CONTACT: keri@kerijanton.com

I started writing for fun when I was 5 years old and never stopped. I grew up and my pastime became my profession.

I enjoy narrative journalism and writing personal essays, as well as writing stories for children. I want my writing to feel warm, familiar and vulnerable. I laugh, cry and everything in between while I write and I hope people who read my work experience the same emotions.

I am currently writing features for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a freelancer. I’m also working on a book of essays and querying publishers for children’s books I have written.

I have earned four writing honors in my life. The first was in first grade when my teacher, Mrs. Chonko, named me as the “Most Creative Writer” in class. I’m still tickled about that. During my senior year in college, my essay, “To Auburn, With Thanks,” was selected as the special feature in the literary magazine. In 2009, I was awarded 3rd runner up by the prestigious United States Bowling Congress for a story I wrote about a trio of elderly bowling buddies. The Bowling Congress (Google them, I didn’t make this up) stumbled upon my story in the AJC. I received a certificate, a check, and I celebrated with a trip to Las Vegas. In 2015, I was awarded 1st runner up in the AJC’s Personal Journeys Essay Contest. That story was about my oldest son and will always, always be one of my favorite pieces.

Let the record show that I’m also a songwriter. I wrote a Christmas song at age 5 that I can still perform on cue and I wrote another song in 2015 as an anniversary gift to my husband. I wrote the lyrics and my friend wrote the music. If you wish to join the five others who have heard that song, listen HERE.

I am a Christian, a born and raised southern girl, an Auburn University graduate (War Eagle!) with a degree in journalism and minor in political science. I'm married to a yankee (who I met when he was my bartender on my 21st birthday) and I'm "Mommy" to three beautiful little boys. I am also the director of the Maximus Janton Foundation, a non-profit that serves the special needs community in honor of my oldest son, Max.

My work has been featured in the following publications:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Magazine, Living Intown Magazine, Living Northside Magazine, Atlanta Parent Magazine, East Alabama Living Magazine, Newcomer Magazine