School
Chatham University, Bowling Green State University
Expertise
International Coffee & Beer Cultures, Unusual Museums, Pre-Columbian Civilizations & Ruins
- Jess regularly writes about regional cryptids and folklore for outlets like Atlas Obscura and Mental Floss.
- They once toured Europe as the baritone sax player in a jazz band.
- They have traveled to 15 countries across four continents and are over halfway through their bucket list of visiting every state and province in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Experience
Jess started writing for a living in 2015. Before becoming a full-time writer, they worked in the service industry, including stints managing a coffee shop and working as the overnight front desk attendant at the Wyndham Grand in Pittsburgh. Their writing work has included ghostwriting novels, memoirs, nonfiction books, and online content in addition to writing under their own name for publications like Authors Publish, Pittsburgh City Paper, and Pittsburgh Magazine. They are an award-winning fiction writer as well as a freelance writer and the author of the flash fiction chapbook Cryptid Bits (Last-Picked Books, 2024), along with more than 20 short stories published in various literary journals and anthologies.
Education
Jess has an MFA in creative writing from Chatham University (fiction concentration with a certificate in travel writing) and a bachelor's degree in music from Bowling Green State University.
Islands content is created by a team of veteran writers and editors passionate about travel. Outside experts with deep field knowledge sometimes inform our work with additional context and perspectives by way of exclusive commentary. Our goal is to offer readers well-rounded and diverse articles that inform, entertain, and inspire.
Our editors consistently review and update articles to ensure they're providing current, relevant, and useful information. Complete information on our editorial process is available here.
-
Pennsylvania
By Jess Simms
Small but mighty, this nook near Pittsburgh is a safe, retiree-friendly Pennsylvania haven with great restaurants, budget living, river views, and much to do.
Read More
