Knowledge is important to Jeff, and he loves sharing it with others. He has a gift for words and uses his writing talents to communicate hope and positivity. Devine in his approach, Jeff writes from a place of love and compassion.
Jeff Keene II is the Peg Leg Penman. His moniker comes from the tragic result of a line-of-duty firefighting injury in 1989, which left him with only one foot. Despite this, Jeff has a passion for life that’s evident in everything he does.
A man of many talents, he is a scientist, teacher, Christian, sailor, husband, and father. Despite his talent as a wordsmith, he had no intention of being a writer. With his love of helping others and sharing knowledge, he used his biology, linguistics, and chemistry degrees to become a public school teacher.
It was while teaching that he embraced his true calling—storytelling. Whether crafting lesson plans or telling tales to his students, Jeff always has a way of making the material come to life.
Since becoming a writer, Jeff has published several books. WordCrafts Press published Pericope in 2021. The first-century historical Christian fiction novel follows the story of an adulteress seeking absolution from Jesus for her sins.
In his most recent publication, Under the Rainbow, Jeff tells the true story of Judy Garland’s magical ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz and how they were stolen in 2005, only to be retrieved years later.Throughout the chapters, he weaves in exciting tales about the history of the slippers and their impact on popular culture.
Jeff’s latest book shows he is a master of fiction and nonfiction storytelling. Whatever the genre, his writing is always engaging and entertaining. Whether writing about a famous Hollywood icon or a first-century adulterer, Jeff makes his readers feel like they are right there in the story.
Jeff currently lives in central Florida with his wife. When he’s not writing, he enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors, hiking, boating, and geocaching.
Looking for more from Jeff? New books are on the horizon! In the meantime, check out his Facebook and Instagram pages (@peglegpenman) for updates on his current projects and to learn more about his previous publications.
Telling tales has always been a gift of mine. That’s one reason I became a public school teacher. But creating a book that has the core of its plot wrapped around a story in the Bible is a challenge I could have been successful with only by divine guidance. I’ve been a firefighter in New York, a teacher in Florida, and have even served on a NOAA research vessel.
But none of those have been as rewarding as writing. With the support of my wife and two children, I’ve been able to balance full-time teaching with the creation of accurate First Century historical fiction. I enjoy sailing, exploring, and spending time with family. But most of all, I find it rewarding to be doing something that will hopefully inspire others.
As for my “Bible fan fiction,” I can humbly say this. Many New Testament characters who have met Jesus were never mentioned by name. They weren’t provided back stories, professions, or any defining identity other than their physical or spiritual maladies. I am not saying the Bible is lacking in any way. I am simply stating that inquiring minds want to know! Who were these people who were so blessed as to have a brush, albeit momentary, with our Lord and Savior? And what happened to them after they were saved? My historical fiction novels attempt to fill in these blanks with adventurous, humorous, and at times romantic tales filled with the travel, intrigue, and action of a 1st Century Israel.
