Photo Credit: Emily Jones Photography
In addition to writing, Jessica has a passion for music—she’s a mezzo soprano with a BA in Music and an equal love of rock concerts and Broadway. Her spare time is spent watching too much TV, trying new cookie recipes, playing cozy video games, and exploring the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her spouse and their magical reindeer herding dog. She can be found with an iced oat milk latte in hand regardless of the weather.
When/how did you realize you had a creative dream or calling to fulfill?
I didn’t realize I had a creative dream in a single defining moment, but rather, it was an innate desire that I gradually learned to recognize in bigger ways. Making up stories was a part of my life from a really young age! My childhood friends and I would take turns dreaming up fantastical scenarios to act out—pretending to be fairies or explorers or Pokémon trainers—and there was something so exhilarating about sharing ideas with others. The role of storytelling in my life shifted and changed over time, whether that meant doodling in diaries about potential characters, or writing fanfiction I never shared with anyone but couldn’t stop thinking about. At some point, I definitely knew I wanted to write books, but I didn’t know what that looked like, so I set that aside during college…and ended up studying music! (My craving for creative pursuits could not be denied.) When I finished my degree, I realized there was nothing stopping me from actually trying to write except my own fear. I’m so glad I decided to go for it!
Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?
I love this question, and my answer is the same for both: The Hunger Games! I read the series at the end of college, and it was the spark that got me back into reading for pleasure. I renewed my library card, discovered a love for dystopian stories, and tore through Divergent, The Selection, Legend, and Uglies in quick succession. Rediscovering my joy of reading really inspired me to get back to writing. The Hunger Games has become a bit of a comfort series for me despite the heavy themes, because I just love the characters so much, and the story is so incredibly compelling. The Hunger Games is a masterclass in pacing and worldbuilding. When I’m looking to up my craft, I return to these books again and again.
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
I had an opportunity to meet with a group of booksellers and librarians about four months before my release date. The night was so meaningful to me, because it was my first official event as an author, and I got to experience it alongside writers and publishing professionals I deeply admire. Talking to folks with the power to put my book in readers’ hands was a little intimidating! But everyone was so kind and enthusiastic—book people really are the best people—and it made this author journey feel that much more real. It was a special experience, and I know I will treasure it for years to come.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to have a life in writing?
Elle Woods said it best: “You must always have faith in yourself.” Publishing is a long, winding road full of highs and lows, and there are also lots of stagnant periods where you’re waiting on things outside of your control. You have to learn to be your own biggest fan and fiercest advocate. So ask questions! Seek learning opportunities! Trust your gut! But taking care of your creative self means learning to pay attention to not just what your career needs to thrive, but your mind and body too. Maybe you like to “write the wait” and work on your next project while you’re anticipating news, or maybe you need to spend a lot of time refilling your creative well between projects. Whatever that looks like, figure out what works for you, so you can have a strategy for the long waits. It’s important to take care of yourself—not just so you can keep creating, but because you deserve care!
What was the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?
At risk of cliché: life! I wrote FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY while my first romance manuscript was on submission to editors (and that book ultimately did not sell at the time.) I had such a hard time getting motivated to write again, which is unusual for me—I’m usually almost too eager to start working on the next project, because new ideas are shiny and exciting. But this time, I was in a period of deep burnout amidst a lot of change in my personal life. I had to take extra time to rest, and I was deeply frustrated with myself, which was not conducive to the creative process. Expecting myself to write when I wasn’t ready made it worse! But once I had the spark of the idea for FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, I couldn’t let it go until I got the story on the page, and it made me fall in love with writing all over again. Working on this book taught me a lot about my process and what I need to be productive, even when life is distractingly busy.
What chapter was the most memorable to write and why?
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY is a second-chance romance about two former rockstars bringing the band back together for the first time in six years. Valerie has remained in the spotlight as an actress, while her ex-love and childhood best friend, Caleb, fled the industry for a life in the suburbs. There’s a chapter early on where the two make music together for the first time in years—doing something as simple as karaoke—and everything between them just starts to click again despite all the tension from being in the same space after a bitter breakup. The moment dregs up all those juicy unresolved feelings from their former relationship, and it affects both of them in a big way. Writing that scene was so special because it really felt like the moment I honed in on a major theme for the book: exploring the way music can bring people together.
Can you tell us when you started FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, how that came about?
During the pandemic, I developed a bit of an obsession with art that had a musical element. I have a background in music, and not being able to work with other musicians for the first time in my adult life made me really miss those collaborative spaces. So I consumed television, film, and books about musicians, and I was struck all over again by the importance of the found family that is so often formed while making music with others. I knew I wanted to write my own story about people with a shared love for music finding their way back to each other… and eventually, they ended up being sexy rockstars struggling to love and be loved in a world heavy with expectation.
What were your feelings when your first novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?
Overwhelming joy and gratitude. I cried so many happy tears! I started working on my first manuscript about ten years ago, so getting to this point was a long time coming. Finally getting published and seeing my name on a cover was so incredibly special. I still want to pinch myself at least once a day.
TEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
I didn’t realize I had a creative dream in a single defining moment, but rather, it was an innate desire that I gradually learned to recognize in bigger ways. Making up stories was a part of my life from a really young age! My childhood friends and I would take turns dreaming up fantastical scenarios to act out—pretending to be fairies or explorers or Pokémon trainers—and there was something so exhilarating about sharing ideas with others. The role of storytelling in my life shifted and changed over time, whether that meant doodling in diaries about potential characters, or writing fanfiction I never shared with anyone but couldn’t stop thinking about. At some point, I definitely knew I wanted to write books, but I didn’t know what that looked like, so I set that aside during college…and ended up studying music! (My craving for creative pursuits could not be denied.) When I finished my degree, I realized there was nothing stopping me from actually trying to write except my own fear. I’m so glad I decided to go for it!
Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?
I love this question, and my answer is the same for both: The Hunger Games! I read the series at the end of college, and it was the spark that got me back into reading for pleasure. I renewed my library card, discovered a love for dystopian stories, and tore through Divergent, The Selection, Legend, and Uglies in quick succession. Rediscovering my joy of reading really inspired me to get back to writing. The Hunger Games has become a bit of a comfort series for me despite the heavy themes, because I just love the characters so much, and the story is so incredibly compelling. The Hunger Games is a masterclass in pacing and worldbuilding. When I’m looking to up my craft, I return to these books again and again.
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
I had an opportunity to meet with a group of booksellers and librarians about four months before my release date. The night was so meaningful to me, because it was my first official event as an author, and I got to experience it alongside writers and publishing professionals I deeply admire. Talking to folks with the power to put my book in readers’ hands was a little intimidating! But everyone was so kind and enthusiastic—book people really are the best people—and it made this author journey feel that much more real. It was a special experience, and I know I will treasure it for years to come.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to have a life in writing?
Elle Woods said it best: “You must always have faith in yourself.” Publishing is a long, winding road full of highs and lows, and there are also lots of stagnant periods where you’re waiting on things outside of your control. You have to learn to be your own biggest fan and fiercest advocate. So ask questions! Seek learning opportunities! Trust your gut! But taking care of your creative self means learning to pay attention to not just what your career needs to thrive, but your mind and body too. Maybe you like to “write the wait” and work on your next project while you’re anticipating news, or maybe you need to spend a lot of time refilling your creative well between projects. Whatever that looks like, figure out what works for you, so you can have a strategy for the long waits. It’s important to take care of yourself—not just so you can keep creating, but because you deserve care!
What was the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?
At risk of cliché: life! I wrote FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY while my first romance manuscript was on submission to editors (and that book ultimately did not sell at the time.) I had such a hard time getting motivated to write again, which is unusual for me—I’m usually almost too eager to start working on the next project, because new ideas are shiny and exciting. But this time, I was in a period of deep burnout amidst a lot of change in my personal life. I had to take extra time to rest, and I was deeply frustrated with myself, which was not conducive to the creative process. Expecting myself to write when I wasn’t ready made it worse! But once I had the spark of the idea for FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, I couldn’t let it go until I got the story on the page, and it made me fall in love with writing all over again. Working on this book taught me a lot about my process and what I need to be productive, even when life is distractingly busy.
What chapter was the most memorable to write and why?
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY is a second-chance romance about two former rockstars bringing the band back together for the first time in six years. Valerie has remained in the spotlight as an actress, while her ex-love and childhood best friend, Caleb, fled the industry for a life in the suburbs. There’s a chapter early on where the two make music together for the first time in years—doing something as simple as karaoke—and everything between them just starts to click again despite all the tension from being in the same space after a bitter breakup. The moment dregs up all those juicy unresolved feelings from their former relationship, and it affects both of them in a big way. Writing that scene was so special because it really felt like the moment I honed in on a major theme for the book: exploring the way music can bring people together.
Can you tell us when you started FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, how that came about?
During the pandemic, I developed a bit of an obsession with art that had a musical element. I have a background in music, and not being able to work with other musicians for the first time in my adult life made me really miss those collaborative spaces. So I consumed television, film, and books about musicians, and I was struck all over again by the importance of the found family that is so often formed while making music with others. I knew I wanted to write my own story about people with a shared love for music finding their way back to each other… and eventually, they ended up being sexy rockstars struggling to love and be loved in a world heavy with expectation.
What were your feelings when your first novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?
Overwhelming joy and gratitude. I cried so many happy tears! I started working on my first manuscript about ten years ago, so getting to this point was a long time coming. Finally getting published and seeing my name on a cover was so incredibly special. I still want to pinch myself at least once a day.
TEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
- 1. The first detail I had about the book was the band name: Glitter Bats. I don’t exactly remember where it came from originally, but there’s a fun explanation for it in the novel.
- 2. I wrote the first draft during NaNoWriMo in 2022. It wasn’t my first time fast drafting, but it was my first time completing an 80,000-word project in exactly one month!
- 3. When I decided to include song lyrics in the book, I took an online songwriting class. It had been a while since I studied music, and this research was invaluable in developing the Glitter Bats catalog, even though I wouldn’t call myself a songwriter by any means. But I had a lot of fun!
- 4. There’s a lot of mixed media in the book, but my favorite is a fanfiction database listing about the characters. Creating it felt very meta.
- 5. A lot of the social media posts I wrote for the project were inspired by my own experiences in fandom spaces. The names and scenarios are of course different, but all of the comments are based on things I’ve seen online!
- 6. Before we settled on the title of FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, the working title was WHEN OUR STARS COLLIDED. It was a deep cut for fans of one of my favorite TV shows, but I’m so happy with the final title, so it wasn’t a heartbreak to change it. No regrets!
- 7. Valerie and Caleb’s bandmates are each named in honor of a pop culture reference: one from Jane Austen, one from Star Trek, and one from Ted Lasso. It truly shows the range of my personal tastes!
- 8. While the book is about a pop-punk band, there are a few references for Swifties. I like to describe the plot as “Delicate” meets “Midnight Rain.”
- 9. In addition to Taylor Swift, my FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY playlist has a wide range of music, including songs from Paramore, 5 Seconds of Summer, Yellowcard, Avril Lavigne, Joseph, Lizzy McAlpine, and the Julie and the Phantoms soundtrack.
- 10. FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY isn’t the last you’ll see of the Glitter Bats. Stay tuned!
My first job was babysitting! Before I really got started, I took a class that included getting my first-aid certification, and I put an ad in our small town paper every summer. I usually babysat for family friends and neighbors, but it was regular enough that I didn’t get another job until I could drive (when I spent a summer working at a telephone answering service.)
What is your happiest childhood memory?
What is your happiest childhood memory?
I did 4-H and rode horses as a kid, and while the shows were fun, what I loved most were my after-school days spending time at the barn. There was something so peaceful about spending time with horses that made my anxieties melt away. Even though I don’t ride any more, I still think of myself as a horse kid, and I really hope I can get back into it someday.
What was your favorite subject when you were in school and why?
What was your favorite subject when you were in school and why?
High school English! I fell in love with Emily Dickinson and Shakespeare, and it’s where I got my first taste of writing (and my first positive feedback! English teachers are heroes.) It took a long time to shift from literary essays to fiction writing, but I’m grateful for every step on that journey.
What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a kid?
What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a kid?
I was a 90s kid and I wouldn’t change it! I am grateful that I (mostly) grew up without social media and with some of the best Disney films. It wasn’t the worst time to be a kid!
Name one thing you miss about being a kid.
Name one thing you miss about being a kid.
The luxury of unstructured time without adult obligations. There’s something so precious about the days when I could get homework done and then simply do whatever I wanted for the rest of the day. I read so many more books and played way more video games back then!
Best date you've ever had?
Best date you've ever had?
My spouse and I went to Disneyland for our ten-year wedding anniversary, and it was basically a three-day long date! We spent a ton of time in Galaxy’s Edge, had an anniversary dinner at one of the restaurants, and even got some photos taken. It was also in December, which is a really special time to be at Disney with all of the holiday celebrations. The trip is full of memories I’ll cherish forever.
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
I’m not a morning person, so honestly, it’s how to get ready for my day—because if I get distracted, I’m genuinely at risk of not making it out the door on time! I have to keep myself focused and keep my eyes on the clock. But…I’m a daydreamer, so I often spend my drive to work manifesting the best-case scenarios of what my near future could hold.
What is your most memorable travel experience?
What is your most memorable travel experience?
Right after we graduated high school, a good friend and I went to New York City. We were barely adults, and being in the city with our future ahead of us made anything seem possible. We saw a ton of Broadway shows (including Wicked and Spring Awakening,) ate a ton of fabulous food, and spent days exploring the city. I loved every minute.
Which incident in your life that totally changed the way you think today?
Which incident in your life that totally changed the way you think today?
Not an incident per se, but two years working in public libraries radically changed how I see the world. I learned a lot about all the ways libraries serve the public beyond making books free to access. I also learned about media literacy and fighting book bans! The freedom to read is so incredibly important to our society, and it’s something I’m committed to advocate for as an author.
Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a heart break or have never loved before?
Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a heart break or have never loved before?
This feels easy—I would definitely choose true love with a guarantee of heartbreak. I think love is worth it no matter how much time you have with someone, if that’s the kind of thing you’re looking for. As a romance author, that’s one of my guiding principles!
What do you usually think about right before falling asleep?
What do you usually think about right before falling asleep?
Usually I write fanfiction in my head, because it helps me turn off my anxiety brain. There’s something about revisiting familiar stories and characters that is so comforting.
If you had to go back in time and change one thing, if you HAD to, even if you had “no regrets” what would it be?
If you had to go back in time and change one thing, if you HAD to, even if you had “no regrets” what would it be?
I’d go to grad school. I was offered an opportunity to continue in my music program right after undergrad, but I didn’t take it because I was trying to avoid more student loans. That was a sound financial decision, but I also wish I’d gotten my master’s when I had the chance. I’m not sure I’ll ever go back at this point! To this day, it remains my biggest “what if.”
First Love?
First Love?
I’m lucky enough to say it’s my spouse! We were college sweethearts, and our love story is honored in my FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY dedication.
Most horrifying dream you have ever had?
Most horrifying dream you have ever had?
I’m child free to this day, but I started having vivid dreams about being pregnant when I was in high school, and the first one really unsettled me! I later learned it’s a very common stress dream. Go figure!
What is your greatest adventure?
What is your greatest adventure?
Being an author! Every step in this process has been full of the unexpected, and it’s both a challenge and a joy.
What were you doing the last time you really had a good laugh?
What were you doing the last time you really had a good laugh?
It was definitely interacting with my dog. We have an older Lapponian Herder who is very odd and particular, and does things like begging for lettuce and hiding underneath my writing desk when he hears beeping sounds. Recently, he started flopping dramatically near my yoga mat when I’m trying to work out, because he’s offended if attention is not on him at all times. He keeps us entertained!
For Glitter Bats keys player Jane Mercer, writing music helps tune out her self-doubt from a strict upbringing. Composing also distracts from her longtime feelings for her bandmate and best friend, Keeley, who Jane can’t pursue if she wants to keep her bisexuality out of the media. But when an incompetent percussionist quits mid–recording session on one of her major solo projects, there’s only one drummer to call to make the deadline.
Keeley Cunningham is determined to do what’s best for the newly-reunited Glitter Bats—including conceal her incurable attraction to Jane by keeping her distance. Still, when Jane asks for her help in the studio, Keeley drops everything to fill in. They collaborate harmoniously… until their repressed feelings crescendo into a massive argument about the band’s future that leaves them barely speaking.
As music forces Jane and Keeley into increasingly close proximity, the lingering tension finally ignites into the romance they’ve both been craving—and it’s hot, emotional, and fundamentally secret. But after an intimate moment is caught on camera, they’ll have to decide if their duet can survive its debut—both on and off stage.
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