A few weeks ago I went on a quick girls' trip up the North Shore to a gorgeously quiet cabin resort. Part relaxing-few-days before the insanity of the holidays hits, part traditional fall writing inspiration trip, we holed up in a two bedroom wooden cabin with no TV, no kids or spouses, and no concrete… Continue reading For The Lake is Cold and Full of Monsters
Author: Jess
Amateur historian, mythology enthusiast, writer, reader, sarcastic weirdo, cancer survivor. Author of Defying Shadows: For Witches and Pagans Battling Cancer and Chronic Illness.
Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time
The other day I got an email titled "Gen X Women: The Latchkey Crones" and honestly, that sounds like murder mystery series I'd read. Or watch. Preferably set in some small village somewhere, although it'd more likely be tired-as-fuck middle aged women who add murder solving to managing teenage dramas, the usual everyday life partner… Continue reading Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time
Review: The Wandering Queen: A Novel of Dido by Claire Heywood
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Powerful mortal women of Greek and Roman myth rarely fared well against the masculine prowess of the Big Damn Heroes on their divinely blessed/cursed quests, even Queen Dido, who was a legendary leader long before she had the...misfortune...of kindly assisting… Continue reading Review: The Wandering Queen: A Novel of Dido by Claire Heywood
The Last 2025 Book Signing: B&N!
Photo is the cover of Defying Shadows captioned with "Book Signing with Jessica Settergren: "Defying Shadows: For Witches and Pagans Battling Cancer and Chronic Illness" SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2025 2:00PM CT Author Event Not long ago I wrote about steps to success, and how getting a book I wrote on the shelf at a Barnes… Continue reading The Last 2025 Book Signing: B&N!
Cancellation Apologies
Due to a death in the family, I'm unable to attend the Women & Spirituality Conference tomorrow in Rochester, Minnesota. I'm sorry to miss it, and I'm terribly sorry if you were planning on attending my time slot, but the funeral is this weekend. The best prepared plans are nothing to Fate, schedule. May all… Continue reading Cancellation Apologies
Definitions of Success
Twenty-*cough* and some years ago, I'd moved from my hometown to a suburb of Minneapolis for a job and desperately wished I could move back. I spent the first eight months or so leaving from work at 3:30 on Friday to drive home, coming back after 10 on Sunday night for the next work week.… Continue reading Definitions of Success
Review: A Reckoning Up Black Cat Hollow by Matthew F. Jones
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. On a dark road in the middle of nowhere, a slip of a girl in almost no clothes jumps into Jack Spinks's car. Filthy, exhausted, and obviously terrified, she begs Spinks to drive and get her away from the men… Continue reading Review: A Reckoning Up Black Cat Hollow by Matthew F. Jones
Fall Appearances
A few years ago, I went to Hawai'i with my (then) 86 year old grandmother so I could officiate the wedding of one of my best friends to her lovely (now) husband. It was wonderful had a fabulous week (I miss the overwhelming beauty of Hawai'i). A bit more than a year after that, said… Continue reading Fall Appearances
You are not alone in this dystopia.
The last few months have been terrifying in the US for many as policies, rhetoric, and even legislation has highlighted an underlying racist and misogynist agenda by those currently in power. It's disheartening. It's scary as hell. It's hard to focus on other things (like writing and blogging and such) while trying to get through… Continue reading You are not alone in this dystopia.
Review: The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter
I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Ayleth is the accidental scion of a powerful line of witches in a secret coven in the woods. After the White Court's King decided witches are evil, he sent the Huntsmen to kill them all, changing the nation's religion from… Continue reading Review: The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter
No Pithy Phrase 