Anena Hansen is a freelance writer, development worker, and advertising consultant, currently based out of Nairobi, Kenya.

Raised in the northeastern US, she wrote her first story at age 5 (‘A Cat Named Sick’), decided to become a professional writer in junior high school (while producing copious fiction in green ink on a hand-me-down electric typewriter), and sold her first article at age 24 (a story written from the perspective of…a Christmas tree).

She spent her 20s embracing the starving artist lifestyle, living in a quarter of the U.S. states while working crappy entry-level jobs such as waitress, receptionist, and barista, as well as traveling puppeteer, personal care provider to mentally handicapped geriatrics, and manager of an auto body shop. After being perpetually broke (in the name of writing stories that weren’t good enough to show anyone) grew old, she married a fabulous Navy boy, then un-married him a couple years later. Upon which she picked up and moved to Africa, started her career in earnest, and discovered responsible adulthood was rather rewarding after all.

In addition to freelancing for publications in the US and Kenya, Anena sells advertising and sponsorships at a corporate level and is extensively involved in development work around the greater Nairobi area, with a focus on high-risk, disadvantaged women and girls.

Photo credit Neil Thomas

Anena and her love Austin at the Kenya coast, surrounded by their kids/nephews/etc!