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Author, Speaker, and Web Designe

Hi, I’m Janine Warner, and as you might have guessed, my life revolves around the internet – teaching it, designing it, and always learning from it.

Because not everything you read on the Internet is reliable, you can expect that at least two of the facts in the following list are completely made-up. (If you're looking for a more formal bio, follow this link...)

1. I'm a journalist turned geek. Sometimes I call myself a ‘techy translator’ or a ‘digital alchemist’ -- my favorite made-up titles so far. I imagine future generations will remember us the way we look back on Medieval wizards trying to turn lead into gold.

2. I started out as a reporter and editor and got hooked on the Internet early. Since 1996, I've written more than a dozen books, including Web Sites DIY For Dummies, Dreamweaver For Dummies (every edition), Mobile Web Design For Dummies, and iPhone & iPad Web Design for Dummies. (I have callouses on my finger tips to prove this one.)

3. I was bitten by a computer bug in 1994, which led to my addiction to the Internet and my ability to fly through virtual realms... (Okay, this one may not be from a reliable source, but I am hooked.)

4. I’m fascinated by how the Internet is being transformed by mobile phones and touchscreen devices and I'm now designing interactive ebooks and apps for the iPad, iPhone and other devices at ChameleonEngine.com.

5. Today I spend most of my time:

a. Running a full-service web design agency where I work with a team of consultants to design web sites and mobile apps (Learn about our web design services at DigitalFamily.com.)

b. Writing books and creating training videos about web design, content strategy, and Internet marketing (Order books & videos.)

c. Speaking at conferences and events. I cover 'techy' topics, such as Web design, and I give keynotes on Internet trends, such as the growing importance of the mobile web, social media, and online reputation. (Learn more about Janine's speaking topics.)

6. As a child, I trained my pet Siberian Snow Tiger to ski the steepest slope in the Alps. Despite reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour on the treacherous course, the Olympic Committee refused to admit him. (Sadly, this point is very, very true.)

7. In recent years, I've been fortunate to travel to Moscow, where I helped develop a strategic plan for one of Russia’s largest publishing companies; to New Delhi, where I spoke at Internet World India; to Colombia, where I spent two months traveling around the country to lead Internet seminars at 16 newspapers; and to Southern California, where I run my business and occasionally take a break to run on the beach.

8. In 1998, I was hired by The Miami Herald, first as their online managing editor and a year later, as Director of New Media. I left that position to run CNET’s Latin American operations in Miami. Since 2001, I’ve successfully run my own consulting and writing business.

9. I’ve taught courses in online journalism at the University of Southern California and the University of Miami, and I've been a guest lecturer at more than 20 other universities in the U.S. and Latin America. I also helped create an Internet Literacy program for high school students in Central America.

10. I’ve created and recorded more than 50 hours of training videos on Web design, Dreamweaver, CSS, WordPress, and Expression Web for Kelby Training and Total Training. (Order Janine's videos.)

11. I am a member of the TV Academy's Interactive Media Peer Group and I've served as a judge for a number of contests, including the Interactive Emmy Awards, The Knight News Challenge, and the Arroba de Oro in Latin America.

12. Bonus point: I live with my husband, David LaFontaine, in Southern California.

I run several web sites, including:

• DigitalFamily.com: A Web design training site that features free tutorials, videos, books, and other resources about Web design.
• Chameleon Engine: Dedicated to eBook App design and development.
• JCWarner.com: You're here now, on my personal profile site.
• ChocolateGameRules.com: I believe a little humor can really help when it comes to learning about technology. The Chocolate Game Rules site is just one of many sites I've created to use as examples in my books and training videos. If you haven't played the chocolate game yet -- it's yummy!