Uncovering Hidden Stories That Demand To Be Told
Indie Author Spotlight Feature: Historical traveler and writer Jessica James
✨📚Another Indie Author Spotlight feature is here!
Every week, One Brilliant Arc (OBA) and Wildest Dreams partner together to spread the word about a new indie author who is working on a story we think you should know about! We also learn about their lived stories and what they have learned through the journey of being an author.
Meet Jessica James!
Jessica James is a former journalist turned award-winning author who took a scenic detour into travel writing—before finding her way back to novels.
With the incredible stories she experiences and writes every day, Jessica is a wealth of fascinating and thrilling anecdotes to explore. I mean, target shooting out of helicopters for novel research?! How much more exciting can the job of a writer get?!
But as Jessica shares with us, as exciting as it is to explore the treasure of lesser-known stories, there are really challenging parts of writing these stories that makes perseverance through the journey hard. Every writer struggles with moments of self-doubt and has to face these terrifying questions:
Will anyone care about this story that has my heart?
Will anyone read this story that I’ve poured years of my life and effort into?
I’m not sure if anyone else shares this experience with Jessica, but I certainly have: oftentimes, stories don’t give you a choice to say no even in the face of this self-doubt.
Stories are alive.
Sometimes, a story will grab you by the throat and refuse to let you go until you get it written down. That is what happened with Jessica’s soon-to-be-released novel, The Monarch Alliance.
So without further ado, let’s hear from Jessica about her story and what she has learned through writing it!
Tell us about yourself and what kind of creative work you do!
I started out as a journalist and spent nearly two decades in that world before it finally hit me that not everyone walks around with stories and characters living in their head. My first novels were Civil War–era historical fiction, and over time I branched into suspense and mystery as well.
In the early 2020s, I stepped away from fiction for a bit and dove into travel writing to recover from burnout. Ironically, one of those trips—to a historic hotel—pulled me right back into storytelling, and I ended up writing a novel inspired by the place. That book (The Monarch Alliance) comes out in April.
Describe yourself in three words.
Curious. Nostalgic. Patriotic.
How has writing stories impacted your real life story?
Writing has shaped my life in ways I never expected. I’m driven to experience what I write about so I can portray it authentically, which has led me to some incredible opportunities—from visiting hundreds of historic sites for my historical fiction novels to doing SWAT-style training and even target shooting from a helicopter for my thrillers.
That curiosity also pushed me to travel more, and those travels eventually led me into travel blogging, which has become one of my greatest passions.
In many ways, storytelling didn’t just shape my work—it expanded how I live, what I do and where I go.
What story are you currently writing?
I just finished The Monarch Alliance, a dual-timeline mystery thriller set at Mohonk Mountain House. I originally visited Mohonk to write a hotel review, but the place stayed with me long after I left.
To give you a picture of the place, Mohonk is a castle-like resort rising out of the Hudson Valley mountains, with winding hallways, antique furnishings, and the sense that history is hiding in every corner. The deeper I explored, the more it felt like the perfect setting for a story full of secrets, conflict, twists, and long-buried intrigue—and eventually, it demanded to become a novel.
What makes this story matter to you?
I’ve always felt something in old spaces—like someone or something wants their story told.
I tell my readers that sometimes I don’t feel like I wrote the story, but that someone told it to me (in little bites over a long period of time).
Why this story? Why now?
I’m not sure I had much choice. I went to the hotel planning to write a simple review, but this place wouldn’t let go of me—and that’s saying something, since I visit historic hotels all the time. Something about it lingered, and the story kept tapping me on the shoulder until I finally listened.
Who do you hope to reach with this story?
I hope to reach readers—both men and women—who love layered mysteries with high stakes and unexpected twists. It’s for anyone who enjoys being pulled deep into a story where the past and present collide and nothing is quite what it seems.
It’s also for readers who love stories where a place is more than a backdrop—where the setting becomes a character in its own right. And as an added bonus, it’s a real place. Readers can actually visit it, walk the halls, and experience the setting for themselves, which makes the story feel that much more real.
Pre-order your copy of “The Monarch Alliance” so you can join the party of readers on April 21st!
What do you hope readers feel or remember when they encounter this story?
Two things, really:
I hope readers find themselves wondering what’s fact and what’s fiction—I include the historical foundations in the back of the book because readers may be surprised about how much is fact.
I hope the story changes the way they experience old places. When they step into a historic hotel or pass an old house, I want them to slow down for a moment and think about the people who were there before them—the lives lived within those walls, and the stories that still linger for those who will listen.
What has been the most challenging part of your author’s journey?
I think the most challenging part of an author’s journey is having the confidence (and perseverance) to keep going when you really don’t know if anyone is going to read what you’ve poured hours, and days, and months into writing.
Do you have any other projects on the horizon you want to tease for our readers?
I am so excited about this year and celebrating America’s 250th birthday. I’ve been traveling to Revolutionary War sites for the past two years and have put together a book called A Patriot’s Journey that lists 250 places to visit for America 250. You’d be surprised how many sites are under-the-radar that played pivotal roles in the founding of America.
Where can people find you and support your work right now?
My main website is https://jessicajamesbooks.com/ and I also have a travel blog at www.PastLaneTravels.com that includes a newsletter.
I’m also on the usual social media and book-related sites:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/romantichistoricalfiction
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/586216.Jessica_James
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-james
What stories do you want to see more of in the world?
Since we are celebrating America’s 250th birthday this year, I’d love to see more well-researched historical fiction set during the Revolutionary War. There are so many little-known stories involving historical figures that would make great plotlines and characters for a novel set during our nation’s founding.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights, Jessica! We are so proud of you for saying yes to telling the stories that need to be told, and are very excited to see what other hidden gems you uncover in your adventures!
Got any questions for Jessica? Anything about her story resonate with your own? Drop a comment and let us know! 💬
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