Jessica Coles
@prairievixen
(she/her) Poet, songwriter, finder of lost things. Lover of the amphibious. Endearingly uncool. Occasional open mic performer. Visit for a list of places to find my poems.
There was a season in my life when I wouldn't miss a Captain Tractor concert in town. The Alberta music community lost Jon Nordstrom at the end of June, and a couple nights ago, I went to his memorial concert. We cried, we danced, we sang. A lot of good memories. It was beautiful and perfect.
It is extremely unfortunate that my need to withdraw from active social media use coincided with my need to promote and sell my recently released chapbook. This is my beauty. It's available for $10 if you're in Canada, $17 USD (because shipping—fuck!). DM me if you want a copy!
My friend @jenbdelisle.bsky.social very enthusiastically provided this thoughtful, heartfelt gift of a blurb for my chapbook. Overwhelmed with gratitude is an understatement.
The stage host sent me a small clip of one song from my performance, so here you go: two lines from my song "After All", which is a gentle, inteospective PSA to not text your ex back (you broke up for a reason!)
There I was! I fought bravely and admirably against the sound bleed from the neighbouring stage. And everyone said they enjoyed my performance. :)
Hello, beautiful 💖 (I know I'm a day later than expected. Life got lifey yesterday.)
An interesting package arrived in the mail. I'll tell you about it tomorrow... 👀
This morning, I'm foraging poetry prompts from the local Buy Nothing group.
I've been too busy to notice that this is the first time I've ever had my name on a festival bill as a performer. I need to let that soak in. That's kind of a big experience. edmontonopenmicfestival.ca
I'm trying some "healthier" cookie recipes to see if I can find an afternoon sweet that doesn't crash my mood. This is my first attempt. They look like cookies. They are not, in fact, cookies. They are small round lies. Puffy muffin-like disks masquerading as cookies.
Fun news: I'm participating in the Open Mic Festival on July 4! I'm set to play around 12:00 noon on the Frank's Community Pub Stage. The music will be going from 11 AM to 4 PM, and it's family friendly!
It's rare for me to like a fresh haircut before I've washed and styled it myself, but everything turned out right with this one!
The editor is working on final revisions to my chapbook today! I only have a few more weeks to figure out how to talk about this book.
Quality time with my other girlfriend this afternoon (two verses and a chorus roughed out on a new song)
I'm supposed to be heading to bed, but first, I need just a few more minutes of this. The day has been long, and this is soothing.
I'm allowed to show everyone now—behold the cover for Amphibiography, my chapbook of frog poems!! Original artwork by Finn James. Release date is July 2026!
Every time I try to work on my novel at the open mic, a snail shows up. They feel comfy here, I guess.
If a lemon falls in the forest, and no one is around to make lemonade, what is the horse you led there supposed to drink?
I didn't click the link, so I don't actually know what's being sold here, but I do know that half of this concert would be a lie. Unless we get to time travel.
Quality time with Miss Bennet while the wind raged around the house this afternoon
This was such a sweet, lovely, enriching book to read. I've fallen in love with one of my favorite movies on whole new levels, thanks to @jesbattis.bsky.social. You should probably pick it up for yourself. :)
We still have plenty of reader spots open for this #EdmontonPoetryFestival event! Send an email to poetry@prairievixenpress.ca with "Poetry & Stillness" in the subject if you'd like to join us.
This is a real and true hat that I had on my head for most of the afternoon. Not my birthday, but someone had to wear the hat so our cat wouldn't eat the ribbons and make herself sick.
The first two chapbooks from Big Pond Rumours Chapbook Press are being printed and will be ready to ship by the end of March! They're $10 each or you can subscribe to the entire 2026 catalogue (which includes my Amphibiography this summer 👀) for $75. DM me for more info