About Author Ariel Penn

As a child, I had a recurring dream of a peculiar kind of freedom. In my dream, I was locked away in a small, drab prison cell, sentenced to life for reasons unknown. The warden, in his stern yet gentle way, had promised me an endless supply of yellow legal pads and pens… free and plentiful to me as long as I made a commitment to create.  

Once or twice a year, I would hear the soft, deliberate footsteps of a guard approaching. He’d slide a box through the small opening in the door. And, I would know, in that moment,  my happiness had no end date because of this endless supply. Inside that box were my treasures—pens and paper, lifelines to a world beyond those walls. It was the best day of the year.

For me, writing and creating is like a breath of fresh air through an open window. No matter how high the walls, how tight the confines, my spirit could soar freely through the words I crafted. These creative pursuits were my escape, my sanctuary—whether shared with the world or cherished in solitude.

After retiring in 2014 from a 24-year career as the Filming Manager for the City of Pasadena, I turned towards the passion that had always been my guiding light: creating and sharing my own stories. My journey led me to memoir writing, poetry, filmmaking and songwriting, each medium offering a new way to express the complexities of life and the nuances of the human experience.

My art is rooted in a commitment to amplify diverse voices and spark social change. As the founder of Stonewall Writers, an LGBTQ+ community on Meta/Facebook with over 750 members, I have created a space where stories can flourish, and voices can be heard. With the recognition of being a two-time L.A. Emmy nominee, I blend my extensive experience in media and technology with an unwavering passion for storytelling.

During my tenure as Pasadena’s Filming Manager, I had the privilege of recommending film locations and marketing the City—a role that allowed me to merge my love for creativity with my professional expertise. 

My political writing has been featured by the editorial staff on Medium.com, and through my technology blog, Robotopia.ai, with over 40K Instagram followers, 

Through sharing my creative work and helping others find their voices, I hope to open windows for anyone who wishes to breathe deeply of the world’s possibilities. I invite you to join me on this journey, where together, we can turn dreams into realities and stories into change.