ABOUT JESS

 

  

               

    From my first day shelving picture books at a local library, I knew I wanted to create them. I couldn’t wait to get to the V section every day, so I could sneak a peek at a certain artist’s beautiful illustrations. I loved picture books so much, I became a school library teacher so I could be surrounded by beautiful books every day! I also moved to Cape Cod with my husband Gary and our two children so I could be surrounded by beaches every day!

    What is your dream? To write your own song? To build a huge sand castle? To design your own clothes? Find out about what you love. Find out your favorite things to do, and do them! Enjoy every day! Life is a great adventure!

Mom and Dad

1969

two dreamers

I was born and raised in Fall River, Massachusetts. Fall River was a great place to grow up. It was filled with all different people, different foods, and different languages. People were friendly and I felt like I belonged.

When I was very young my grandparents lived downstairs. My Mom, my Dad, my sister, and I lived upstairs. My aunt and uncle lived next door. It was like a big nest! When I was six years old, Mom and Dad told me we were moving away. I cried. I cried until we moved into the new house and realized we only moved a few minutes away from our old apartment. I could still visit Grandma and Grandpa Golden!

On Sundays my family drove out to the beach in rain, snow, or shine- it didn’t matter. Dad loved everything about the beach. In summer, the cool water made us forget the hot city pavement. In winter, the white country roads made us forget the city blocks. The beach was my favorite place in the world.

  Mom worked as a designer, and traveled to New York City often. I loved looking at the cool bags she created before she zipped them away in her luggage and kissed me goodbye. She was amazing to me. She told me I could do anything and be anything in life and I believed her.