Author

Jana Riess

Writer and blogger

Jana Riess is an editor in the publishing industry and a writer at the Flunking Sainthood blog for Religion News Service. Prior to that, she blogged for Beliefnet.

From 1999 to 2008, she was the Religion Book Review Editor for Publishers Weekly, and continues to write freelance articles and reviews for PW as well as other publications.

She is the author, co-author, or editor of books including "The Twible: All the Chapters of the Bible in 140 Characters or Less . . . Now with 68% More Humor!"; "Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor"; "What Would Buffy Do? The Vampire Slayer as a Spiritual Guide"; "Mormonism for Dummies"; and "The Writer’s Market Guide to Getting Published."

Riess holds degrees in religion from Wellesley College and Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in American religious history from Columbia University.

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Scholarships available for the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising 

Applications for the Thomas H. Lake Scholarship are now open! This scholarship supports participants in the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF), a program designed to help religious leaders explore the spirituality of fundraising and gain skills essential for their work.  

Applications are due February 28, 2025. 

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