Reni Bumpas lives outside of Jackson, Mississippi, with her husband Wally, who serves as an assistant pastor at Madison Heights Church. As a pastor’s wife, Reni finds joy in opening their home for a meal or visiting with a cup of hot tea or coffee and has delighted many with her culinary skills. A people person who treasures hearing and relating to the stories of others, Reni serves as a mentor, organizing and leading Bible studies and small groups. With four adult children and five grandchildren (so far!), Reni counts spending time with her family among her greatest blessings.

While serving with her husband as house parents at French Camp Academy, a residential Christian boarding school in Mississippi, Reni released her first book. Running Away to Home, a young adult novel, aspires to help teenage girls not feel so alone. The idea came to her when she was a sophomore at Oxford High and realized that other girls like her hid their insecurities behind the masks of brains, clothes, popularity, beauty, etc.

Reni grew up in Oxford, MS, home of William Faulkner and John Grisham. Her writing journey began at the age of ten when The Oxford Eagle published her first article. In high school she served as the editor of her high school paper and became a regular contributor to The Oxford Eagle.