Jess Zimmerman Books In Order

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

About Jess Zimmerman

The American editor and author Jess Zimmerman has fast become a household name, making a name for herself through her witty and informative work online. Working for a number of different publications, from The Guardian, to Vice, to Slate, she’s become well know as a writer with something to say. Reaching readers from all over the world, she’s often found writing about literature too, immersing herself heavily in the world of publishing. This has seen her grow exponentially as a writer over time, creating both a style and tone that is very much her own.

Setting herself apart from other writers within her field, she lends a critical lens to genre fiction, often focusing on the fantasy genre. This has seen her cast an eye on the form, looking at it in a different light, while entertaining her audience along the way. Using a feminist perspective, she often finds new and interesting angles on her subject matter, saying something new in the process. Over the years, this has managed to find her an audience of both national and international readers from all over.

Often talking about her craft, Jess Zimmerman has voiced her opinion on a number of different issues pertaining to literature. A major subject that she’s looked at is the way in which women have been represented in mythology throughout the ages. Looking at different cultures and mindsets, she’s cast a somewhat different subject light on the subject matter, giving readers a new perspective. There’s a lot more planned for the future as well, as she doesn’t appear to be finishing any time soon, as her writing career carries upwards and onwards.

Early and Personal Life

Focused on writing for much of her life, Jess Zimmerman has always held a passion for the written word. This has progressed over the years, as she would come to develop her voice as an author, creating her very own style and tone. Reaching readers from all across the world online, she’d voice herself through a variety of different platforms and publications.

Attending the University of Puerto Rico, she would harness her skills as a writer, before going on to become a full-time writer. Her writing would then feature in a variety of different outlets and platforms, as her name and brand would begin to grow worldwide. Currently living in Brooklyn, she continues to write to this very day, putting out work on a regular and consistent basis.

Writing Career

The first book that Jess Zimmerman would help write was the title ‘Basic Witches,’ which she’d write alongside fellow author and journalist Jaya Saxena. Following this she would go on to write her own book, which was ‘Women and Other Monsters,’ bringing it out in 2021. Both of these titles were non-fiction, and incorporate much of what she had written about previously, prior to becoming an author.

Prior to all of this she would first create her own site, creating the Archipelago, along with working as contributing editor for ‘The Establishment.’ Currently she works as the editor-in-chief for ‘Electric Literature,’ immersing herself heavily within the world of publishing. There’s a lot more to come too, as she’s written for many other publications, and will continue to do so for a long time yet.

Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology

Initially published by Beacon Press in 2021 on the 9th of March, this would be the first solo title for Jess Zimmerman as a writer. It would be a stand-alone non-fiction title, being easy to pick up for readers from around the world, making Zimmerman a household name for many. There’s also an element of memoir here, as she’s not afraid of putting herself into the work, looking at how mythology has effected her.

In both fiction and mythology, women have been typically villanized when stepping outside the bounds of conventions, when viewed through the lens of folklore. Taking these tropes, she re-examines them in a modern context, studying how they’ve come to define womanhood through the years. Asserting a proactive stance, she also looks at how women can define their own narrative when it comes to looking at these tropes and ideas. Looking at what defines supposed natural ‘femininity,’ Zimmerman seeks to take action and make a difference by building a new mythology.

The book itself is a great deconstruction of folklore throughout the ages, and how it has come to define contemporary society. Bringing in a number of serious themes and issues, it provides a strong contextual understanding of how each of them came to be. Not only that, but it also paves the way for what comes next, offering a strong vision of what the future could potentially look like.

Basic Witches

Going under the subtitle of ‘How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven,’ this would be the first book that Jess Zimmerman would help publish. Writing alongside the author Jaya Saxena, the two of them would work together to create this compelling work of non-fiction. Originally brought out by ‘Quirk Books’ in 2017 on the 29th of August, this would feature a lot of humor and wit throughout.

Looking at the practice of Witchcraft and how it’s adapted to the modern age, both Jess and Jaya hope to dispel many myths surrounding it. Putting it into a contemporary context, they set about applying it to womanhood, and how it can potentially enhance the lives of those practising it. Using their own lens to examine the craft, they cast a funny and entertaining light upon it, engaging the reader every step of the way. Whether the reader believes in Witchcraft or doesn’t, this work on multiple levels, both as a spiritual book, and as a self-help title.

It’s not so much a book on magic in the sense that Wiccans would use, but more about applying the ideals of Witchcraft. Looking at womanhood and how it can be effectively utilized through these everyday practises, it seeks to inform and help the reader. In this it is highly successful, making for a fun and engaging read, and one that really stays with the audience long after they’ve put the book down.