Jan Fries

Jan Ellison, born in San Jose, California, on January 17, 1966, is an American novelist and philanthropist. She grew up in Los Angeles, the daughter of a novelist and musician father and a teacher mother. After attending Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, she pursued higher education at Stanford University, San Francisco State University, and the University of California, Berkeley, earning degrees in various fields including journalism. Ellison spent a year traveling in Europe at age 19, later working in various roles, including a marketing executive in Silicon Valley during the 1990s, all while journaling her experiences. Her writing career began with short stories, leading to her first novel, 'A Small Indiscretion,' published in 2015. She is married to Roblox CEO David Baszucki, with whom she has four children and co-founded The Baszucki Group. Ellison is also involved in funding neuropsychiatric research and founded Metabolic Mind to support education following her son's diagnosis.

Born in San Jose, California, on January 17, 1966, Jan Ellison spent her formative years in Los Angeles. Her father, Todd Ellison, was a creative figure, known as both a novelist and a musician. Her mother worked as an elementary school teacher. Ellison's early life included various jobs, such as working in fast food and as a cashier. She received her education at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy before attending Stanford University for her undergraduate studies. She continued her academic pursuits at San Francisco State University, earning a Master of Fine Arts, and later obtained a master's degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.

At the age of 19, Ellison took a year off from college for extensive travel, spending time in Europe, including a year in Paris. Her journeys later took her to London, Hawaii, Australia, and Southeast Asia, where she resided for two years. During this period, she worked in various capacities, including as a waitress and typist, before becoming a marketing executive in Silicon Valley in the 1990s. She began documenting her travels and experiences in journals. In 2003, Ellison started a blog on Murderati, and by 2007, she had written her first short story, 'The Company of Men.' After submitting it to numerous literary journals, the story was accepted and subsequently earned her an O'Henry Prize.

Ellison's first novel, 'A Small Indiscretion,' published in January 2015, drew inspiration from her journal entries. While working on this book, she also began her second novel, 'The Safest City.' 'A Small Indiscretion,' a suspense novel, follows a 40-year-old woman piecing together her past. The book received media attention, including features in USA Today and the San Francisco Chronicle. Beyond her literary work, Ellison is married to David Baszucki, CEO of Roblox. Together, they co-founded The Baszucki Group, and Ellison serves as its president. She is actively involved in funding neuropsychiatric research and established the organization Metabolic Mind to provide educational resources, prompted by her son's diagnosis of bipolar disorder.