Jonathan Penton founded the electronic journal Unlikely Stories in 1998, and has helmed it as Editor-in-Chief since then, along with its daughter imprint, Unlikely Books (founded 2005). He has worked in technical, editorial, and management roles for a number of literary and arts organizations, including Big Bridge, MadHat, Inc., and Rigorous: a journal by BIPOC. He currently serves as Technical Director for the New Orleans Poetry Festival.
Jonathan’s own books of poetry are A Limited Number of Miracles: a walk through the New Orleans Sculpture Garden (Lavender Ink, 2025), BACKSTORIES (Argotist E-books, 2017), Standards of Sadiddy (Lit Fest Press, 2016), Prosthetic Gods (Winged City Chapbooks/New Sins Press, 2008), Blood and Salsa and Painting Rust (bound together by Unlikely Books, 2005) and Last Chap (Vergin’ Press, 2004).
Jonathan presents frequently at the AWP Conference and the New Orleans Poetry Festival, and organizes literary and arts events throughout North America.
Currently, he is working on a book of haibuns and a memoir of his childhood as a Messianic Jew, a.k.a. a Jew for Jesus. He lives in New Orleans with his family.