Piker Press — Weekly Journal of Arts and Literature
April 13, 2026
Jon Renaut

Jon Renaut

Jon Renaut, a.k.a. The Tejon, contributes photos and articles to the Press, but his true fame is the instigation of the Urinal Cake Thread, now an annual tradition on the NaNoWriMo boards every November, and here at the Press the rest of the year.

26 Articles
4 Genres
2011 Most Recent
✉ tejon@filthypikers.com
Short 1 Opinion 1 Nonfiction 3 Comics 21

About Jon Renaut

I grew up in scenic Annapolis Maryland, now I live just outside of DC. I have a bachelor's degree in math, minor in Spanish, and currently I'm a software engineer for a medium-sized defense contractor. Outside of work, I like to write and take pictures, but I don't do enough of either. I also like to complain a lot, and many would argue that it's my true calling.

I have been writing since I was little. Back in kindergarten, we were offered pieces of paper with a large blank space at the top, and a few lines at the bottom. We drew a picture, and then wrote something about it. I moved on to short fiction in elementary school, then almost forgot about writing until a really passionate professor in college made me read Faulkner. I wrote a short story, imitating Faulkner's writing style, and my professor loved it. Then, a few years later, I was introduced to Nanowrimo, and then the Piker Press.

My real claim to fame is that I'm the Father of Urinal Cakes. No, I didn't invent them. But it was my post in the Nanowrimo forums back in November of 2002 that started the whole UC Saga, and I do feel a large amount of pride to be responsible for so much nonsense being put into the public eye.

I am also obsessed with Costa Rica. When you look at the beautiful beaches and the even more beautiful women, it's hard to imagine who couldn't feel the same way. I've been twice with a friend who grew up there, and plan to go back as many times as possible. Each time I go, it gets harder to come back here.

Short

1 article ↑ top
  • Winter's End  — short

    The badger cometh! They do things a little different in D.C.

Opinion

1 article ↑ top
  • Attack of the Cicadas  — op_ed, humor, insects

    The last time the cicadas were here, he was only nine years old. The next time the cicadas come, he'll be out of the country.

Nonfiction

3 articles ↑ top
  • Another Day at the D.O.D.  — nonfiction memoir

    Working for the Department of Defense is, generally speaking, a pretty good job. But as one software engineer discovers before heading home, little quirks like being quarantined for five hours due to a "biological threat" aren't exactly what you'd call perks. A true, first hand account of what turns out to be just another day at the D.O.D.

  • Peek of the Week 039  — photo art

    Caterpillar in the Sun

  • Peek of the Week 052  — photo art

    A droplet catches the sun and the center stage.

Comics

21 articles ↑ top