Meet the Creator
Jane West Bakerink
Piney: The World′s Most Lovable Christmas Tree!
Jane West Bakerink is a British-born author, screenwriter, singer-songwriter, producer, performer, and co-founder of Haylett Entertainment, LLC.
She grew up in England with eight siblings and a joyful menagerie of fifty-eight dogs, seventeen horses, eleven cats, and countless chickens. That childhood sparked her imagination long before she ever stepped onstage. As a young performer, she appeared across London’s West End, acting, singing, and dancing in television programs, theatre productions, and commercials. Even then, her deepest love was writing. At eight years old, she filled a folder with her stories until the day her mother sold her car, unknowingly sending Jane’s treasured pages along with it. Heartbroken, Jane lost her love for writing.
Years later, after moving to California, she met her husband and creative partner, Jay, who encouraged her back to the page. One winter evening, they passed a closed Christmas tree lot where a few beautiful but unwanted trees still stood. Jane felt a tug at her heart, grabbed a scrap of paper, and began to write. That moment became the first spark of “Piney: The Lonesome Pine.”
In 2000, she self-published her first children’s book, “The Lonesome Pine.” She later wrote the screenplay and two original songs for the animated special, “Piney: The Lonesome Pine”, which featured an Emmy® nominated performance by Sir Jonathan Pryce as Grandpa Sid. “Piney: The Lonesome Pine” premiered on Disney platforms in 2020 and now airs in over 70 countries/territories and 9 languages. In 2022, Jane adapted the film into a global 32-page picture book with Hachette Book Group and Running Press Kids. In 2024, she wrote and performed the audio content for the Tonies® Piney® figurine. In 2026, Piney and his best friend Jackster will join families as plush characters through a partnership with Teddy Mountain™.
Jane is currently developing a new spin-off series of 11-minute episodes, expanding Piney, Georgie, Jackster, and Grandpa Sid’s world while continuing to celebrate the themes closest to her heart. Kindness. Friendship. Belonging.
A member of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, Jane has appeared in numerous television shows, commercials, theatre productions, voice-over projects, and West End performances. She has also written and performed theme songs for several productions, including the Emmy® nominated FOX special “Smart Kids” and the award-winning PBS special “No Labels, No Limits.”
Jane cherishes life with her husband Jay, her creative partner and the love of her life, their two daughters, sons-in-law, four grandchildren, and their beloved rescue dog, Mr. Higgins. She loves dancing, pilates, singing, and music and remains deeply passionate about children, animals, and using storytelling to brighten the world.
She always signs her books with the words that reflect her heart.
“May you always remember how special you are!”
Jane is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)