About Jess
Jess Corban graduated college with a degree in Communications and, perhaps more instructive, thirteen stamps in her passport. After college, a chance interview at a small publisher for an even smaller position sparked a love for writing that turned into twelve nonfiction books (under various pseudonyms). Her debut novel, A Gentle Tyranny, was nominated for a Christy Award. She continues to write across genres from her home on the central coast of California.
Q&A
I’ve always loved reading and writing, but I never seriously considered publishing a book until I worked for a small publishing company shortly after college. Learning how to acquire, edit, cover, market, and title other people’s books took some of the intimidating mystique out of the process. When my boss began hiring some freelance writers for a book series, I took a chance and submitted a proposal. She took a chance on me, and the rest is history!
So many things! I especially love meeting readers and hearing their stories. My family and I also love the outdoors—especially hiking, paddle boarding, and four-wheeling—so it’s serendipity that we live between two National Parks (even though we’re an hour and a half from a grocery store). I also love being a mom to my two daughters, gardening is my happy place, and I go on dates with my husband every chance I get because he’s still my favorite human on the planet.
I always joke that I’d be a Vitamix salesman because I swear by mine and tell all my friends why they should have one. Ha! But I could also see becoming a rancher, contractor, firefighter, or dietician. There just aren’t enough years in my life to do all the things I’d love to try!
Great question—I should ask them! Well, I often joke that my spirit animal must be a golden retriever because I love everyone and don’t always understand others’ personal space. I think they’d add that I’m a hopeless optimist and someone of firm convictions and deep faith.
“If I can do it…” Seriously, though, there’s no magic author gene. If you are willing to work hard, take critique to heart, sit your behind in a chair for lots of hours, and learn from veteran writers you respect, you’ll get that book written. Whether it gets published isn’t as important as being true to the work (to quote Madeline L’Engle, one of those veterans from whom I’ve learned much).
The Corban Fund was founded in 2013 as a way for me to use a portion of my royalties on various books to help organizations that are doing great things in this world. If you’ve read A Gentle Tyranny, then you know that fifty percent of my earnings on the Nedé Rising Series will specifically support organizations endeavoring to end violence against women, like The A21 Campaign, National Center on Sexual Exploitation, and Fight the New Drug.
Q&A
I’ve always loved reading and writing, but I never seriously considered publishing a book until I worked for a small publishing company shortly after college. Learning how to acquire, edit, cover, market, and title other people’s books took some of the intimidating mystique out of the process. When my boss began hiring some freelance writers for a book series, I took a chance and submitted a proposal. She took a chance on me, and the rest is history!
So many things! I especially love meeting readers and hearing their stories. My family and I also love the outdoors—especially hiking, paddle boarding, and four-wheeling—so it’s serendipity that we live between two National Parks (even though we’re an hour and a half from a grocery store). I also love being a mom to my two daughters, gardening is my happy place, and I go on dates with my husband every chance I get because he’s still my favorite human on the planet.
I always joke that I’d be a Vitamix salesman because I swear by mine and tell all my friends why they should have one. Ha! But I could also see becoming a rancher, contractor, firefighter, or dietician. There just aren’t enough years in my life to do all the things I’d love to try!
Great question—I should ask them! Well, I often joke that my spirit animal must be a golden retriever because I love everyone and don’t always understand others’ personal space. I think they’d add that I’m a hopeless optimist and someone of firm convictions and deep faith.
“If I can do it…” Seriously, though, there’s no magic author gene. If you are willing to work hard, take critique to heart, sit your behind in a chair for lots of hours, and learn from veteran writers you respect, you’ll get that book written. Whether it gets published isn’t as important as being true to the work (to quote Madeline L’Engle, one of those veterans I’ve learned much from).
The Corban Fund was founded in 2013 as a way for me to use a portion of my royalties on various books to help organizations that are doing great things in this world. If you’ve read A Gentle Tyranny, then you know that fifty percent of my earnings on the Nedé Rising Series will specifically support organizations endeavoring to end violence against women, like The A21 Campaign, National Center on Sexual Exploitation, and Fight the New Drug.