! I call myself an “evangelist” in a way because if I like something, I want to tell everyone I know. It could be a show, a movie, a book, a product or a lesson I’ve learned in my life. Usually those lessons have come from mistakes and/or circumstances brought on by life in general. So, my “art” in writing and speaking helps me to do this in a way that inspires others. My desire is to use my craft and my talents to make a connection in an authentic, very real way! I think what sets me apart is my vulnerability in sharing who I was, who I am and how I’ve grown. I want to show all sides of me which include my love of fun, parties, wine and laughter and how that coincides with my passion for growing in my relationship with God. You can have both! To me, being a Christian woman means living out the personality that He created for me. I believe He uses all of us differently in order to bring people closer to Him and my way of doing that is through some of my darkest stories mixed in with a little dose of laughter and joy! It has definitely not been easy in any way. It would have been easy to remain hidden and just live my best life doing what I can each day to survive and protect myself from judgement and public opinion. It’s been a huge leap of faith in every way. It’s been a risk financially, mentally and even spiritually when I find myself questioning if this is what God really wants from me. However, because I rely so heavily on my faith during trying times, I have been able to triumph and continue to push forward in pursuing my passion and purpose. I have learned so much as I have ventured out into the world of social media, branding, writing and speaking. I have learned that some of the friends I considered to be family and thought would be by my side through it all, aren’t. That’s been really tough. However, I have also been reminded that I have deep and true love and support from genuine friendships, my family, my husband, my kids and most importantly the love of God who strengthens me every single day. I want the world to know I am strong, I am flawed and I’m learning as I go. I want women to be inspired and allow me to share pieces of me and my story to help them take off their “masks”, be authentic and live out their purpose, whatever that may be. I want to come to them in person, virtually or through my writing and bond through the difficult times we’ve been through and find the tools to dig deep and come out on the other side. I want to support them in finding ways to disarm insecurities, the need to feel perfect and replace lies with the truths of Jesus.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh that’s funny because I just had several people visiting from my hometown and made a big list for great spots to visit in the area! Honestly, it really would depend who it is visiting because Dallas/Ft. Worth has so much to offer. Everything from country to city livin and the best food!
For art and history, I would suggest the George W. Bush Library, The 6th Floor Museum, The Perot Museum all in Dallas. I would definitely take them for cocktails at The Thompson Hotel in Dallas at Monarch! Beautiful view and place to see all the “pretty people”. So many choices for dinner, but I love the atmosphere at The Mexican. It’s a hot spot for sure, as well as Dee Lincoln at The Star. After dinner, head to the bar at The Ritz – that’s always packed with people and excitement. Shopping at Legacy for all the most fabulous boutiques and shops.
I live close to Grapevine, TX, so I would suggest a day on Main Street hitting all of the adorable shops and quaint little restaurants and wineries. They can also take the train down to Ft. Worth which drops off right in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards. You can see the cattle herd daily and hear all the live country music throughout the day and night. Being in Ft. Worth, you can’t forget to go to Billy Bob’s, the worlds biggest Honky Tonk. Also in Ft. Worth, you’ll find great dining but I love the speakeasy in Thompson’s Bookstore. Scat Jazz Lounge is a great little jazz bar down there as well. In my city of Southlake, I would take them to the Town Square and shop at my favorite boutique, Scout and Molly’s and then have drinks and food at Jane, the most adorable and unique spot for social gatherings and happy hour. I really could go on and on, but these are a few of my favorites! I’m exhausted just thinking about it all!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
YES!!! Shout out to my writing partner, friend and teacher Diana Acosta “LadyDI”. She was instrumental in my writing process and we are bonded for life through my story and how we connected so deeply in sharing my story with other women.

My family, specifically my husband, Kevin is the reason I am able to pursue my dreams of writing and speaking. Without his belief in me, none of this would be possible. It’s been a leap of faith for both of us and I could not do it without his faithful love and support.

Website: www.jenmorganinspires.com

Instagram: @jenmorganinspires

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-morgan-8695b3242/

Facebook: @jenmorganinspires

Youtube: jenmorganinspires

Other: Speaker of MOPS International www.mops.org

Image Credits
White Orchid Photography