About

Jon Quijano was raised amidst the vast prairies of North Dakota. Son of Colombian immigrant father and a mother of Norwegian and German-American descent, his diverse background has taught him balance and objectivity that finds its way into his work. Based in Stillwater, Minnesota, nestled along the picturesque St. Croix River Valley, Jon uses diverse mediums such as poetry, photography, film and music to capture the rich history and intricate ecology of this watercourse, and the vibrant communities that thrive along its banks.

PUBLIC APPERANCES

• Podcast Guest: (My First Car) Rocky Mountain Nigh (January 8, 2025)

• Washington County (MN) Historical Society talk: Native American Mounds of the St. Croix Valley (March 8, 2023)

WRITING & EDITING CREDITS

• 2001-2003: Editor-in-Chief - Upper Mississippi Harvest (St. Cloud State University literary journal)

• 2006: The Dragon’s Eye (3-act stage drama for Swearing Jack Productions)

• 2008: Historical documentary screenplay Wells Lewis: Lost Heir to a Minnesota Son

• 2009: Historical documentary screenplay Rosalie Wahl: Vision for a Better World

• 2010: Historical documentary screenplay Through 1968, we learn about gold

• 2011: 4 upper-grade educational books (Red Line Editorial):

  • Make Your Own Horror Movie (ISBN 9781429675284)

  • Make Your Own Action Thriller (ISBN 9781429675291)

  • Make Your Own Comedy (ISBN 9781429675307)

  • Make Your Own Sci-Fi Flick (ISBN 9781429675314)

• 2017-2022: Editor of Patient Education, M Health Fairview.

• 2022: The Time In Between (self-published poetry collection)

• 2023-2024: Managing Editor, The Creative Company.

• 2024: Three middle-grade STEM-themed educational books:

  • Apples (ISBN 9781682774007)

  • Sunflowers (ISBN 9781640268548)

  • Tomatoes (ISBN 9781640268555)

• 2024: Launched freelance writing and editing service, Jonathan Quijano Editorial (https://jonathanquijanoeditorial.com)

AWARDS & HONORS

• 2008 Grand Prize at Minnesota Historical Society Greatest Generation Film Project: Best Depiction of the Post-War Boom

• 2001 Robert L. Carothers Distinguished Writers Award

Headquarters: Stillwater, Minnesota, USA

Email: jonathan.f.quijano@gmail.com