Jay A. Parry

Jay Atwell Parry
Parry vacationing in France, August 2010.
Born	(1950-10-12) October 12, 1950 (age 66) Nampa, Idaho, United States
Pen name	Joanna Benton, Alden Perkes, Marshall Stringer
Occupation	Author, editor
Genre	LDS fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, poetry, self-help

Jay Atwell Parry (born October 12, 1950) is an American author. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his LDS nonfiction and his books about George Washington.

Parry was born in Nampa, Idaho to Atwell Parry, an Idaho state senator, and Elaine Hughes Parry. He is the third child of seven. At the age of 13, he moved with his family to Melba, Idaho, where he worked in his father's grocery store.

After high school, he attended Ricks College (now Brigham Young University–Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho, where he served as editor of the school's literary magazine, Runes. When he turned 19, he served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, Texas from 1970 to 1972. Upon returning from his mission, he moved to Provo, Utah to attend Brigham Young University, from which he graduated in August 1974 with a bachelor's degree in English. He served in the United States Air National Guard from 1972 to 1979, and wrote and edited the official newsletter for the Utah Air National Guard.

While in college, Parry worked for the BYU Press as a proofreader and copy editor. This led to him obtaining employment as associate editor for the Church's Ensign magazine from the mid-70's to the early 80's.