Jessica Strawser Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Jane of all trades would be an appropriate term to describe Jessica Strawser. She is the editorial director of Writer’s Digest by day and a writer by night. Writer’s Digest Magazine is North America’s leading publication that targets aspiring and working writers since 1920. A Pittsburg native, this talented author believes that the world would be a better place if French fries were used as a salad topping. Besides focusing on her job at the Writer’s Digest and establishing herself amongst re-known authors, Jessica is a proud wife and mother who lives in Cincinnati. Ohio.

Jessica Strawser’s prowess in the writing field has deeper roots than anyone could imagine. In high school, Moon Area High School, she was the co-editor of the student’s magazine called the Moon Beams. Thereafter, she landed her very first real front by-line after completing a senior project with the Allegheny Times.

After establishing that Journalism was the career meant for her, Jessica went to Ohio University’s E.W Scripps School of Journalism. While here, she won The Post Award-Winning Student Newspaper for the school. She was also the editor of South East Ohio magazine. She later on graduated as the outstanding magazine senior for her year. It is during this time that she accepted an offer to work at the Writer’s Digest Magazine as the editorial assistant. By accepting this offer, she had to relocate to Cincinnati which she had no problem with.

After earning her stripes at the Writer’s Digest, she was ready to take on a managing Editor’s role in its sister publication known as personal journaling. While here, she was presented with a job offer in the marketing and public relations a Xavier University. A year later, she joined the Emmis Books Start-up Publications. Her excellent editorial skills were displayed when she edited a variety of commercial and regional non-fiction titles. Among these were; Ohio Wine, A Taste of the Murfin Ridge Inn, Country Excursions, Everybody Loves Pizza and My Sister is Missing. The latter was made into a movie called “Murder on Pleasant Drive.”

In the year 2006, she married the love of her life, Scott after which she chose to return to F+ W Media which is the parent company of Writer’s Digest. Jessica took up the role of managing director of North Light Craft and Memory Makers Books. Just like the professional that she is, she did a great job in shaping various books, for instance; living the creative life by Rice Freeman Zachary, Simply Elegant Flowers by Michael George, and Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts. In the year 2008, she moved back to readers digest as the Editor in Chief where she continued her good work. In the year 2017, Jessica Strawser earned the ‘Editor at Large’ position which allowed her to better divide her personal time with writing.

This promotion came with various advantages which did a lot for her career. She could personally interview and even work together with best-selling authors, such as Alice Walker, Anne Tyler and David Sedaris. It is while at this position that she wired in a group of aspiring writers who continuously delight and motivate her with their progress and success stories. Jessica also has a crash course on fictional writing in her inbox.

Thanks to the exposure and opportunities that she had gained along the way, Jessica Strawster gained motivation and inspiration to write her own fiction; something that she’d always wanted to do “one day”. Jessica’s career as an author kicked off when she wrote “Almost Missed You.” This is a book that she had spent almost 5 years writing and rewriting with the only breaks being when she welcomed her first two kids to the world. After completion, the manuscript found an agent but not a publisher. Later on, a new opportunity presented itself which enabled Jessica to hit the ground running. The opportunity stringed along a new story, a new agent as well as her first ever book deal. ‘Almost Missed you’ published by St. Martin’s Press was introduced to the market. It earned a spot on the Barnes and Noble Best New Fiction shortlist in March 2017.

“Almost Missed You”

This is a skillful and insightful fictional novel that explores the mystery of marriage. It features the price that we have to pay for the secrets that we keep and how easy it is to actually make some of the worst decisions in your life. Lies that end up hurting the people that we love and hope to shield from harm the most. Jessica displays a perfect tale of blame, guilt, redemption and eventually forgiveness. Anyone who appreciates a well narrated compilation and exploration of the human heart will definitely love this read.

“Not That I Could Tell”

Jessica also has another fiction novel, ‘Not That I Could Tell’ from St. Martin Press that was published in March 27, 2018 It is an intriguing domestic thriller that’s guaranteed to keep you at the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. This novel speaks to the modern day woman who needs a break every now and then in the midst of her busy life. In this case, a group of friends decide to enjoy a night out which then spirals down to a neighborhood media spotlight as one of the ladies ends up missing the following Monday morning. The victim is Kristen, a mother of 4 year old twins as well as school volunteer extraordinaire. Investigations reveal secrets that the couple had kept hidden which raise more questions than answers. The story revolves around finding Kristen, or at least finding out what happened to her. The cast is well depicted and adds flare to the story as each one of them relays a different narration to disappearance of Kristen.

Jessica Strawser describes her books as the kind of books that she likes to read and hopes that book clubs would love to have them too. Jessica is a delighted WFWA member. She creatively highlights the back stories/flashbacks in italics which enables her readers to flaw through the story. If there is one thing that’s guaranteed, it is the ability of Jessica Strawser’s novels to keep you hooked from start to finish.