So, what is it about memoir?
Memoir is where memory, meaning and craft unite.
It's where we spend time processing on the page so we can show up as better humans in and for the world.
It's where the narrative tools of fiction and the honesty of nonfiction collide.
It's where creativity and strategy work hand in hand. Every story needs imagination and structure, voice and vision, vulnerability and clarity.
This nuanced nature is why the genre is often met with confusion, apprehension and shame.
It's why so many writers ask how to write and how to publish a memoir, only to hear the dreaded words: It depends.
That's where I come in.
Hi, I’m Jessica!
I believe true stories can foster empathy and connection. They can inspire and motivate. And for those who have the courage to tell them, they can heal and even empower.
I've been writing memoir and studying the publishing industry for over twenty years. In that time, I’ve been an educator, a coach, an editor, a publisher and a strategist. I’ve been a publicity associate for New York Times bestselling authors including Garth Stein, Heidi Durrow and Jamie Ford; taught English as a foreign language in Thailand and China and English Composition at Colorado State University; became the Director of Marketing and Production for a boutique author agency where I helped independent authors publish and promote their books; worked as a freelance writer and editor, and coached countless individuals to find the courage and programs to live and work abroad. I also earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism, a master’s degree in creative nonfiction and a book coach certification in fiction and memoir.
Now I work with writers who have lived through many twists and turns, and want to bring that very personal story into the world — with clarity, confidence and accountability.
I’m also a mom to a beautiful daughter, wife to my best friend and favorite adventure partner, and a nature lover who has scaled mountains and rock faces alike.
I’ll never get tired of a stunning mountain view, a star-filled sky on a clear night, or exploring new cultures, perspectives and lands.
I do my best writing and thinking while I'm hiking in the woods.
I live my life the way I write and encourage my clients to do the same — with intention, authenticity and a sense of adventure.
All this to say that I didn't get here without a few life transformations of my own:
At 18, I left the only home I’d ever known — my family’s farm in the middle of a wheat field, several miles from the nearest neighbor, and my rural community of 700 people in the Middle of Nowhere, Oregon — and moved to downtown Los Angeles to chase a dream of working in fashion.
I’ve traveled in over 30 countries and lived in three, including the two years I spent teaching English in Thailand and China.
In my early thirties, I lost my father in a tragic car accident.
In my late thirties, I became a mom.
Each experience asked me to question everything I thought I knew to be true, to rebuild myself, and to make sense of my world anew.
I did so through writing.
Writing memoir requires so much more than just desire and determination. It demands that we (re)write our personal narrative so we can rewrite ourselves.
Poet Muriel Rukeyser once asked and answered inside a poem —
“What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life?The world would split open.” Let’s split the world open, shall we?
What Writers Are Saying
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“Jessica does a fantastic job with giving perspective that has the ability to help you tease more out of your writing. She is adept at giving feedback that helps to not only push you to broaden your skills as a writer, but also helps you to better understand your own voice within your work, a powerful asset for any writer!”
—HOLLY BECK
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”Jessica is a dream beta reader—equal parts kind and fierce. She’ll put you at ease even as she encourages you to take bigger, braver writing risks.”
—NATALYA SAVKA
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“Jessica got me to dig deeper into my past in ways I never imagined and helped me find the belief in myself that I could do this. I wake up every morning excited to work on the next chapter and Jessica’s thoughtful feedback gets the wheels turning for ways in which I can improve the next draft. If you’re thinking about writing a memoir, you want someone like Jessica by your side. I swear my memoir would not exist without her.”
—JESSICA LEIBE
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“Working with Jessica is affirming and encouraging. Jessica is affirming as a kindred writer and appreciates the nuanced challenges that arise on and beyond the screen. She's encouraging with creative expression helping to sharpen craft knowledge in a welcoming, supportive atmosphere. Whether you're an emerging or established writer, you'll benefit from Jessica's editorial services!"
—BECKY GILES GREEN
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“Before I started working with Jessica, my memoir felt like a distant dream. Through weeks of accountability, guidance, development, direction, and a bit of non-judgemental hand-holding, she has made this dream more and more of a reality. I highly recommend working with her, regardless of what stage your writing may be in. Unlike workshops or critique groups, I have been a part of before, her coaching delves deep to understand the true meaning of the work, bringing hope into sessions when I thought I was most lost. Also, the tone that she delivers all of her critiques and advice is calm, understanding, and incredibly knowledgeable. I trust her with my deepest secrets and worst writing!”
—HELENA GUGLIELMINO
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“She shares a perfect balance of what she loves from your story, highlighting where your writing shines and then pointing out where your words are not grabbing her the way it should. What I appreciate most is that her critiques are bold, and she does not hold back, inviting the author to also be bold and try something new after 2 to 7 rounds of rewrites. Jessica's support and encouragement has reignited my drive to keep editing and keep pushing to publication.”
— NATASHA BUFFO
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“Working with Jessica has helped to open new dimensions for my memoir manuscript. Through The Memoir Map and structured discussion, she has really helped me to dig deep into the heart of my story, uncover my motivation for writing it, and reveal the gaps in my narrative, including ideas for best opening and closing scenes. For anyone working in memoir, I would not hesitate to recommend them to work with Jessica!”
—WILEY WEI-CHIUN HO
A brief timeline of how I got here:
I grew up on a wheat farm that used to be an old farm depot called Gwendolyn but is home to just my family. My great grandma went to school in what is now our barn. The nearest town is eight miles away and only 700 people.
I helped with the annual harvest every year for over twenty years. My Puggle Elvis joined, too!
I graduated high school with 21 students, many of which I'd known since preschool.
At 18, I moved to Los Angeles to attend fashion school. I earned a degree in Visual Communications, which has come in handy in countless ways in my life, from decorating my house to helping writers pen their memoirs.
After giving up on a career in fashion, I moved back to Oregon to get a degree in journalism. (Go Ducks!)
My first job post B.A. was working as a publicity associate for some big-name authors, including Garth Stein, Heidi Durrow and Jamie Ford.
But I had the itch.
So I followed my heart and moved to Asia. I taught English as a foreign language in Thailand and China, and backpacked all over Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and India alone.
I loved teaching so much that after two years abroad, I moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to earn a master's degree in creative nonfiction. Among several other teaching and tutoring positions, I taught freshman composition while I was there.
While in grad school, I partnered with agencies all around the globe to start a company where I coached people on how to achieve their dream of teaching English overseas. I helped hundreds of likeminded adventurers achieve their goal until…
Covid.
When the pandemic shuttered all the borders and put me out of business, I asked myself what I really wanted to do.
The answer? Work with writers.
I took a job with a boutique agency offering publishing and promotion for authors and quickly became the Director of Marketing and Production.
After two years of helping writers publish and promote their books, I knew I wanted to pivot my coaching and writing skills to my true passion — helping writers turn their experiences into stories that sell.
Somewhere in between those last two points, I met my best friend, life partner and one big love. We eloped in Salzburg, Austria in 2022.
In October 2024, we welcomed a precious baby girl into our lives. We call her Gwendolyn, after where I grew up <3
When I’m not engrossed in a good literary novel or memoir with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, I’m probably off traveling or playing in the outdoors with my family.
Some of my favorite books include:
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Easy Beauty by Chloe Cooper Jones
Heavy by Kiese Laymon
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Anything by Melissa Febos, Abigail Thomas, or Mary Karr