From a young age, the arts have always captivated me. I truly believe people are born with the soul of an artist if that is your calling. Whether it was music, film, dance, literature, or fine art, no matter what path I chose, art seemed to always find its way back into the forefront of my mind.

As a child, I wasn’t your typical loud, obnoxious, get into everything sort. I remember sitting back and watching those around me. How they interacted. The way they used their hands and facial expressions to tell stories or react to those around them. I can recall taking in the scenery around me. Enjoying nature, especially during the summer and fall seasons. The colors always captivated me and the sense of peace the quiet provided was unequivocal.

The world of fantasy was something that was ingrained into me from the start. I am not sure if I even had a choice to whether I liked this genre or not, but it now has become a center stone of my life. My father was the first to introduce me to this fascinating and entrancing universe. Star Wars was and still remains my first love.

When The Phantom Menace hit the big screen when I was 9 years old, I wanted so desperately to be Queen Amidala. That Halloween, guess who I was? I remember dreaming about being in the scenes, fighting with lightsabers, and having a power and skill set that set me apart from all others. Though some of you may be shocked by this, I never wanted to be on the side of the light. I was always fascinated with the dark power and all the freedoms it seemed to possess.

When I was old enough to read the fan fiction novels in the Star Wars universe, I dove head first into the dark side and all the fun and alluring power the complex characters seemed to acquire. This is where my love for the morally gray characters probably started.

As time went on, Harry Potter captivated me through the world of witchcraft and magic. Anne Rice and her world of vampires and magic was not far behind. This is where my love of incorporating history into my own stories came into play. I admired how Rice researched her content and subject matter in order to foster those connections with her readers and the real world, linking fantasy to reality.

As a teen, Twilight, Charmed, Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Buffy, Angel; all of the classics inspired me to write… and so the journey began when I was 16.

As time progressed, I set my love for writing aside, focusing on choosing a career path that would financially support a family. After sifting through multiple degrees and programs, my love for fine art won out. I had a natural talent for drawing. After four years of honing that talent and falling head over heels in love with ceramics, I graduated with a fine arts degree. My desire to help support and protect children was my next driving force, leading me into the world of education.

Once I began a family of my own, I took a step back from my career and focused on the two beautiful daughters I had been blessed with. Soon after, I had this feeling of emptiness inside of me that I didn’t know how to fill. Being a mother and a wife had become my identity… but who was I? Who was Jessica? Had I lost myself behind the image and role I now fulfilled?

I took a step back and assessed my life. Though being a mother is still the most rewarding and important job I will ever assume, what became of me after my children grew up and began to follow their own passions and aspirations in life?

I began to read. Filling my free time with the stories of fictional characters that became my friends and family. Diving into worlds where the sky was the limit and the possibilities were endless. Then… I began to dream. I’ve always had a very active imagination. Playing scenes and roles in my head like a movie reel. I began to create my own story plots with characters and situations that fascinated me through these intense, magical journeys.

Eventually, the stories overpowered me, forcing me to put the characters and worlds down on paper. Thus, the writing began. Through this craft, I realized I had never felt more fulfilled in my life than when I saw my creations coming to life through literature. The feeling of accomplishment and completion was overwhelming. I had never felt more like myself than I did when I was writing. Not while creating art, dancing, composing music… none of it compares to writing.

At first, the stories were just for me, but then as I began to share them with friends and family, I was encouraged to pursue the potential of having these works published so they could be shared with the world.

My first book was a mess. I didn’t stick to any regulations or requirements agents looked for. Topping out at a whopping 319,000 words, I knew I needed to set that story aside and begin again. Thus, the creation of Awakening the Dark Throne began. I threw myself into research, pulling references from Norse Mythology and history itself. I have always been drawn to the dark; more intrigued by the horrific events in time that helped shape and redefine our civilizations and ways of life. I knew I wanted to add real moments into my story, even if they were sometimes hard to stomach. Even as a child, I enjoyed Grimm’s versions of fairytales more than Disney's.

Writing became my passion. My therapy. A way to escape or work through some of the hardest moments and times of my life. In each book, I incorporate a part of me into the plot. Whether it be a character flaw, a situation they are overcoming, or a personal battle they are forced to deal with within themselves. Some of these elements are extremely personal and painful to relive for me, but writing helps me process through each trauma, whether it was from childhood or more recent. I believe that true artists must incorporate parts of their souls into their work, for if not, how are we to expect people to connect or resonate with the final piece?

Years later, after a million rejection letters, I decided to self publish. As I embarked on this journey, I was offered a publishing deal through my current press house which opened doors I never expected to have access to.

Publishing and getting my name recognized isn’t why I began this process. I write because I need to. I believe all creative souls have this need to exert their creative talents through their craft. I write because I love the stories and characters I've created. I love sharing my excitement with others, and hearing their thoughts and ideas. There is an entire book community that has taken over every mainstream social media platform, flooding the internet with book reviews, book recommendations, fanart, book trailers, swag and more.

People love talking about what they love. Making those connections. Sharing ideas. Learning from one another. Conspiring about plots or what will come next. We, as a species, desire and need those connections. Literature provides a diverse environment where people from different cultures, countries, and backgrounds can come together and share in what they love. How beautiful is that?

My advice to anyone who will ever ask: Don’t EVER stop pursuing what you love. God put those talents and desires inside of you for a reason. And if you aren’t completely satisfied with life. If you feel like you are missing something, then you haven’t found your purpose. You haven’t found that special thing inside of you that only YOU possess. Keep searching. Keep discovering. Don’t stop until you know what it is to love yourself and the talents you possess. Don't stop until you obtain the life you’ve always dreamed of. The life you’ve shaped from your hard work, dedication, and calling.