Jessica Whipple

@jessicawhippl17

Author of ENOUGH IS… Tilbury House '23, illus. Nicole Wong | I THINK I THINK A LOT Free Spirit Publishing '23, illus. Josée Bisaillon | website: authorjessicawhipple.com | also poetry

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Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· 16d

LAST CALL - Yesterday's webinar for authors, poets, illustrators was recorded in case anyone wants to purchase it. It will be available for one week. "How to Pitch Your Author/Illustrator Visits" - send me a message or email if you're interested.

screen capture of the webinar that reads "Where will you target? your local schools? Old hometown schools? Places relevant to the setting? Where else?"

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· 18d

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· 27d

Maybe authors are overthinking titles.

A yellow book called Plant Doctoring Is Fun

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· 27d

Happy #Poetryfriday -- Here is "Concerning My Legs" in print in Rathalla Review back in 2022. Thanks for perhaps reading.

Concerning My Legs by Jessica Whipple

They were strewn like Teen magazines across the porch
when Mom came at them with a five-cent Bic.

“Katie shaves!” she declared, took the first swipe.
Trickle of blood dried in the crease of my ankle.

Later, the other leg. An unreadiness.
Jeans in summer. The word woman.

Some words I didn’t know: Feminist, misogyny
reasons why that one girl in high school didn’t shave.

I grew into smooth legs tipped with strappy sandals.
She covered hers in cargo pockets and flattened her
breasts.

We learned about the baggage we were
supposed to be carrying, heavy like history binders.

A decade later, amniotic fluid soaked my jeans.
Husband rushed me to the hospital. No time to shave.

Legs strewn across the bed like parenting magazines,
I apologized for the stubble, not yet knowing

how much work these legs would do without my asking.
In that realest moment while pain like heat took my breath,

I felt the oldest rocks pushing forth from the earth and
I was the first woman. I was the only woman.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· 29d

Join me if you are a poet, author, or illustrator who wants to learn how to pitch your book presentations to schools and universities.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· 29d

Just noticed my Nextdoor account pushed this email notification: "Two dogs loose between grocery store and tire shop" ...which reminds me of this found poem of mine from @stanchion.bsky.social issue 8.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Jul 6

Spotted @troystory.bsky.social at the library!

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Jul 2

LAST CALL FOR SUMMER! After TWO reschedules due to lack of interest, I do have interest but we need 5 participants to make it happen. Guests have said this is a helpful webinar! I'd love to see you. Poets who write general market, this would be applicable to you for college talks. Please share!

Webinar flier: How to Pitch your author and illustrator visits, happening July 27th at noon EST via zoom. Refer a friend, you each save $5. Full details at authorjessicawhipple.com. Cost: $30.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Jun 28

My poem, "Birthday Hope." Can you relate?

Birthday Hope

"Happy" is the birthday hope
printed on the flier.
"Happy" says the greeting card
from painters I once hired.

"Happy" bids the restaurant
by where I used to live,
"Happy," reads the blood bank email
asking if I'll give.

"Happy," themed with cars and trucks.
What a thoughtful dealership!
"Happy" spelled in lightning bolts--
electric bill turned birthday gift?

"Happy, hope you celebrate!"
sent with standard data rates
by my dentist, for goodness sake
stopping short of suggesting cake.

At birthday time I feel the love
from many random places
though I haven't double-opted
in their mailing databases.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Jun 26

When I run, I pray--For people who are sick, alone, or who have gone away--in faith that God will use my momentary suffering to somehow, in whatever way His economy works, relieve the suffering of another. This poem is about making that offering when the words don't come.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Jun 20

Two poems for Father's Day weekend: "Rope Swing" was published online at Ember Journal. "To My Husband, Now a Father" was published online at the now-defunct Sledgehammer Lit. Thanks for perhaps reading.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Jun 19

Two webinars coming up in July:

How to Pitch Your Author Visits July 18th $30. details at authorjessicawhipple.com

How to Talk to Booksellers Webinar July 6th $30. details authorjessicawhipple.com. Refer a friend you each save $5.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Jun 17

Thank you @scbwiepa.bsky.social and the Authors Coalition of America for inviting me to speak tonight!

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Jun 9

Making poems at the Hiouchi Welcome Center in Northern CA, Redwoods National Park.. "Silent wild" is my own. The others are my daughters'. #hiouchihaiku @RedwoodNPS

Play in glowing light
Ponder the beauty of birds
Peace is in the breeze

The clouds spin
The trees grow
The earth sings
I wander there

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· May 25

Spotted @stephcampisi.bsky.social at the always wonderful Nooks in Lancaster, PA:

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· May 24

Two upcoming webinars this summer: "How to Talk to Booksellers" and "How to Pitch Your Author and Illustrator Visits," both are for ANY GENRE/FORMAT, not just kidlit! Full details are at my website: www.authorjessicawhipple.com. Referral discounts, so please share! I'd love to see you!

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· May 19

Here we are again: Poem for the Last Week of School

Poem for the Last Week of School
By Jessoca Whipple

It is a week of Fridays.
No, it is a week of Mondays.
Okay: strange Otherdays
without beginnings or ends,
only middles. Inside are parties
and cupcakes. This week
is a year spent in a day,
stuffed into binders
and sent home.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· May 17

Thank you to Adam Perry for spotting the #mentalhealthmonth display at Manheim Township Public Library! I also see @mrschureads.bsky.social :) @joseebisaillon.bsky.social @freespiritbooks.bsky.social @esckeyes.bsky.social #mentalhealth #mham2026 #ocd #anxiety #picturebooks

a shelf of library books on display in an open library with windows

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· May 9

Unexpectedly, I'm taking a social media break. I do welcome your email.

The text above, over a pretty forest path.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· May 8

Quick little reading for Mother's Day weekend: my poem "Mother Coyote Explains a Wildlife Crossing" from Ekstasis Magazine here: ekstasismagazine.com/poetry/2024/...

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· May 6

For Mental Health Month, I'm sharing this talk I gave at a public forum. It's called "The Opposite of Fear Is Hope: Radical Acceptance and OCD." Feel free to share with anyone you think might like to listen. #MHAM2026 #mentalhealth www.therowhouse.org/events/the-o...

A woman addressing a seated audience in a small gallery

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· May 5

I THINK I THINK A LOT is currently ranked #174 in Children's Fiction on Social Situations. This is the lowest it's been since launch in 2023! AND it has 4.8 stars. I'm grateful it's still being discovered by readers. ❤️ @joseebisaillon.bsky.social @freespiritbooks.bsky.social @esckeyes.bsky.social

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· May 1

Since it's #Mentalhealthawareness Month, can I introduce you to I THINK I THINK A LOT? It's a book about finding something good on the underside of something troubling, which is actually what I did when I mined my own kid journal (here at left) to write the book. @joseebisaillon.bsky.social

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Apr 30

To recommend your library purchase a book (and help spread the word about a book you ❤️), you will need: - your library card number - the book's ISBN (find it online) - pub date (online) I just recommended my library add this book of poetry to its catalog.

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Apr 27

Spotted @grantclauser.bsky.social at Main Point Books:

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Apr 26

Some lovely things I heard (or overheard!) on Independent Bookstore Day. It's wonderful to know my books are being well-received. Thank you to the very-new Forage Books in Kennett Square for inviting me to your Indie Bookstore Day celebration, and for helping to introduce me to your readers.

Three women standing in a bookstore. Text reads, thank you for writing books like this.

Shelf of books. reads "This is a book even adults could use."

Shelf of books and a table setup, text reads "This sounds like (name of child)"

Woman taking a selfie with her books. Text reads "Oooh, this is the one I saw in the window!"

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Apr 25

Story time and signing for Independent Bookstore Day went well at the new Forage Books!

The author in front of her books in a bookstore

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Apr 25

I'd love to see you today in Kennett Square for Independent Bookstore Day! Forage Books 1:30-2:30! (Forgive the IG doodads on the graphic...)

Graphic with the author's picture and covers of her.books

Jessica Whipple@jessicawhippl17· Apr 21

Just a few more days until Indie Bookstore Day! I'll be at Forage Books on April 25th, from 1:30-2:30 reading and signing to celebrate. Kennett Square, PA -- I'd love to see you! Here's their post from IG: