MEET JR Marin
children's book author

JR Marin, children's book author and creator of Manolo & Pepe

JR Marin is a children's book author, storyteller, poet, songwriter, and creator of the Manolo & Pepe world.

Through stories filled with warmth, wonder, and quiet humor, he explores courage, friendship, belonging, resilience, and the small acts of love that can change a life.

He also writes poetry—some of which eventually finds a melody and discovers that it was a song all along. More stories, poems, songs, and unexpected journeys are already on their way.

He writes the words. Manolo and Pepe provide the supervision.

THE
BREAKFAST
INTERVIEW

Manolo & Pepe Ask the Difficult Questions

Manolo: Who really writes these stories—you or us?

JR Marin: I write the words. You two create most of the trouble.

Pepe: At last, an accurate author biography.

—

Manolo: Where do your ideas come from?

JR Marin: From memories, questions, quiet moments—and occasionally breakfast.

Pepe: Mostly breakfast. Creativity requires proper supervision.

—

Manolo: Is it true that some of your poems become songs?

JR Marin: Yes. Sometimes a poem finds a melody and discovers it was a song all along.

Pepe: A respectable transformation. Much less alarming than Manolo’s.

—

Manolo: Are more stories coming?

JR Marin: Many more—along with poems, songs, and new places to discover.

Pepe: Provided the author meets his deadlines.

Manolo: We should probably make him breakfast.

—

JR Marin: And what should readers carry with them?

Manolo: Courage.

Pepe: Good judgment.

JR Marin: And the belief that even a quiet act of love can change a life.

JR Marin writing poems and songs for the Manolo & Pepe

Manolo & Pepe surrounded by books as more stories begin

FROM POEMS TO SONGS

Some ideas arrive as stories. Others come quietly as poems.

And sometimes, when the words begin asking for rhythm, a poem finds its melody and becomes a song.

For JR Marin, writing and music are different doors into the same place—the heart of a story.

EXPLORE THE MUSIC

Every ending carries a new beginning.