Jittery in June

and other writing thoughts

This is a writing newsletter, but I want to take a moment for my primary hustle: teaching.

Teaching middle school is a specific sort of career in 2026 that it wasn’t in 2010 when I started (Yes, feel free to do the math. I’m that old, and I earned it). Policies have changed. A lot. Rigor has turned into fidelity has turned into… I forget what’s next. :) I’ve had seven principals at this point. And now, I find myself at the HALFWAY mark of my projected career this summer. My current plan is to teach for 32 years.

It feels strange.

Hilariously, I don’t know how to put that into words. I’ve seen a lot of change in my years of teaching. I taught grades 7-12. I’ve taught History, English, Literacy Intervention, and Credit Recovery. I’ve taught at schools in Dearborn Heights, Muskegon, Portland Alternative Education, and then for Cityside and now Creekside Middle School in Zeeland. One thing I do feel certain of, is that kids are kids no matter where you go. Thank God for that! I am humbled and privileged to be a part of their lives in even the tiniest way.

All that is to say, the school year is over.

Now, you’d think that I would take off running to do all kinds of things! Go to the beach! Get some golfing in! Write twelve books! Clean the house top to bottom! But here’s the thing: teachers are more likely to hibernate for the first week they’re off school. It’s true! Ask anyone. Our nervous systems are fried.

So what have I been doing my first five days of break? Well, I’ve been alternating between jittery and just exhausted. I’m revising a book that is already written. Wrapping up the baseball season for both my kids—one week left, baby! I’m trying to catch up on the laundry and dishes. Going to the gym to try to get my nervous system to calm down. Watching my dog—she has some sort of infection. Sheltering from the odd tornado. Binging Off Campus and Every Year After. And napping. Oh yes, there has been napping. And there will likely be more. All of this so that by the time you see me at my public appearances, I will be rejuvenated. Dare I even say giddy? Summer is HERE, my friends. Let’s get it!

In terms of writing career, I’m ectstatic that The Framing Game is now out in the world. I have so many dreams and plans for this book and books in the future. Right now I’m working on a deeply emotional project (I might have mentioned it before—Blood in the Attic) that leaves me feeling wrung out every time I step away from it—and I think that is SUCH a good thing right now. The summer vibes in it are immaculate. What could be better for a Michigan summer than to refine something twisty within that scope? I can’t think of anything.

As always, here’s where you can find my stuff and me this year:

A breakdown of the events where I promise NOT to nap in front of you:

June 24: Young Adult Panel at Books & Mortar in Grand Rapids Michigan from 6-8pm where there will be copies of my books for purchase. I’m excited to partner with R.E. Bellsmith, Melanie Hooyenga, and Benjamin Kamphuis. They’re so talented and cool! Come out and see us!

June 27: K-12 Book Fair at Has Heart Coffee Shop from 12-4pm where you can come by and snag signed copies of a bunch of different K-12 authors. This is the laid back one, y’all.

July 19: Detroit Bookfest S5 Parking Lot Booth 583 in the Eastern Market from 10am-4pm is going to be my “bigtime event” of the year. I’ve never been to Detroit Bookfest before, but I can’t wait to find a bunch of new writing and reading friends! Come grab a copy of the Andy series or The Framing Game and say “hi!”

September 12: Holland Litfest in the Holland Town Center (kind of near the Bluestocking bookshop? Details TBD in a future newsletter) from 11am-5pm. This one is also chill vibes, friends—and best for those of you who are super local to me.

I hope to see you soon! What are you doing with your summer?

XO,

Jessie

(All images courtesy of GIPHY)