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’m on a mission to provide the tools, support and encouragement writers need to tell their truth.
As a memoir coach and developmental editor, writers often come to me when they're stuck. They have a story they need to tell, but what's on the page isn’t lining up with what they envisioned. They've started to draft their memoir (or they've finished their manuscript) but they don't know where to go from here.
“How do I make my story resonate with readers?” they ask. “Is my writing/story even any good?”
I believe clarity leads to the confidence and commitment necessary to write and finish a book so I work alongside writers to help them see their story clearly.
My clients have signed with literary agents, sold their stories to Big Five publishers, self-published and brought their stories to life via hybrid publishing.
I’d love to help you realize your dream of writing (and publishing) your memoir, too!
My Experience & Education
I hold a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in creative nonfiction.
I’m an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach in fiction and memoir.
I’ve worked as a publicity associate for New York Times bestselling authors including Garth Stein, Heidi Durrow and Jamie Ford and as the Director of Marketing and Production for a boutique author agency where I helped independent authors publish and promote their books.
I taught English in Thailand and China and freshman composition at Colorado State University.
In my previous business, I coached numerous people on moving abroad to teach English.
My own writing has won awards and been featured in Brevity, Traveler’s Tales, Emrys Journal, and Horizon Air Magazine, to name a few.
My clients have signed with literary agents, sold their stories to Big Five publishers, self-published and brought their stories to life via hybrid publishing.
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
(Elvis is still not happy about this new addition to the family.)
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.
I love exploring new places as well as visiting old favorites. When the sun is shining (which it does often here in Bend, Oregon), I enjoy hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, cross country skiing, snowboarding and trail running.