Jesse Florea
Jesse Florea has worked at Focus on the Family for more than 30 years. For most of that time, he served as editor of Focus’ children’s magazines. Today, he’s the editor-in-chief of all Focus publications, including Clubhouse Jr. (ages 3-7), Clubhouse (for kids 8-12), Brio (for teen girls) and the flagship Focus on the Family magazine. He also co-hosts the NRB award-winning “Official Average Boy” podcast with Christian comedian Bob Smiley and the biweekly “Official Adventures in Odyssey” podcast. He has written or co-written more than 50 books, including three Bibles for teens and kids, the Defend Your Faith devotional, the Case for Christ Young Readers edition with Lee Strobel, Average Boy’s Above Average Year, and the Read Again and Again Old and New Testament Bible storybooks. Jesse often speaks at Christian conferences around the country, teaching up-and-coming authors how to write for magazines and children.
Jesse earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from Wheaton College, Ill., while minoring in biblical studies. He lives with his wife, Stephanie, in Colorado Springs and enjoys hanging out with his three children and his grandchildren.
Clubhouse Jr. and Clubhouse Magazines
Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr. magazine helps children between the ages of 3 and 7 develop a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. In each of its 12 monthly issues, readers encounter creatively told Bible stories, character-building fiction, nature articles from a Christian worldview, clever poetry, interactive activities, developmental puzzles, specifically themed reader contributions, and funny jokes and cartoons.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
• Rebus stories with solid takeaway (150 words).
• Fun, interactive poetry. Rhyme or free verse with takeaway (200 words or less).
• Fiction—900 words or less—generally fits theme of specific month. Could be historic, animal, modern-day, sci-fi, choose-your-own-adventure.
Website: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/clubhouse-jr-magazine/
WHAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR: Stories where parents or grandparents solve all the problems. Let the children think, wrestle and overcome their own conflicts. Puzzles.
Focus on the Family Clubhouse magazine exists to guide children between the ages of 8 and 12 into a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ. As Focus on the Family’s longest-running children’s ministry, Clubhouse publishes fiction, quizzes, devotional, personality and other stories that entertain and equip children to stand strong in their faith.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
• Biblical archeology or apologetics stories for 8- to 12-year olds (1,000 words or less) for Truth Pursuer section of magazine. Stories must be insightful, fun writing. Needs to take a heady subject and make it kid-like and engaging.
• Personality stories of kids 13 or younger with faith angle (900 words or less). Again, ordinary kids doing something extraordinary.
• Crafts or recipes geared toward holidays or specific times of year.
• Quizzes (400 or 800 words). Could be multiple choice, True or False, arrow quiz. Use humor to engage and make your point.
Website: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/clubhouse-magazine/
WHAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR: Modern-day fiction set in the suburbs. We have a long-standing stable of fiction writers, but if you have a story that will blow us out of the water, we want to see it.
Email story ideas (just a sentence or two) to:
For Clubhouse Jr.: Rachel Pfeiffer: [email protected]
For Clubhouse: Grace Kelley: [email protected]
