Jen Belcastro, Author

Jen Belcastro, Author Jen Belcastro, through her own lived experiences, writes with a raw, unfiltered voice driven by a lifelong pursuit of justice.

As a creative writer & memoirist, she inspires others to see that they have way more power over their lives than they may think.

4/21/2026 - Commemorating 6 Years Completely Cancer Free!————————————————-As legend has it, I was born a fighter and thr...
04/21/2026

4/21/2026 - Commemorating 6 Years Completely Cancer Free!
————————————————-
As legend has it, I was born a fighter and throughout my life, strength, resilience, and my fighting nature have been among my most attributable characteristics—mostly attributed to me by others. However, despite hearing these characteristics describe me throughout my adult life, they weren’t the first descriptors I used to describe myself. That is, until the unprecedented year of 2020.

While I suspect that 2020 and COVID-19 tested just about everyone in the world, it would test me to my absolute limits. Through a harrowing fight to save my life, my true self would be revealed as an undeniable testament to the characteristics that are core to who I am as a person.

I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March of 2020 in New York City (the epicenter of the COVID crisis), and subsequently denied treatment due to the government takeover of private healthcare in New York—something that should strike fear in anybody who believes in bodily autonomy, and our inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, or quite frankly, anyone that has been to the post office, DMV, or any other government institution for that matter. My journey and fight against a corrupt government for the treatment I deserved, would lead to my self-actualization that what other people have always seen in me is 💯 spot on.

The single most important thing I have learned throughout my life is that you have to be your own biggest advocate. You cannot rely on anyone else to fight on your behalf, as much as you might want to believe differently. Sure, you will have people in your corner (maybe lots of them), but the sole responsibility for the outcome of your life lies solely within YOU.

And while this may feel very lonely at times, you have way more way power and control over your life than you might believe. I promise. I give gratitude every day that I know and live by this Universal Truth. May my journey be someone else’s guide, not only to survive, but to thrive. 💫🌕✨

4/21/2026 - Commemorating 6 Years Completely Cancer Free---------------------------------------------------------------“...
04/21/2026

4/21/2026 - Commemorating 6 Years Completely Cancer Free
---------------------------------------------------------------
“I will not take ‘no’ for an answer when ‘no’ is not a reasonable answer” – Me

As legend has it, I was born a fighter and throughout my life, strength, resilience, and my fighting nature have been among my most attributable characteristics—mostly attributed to me by others. However, despite hearing these characteristics describe me throughout my adult life, they weren’t the first descriptors I used to describe myself. That is, until the unprecedented year of 2020.

While I suspect that 2020 and COVID-19 tested just about everyone in the world, it would test me to my absolute limits. Through a harrowing fight to save my life, my true self would be revealed as an undeniable testament to the characteristics that are core to who I am as a person.

I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March of 2020 in New York City (the epicenter of the COVID crisis), and subsequently denied treatment due to the government takeover of private healthcare in New York—something that should strike fear in anybody who believes in bodily autonomy, and our inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, or quite frankly, anyone that has been to the offices of the United States Postal Service, Department of Motor Vehicles, or any other government institution for that matter. My journey and fight against a corrupt government for the treatment I deserved, would lead to my self-actualization that what other people have always seen in me is 100 percent spot on.

However, what I don’t think a lot of people realize, and hence the title of my memoir, “Even Strong Girls Cry”, is that while being a strong, resilient, fighter looks one way on the outside, it feels completely different on the inside. It is extremely hard, exhausting, frustrating, overwhelming, lonely, and all-encompassing, to say the least. Very often, I didn’t even realize that I was being strong, because on the inside I felt anything but.

On my journey, I would learn that driving my strength is an even more powerful force—my absolute need for justice, integrity, honesty, and accountability in this world.

But, had it not been for these characteristics, I might not be here to tell you my story. The single most important thing I have learned throughout my life is that you have to be your own biggest advocate. You cannot rely on anyone else to fight on your behalf, as much as you might want to believe differently. Sure, you will have people in your corner (maybe lots of them), but the sole responsibility for the outcome of your life lies solely within YOU.

This experience has taught me that while it may feel very lonely at times, you have way more way power and control over your life than you might believe. I promise. I give gratitude every day that I know and live by this Universal Truth.

May my journey be someone else’s guide, not only to survive, but to thrive. 💫🌕✨

Join me! Link to the whole story in my bio.

For my Dañielita and me, life is not about the destination, but about the journey. We embrace our sometimes crazy, alway...
04/05/2026

For my Dañielita and me, life is not about the destination, but about the journey. We embrace our sometimes crazy, always spontaneous, unconventional life, prioritizing experiences over material possessions. For us, “not all who wander are lost.”

Our passions for photography and creative writing have become our way of ensuring that our precious memories are preserved in such a way that time travel becomes possible—we can relive each moment, often triggering lots of laughter and the the recounting adventures so crazy you wouldn’t believe them if you hadn’t lived them. 🌎💫⭐️🌕❤️

Photo dump of our 4 years, 4 countries—mother-daughter life abroad.

In collaboration with…by.dani2028

Exactly 6 years ago on March 29th 2020, my soulmate (my daughter) and I were refugees in what seemed like the end of the...
03/31/2026

Exactly 6 years ago on March 29th 2020, my soulmate (my daughter) and I were refugees in what seemed like the end of the world for both of us, though much of that remained unspoken until months later, because this was just one small moment in an epic war where I had to fight to save my life against forces so much more powerful than me.

To the corrupt institutions, I was invisible. They turned a blind eye and a deaf ear and laughed along the way. And, that lit the fire 🔥 that has been within me since the day I was put on this Earth.

For better or for worse, I live to fight against the non-sensical injustice that permeates our society. For me, you never take no for an answer when no is not a reasonable answer.

I know from this excruciatingly painful experience, that YOU have way more power over your life than you believe. I promise you 💪🏼 (Link to the full story in my bio)

Relevant chapters in my book to get the full story of this scene:

Chapter 18 - Remember Who You Are
Chapter 19 - Ready, Set, Go



I’m curious…Would you do the same?

Mi igualita ❤️
03/23/2026

Mi igualita ❤️

Preview of my official Author website and answering, “Why I Wrote This Book” Put simply…🔥 I live by doing.💫 I own my own...
02/26/2026

Preview of my official Author website and answering, “Why I Wrote This Book” Put simply…

🔥 I live by doing.
💫 I own my own truth.
💪🏼 I show you your power isn’t negotiable.

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New York, NY

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+19173707067

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