https://www.jessicakautz.com/home daily 1.0 2020-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593286356630-ZF1GJQMEKN6MCK6SK7TA/124A2997+2.jpg+mama+alone.jpg Home I’m a writer. Sometimes I draw. Welcome. https://www.jessicakautz.com/artwork daily 0.75 2026-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/2c6feb38-aca0-4a48-8a76-8784f21141b8/Thumbnails+quote+2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/b0044318-a987-4485-973a-26f1859119e6/Thumbnails+quote+1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/af62480d-d659-42b4-9674-da93c3fd74f6/Mermaid+cover+1.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/87d05eb2-68c1-4444-a726-6fc69a99dfb8/Thumbnails.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/ddb4c88d-6d10-4a98-9676-4be8b12812ad/Thumbnails.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/b24f05ad-d2a5-4bae-b3be-ff5bb54e5d2e/Mermaid+cover+color.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/ccd836be-93bd-445e-8876-f00219955142/Mermaid+thumbnails.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1572fbfe-49f1-4be5-9cde-a42a0fcd41d5/Mermaid+cover+2.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/d33e8612-a1e6-4a36-8e21-c191b5de5838/Mermaid+cover+3.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/9251489b-be8e-4b41-8fcc-d07f38d0e223/in+color%3F.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1b4de500-af83-4384-8c29-860bf8ff4cc1/Thumbnails+-+spread.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/321c46dc-4581-4f06-847f-3f0b059b2c4b/final+in+color.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/3118057a-036f-4471-99d0-a13af1d2857a/Final.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/de661cb8-b2d8-4870-938e-2c27233f1620/Sketch+2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/91f1f350-45d9-4606-8da4-587acfd8d300/Final%3F.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/20c7ddc0-1664-49fa-b645-841790235f9b/thumbnails.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/0793163a-4a24-41d0-b555-56d42e2cbbe2/sketch+1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/44e1b4b4-0e22-4c09-9c62-c2d519232a73/final.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/57c3336e-3763-4b72-b1bf-9012188b2f39/2+page+spread.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/c81328bd-b36f-423c-8d1f-7c72310f8ecf/IMG_6671.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/8cc3b014-d31f-4973-ad76-dbc29fcdba7b/IMG_6673.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/378f161c-d2b9-4088-b45a-5cf501acf20c/Week+10+FINAL+project+art2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/519c27e0-2e39-4937-8164-03a23c373a5e/Week+3+-+All+3.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/87c1633b-9fed-47b8-83d9-f21ca645c3eb/Week+9+owl+chiarscuro.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/325114c5-d7d8-4a70-8737-b0622630606f/461298088_18296220016207982_3884175400306463810_n.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/33c9488f-f02c-40fb-9a7e-41b031bf315d/Week+7+ink+and+wash.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/97bfc5ac-4251-4fde-9d80-0216f39d1bac/458726783_18293664217207982_2080610382169621431_n.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/5190da10-7239-40e4-94bb-a2a381814e5e/Week+7+*+Ziggy+helping.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/79deaac7-6f21-490e-b398-ec2e2b53f77e/Week+8+Homework+perspective.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/461aa5fa-141d-4f47-9655-39d385d2a815/Cartoons+-+index+cards.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/fa96fff6-2796-4d74-a61c-f7644fad3d66/Cartoon+-+printed+boxes.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1594068119251-OLW4L29CXWS89XK21QWT/1.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/abad5100-295e-4ee4-a135-5de6ee40f2a4/01+paper+dolls.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1594068195990-AVO53W7TEOBB82HY53T2/2.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/05786a7c-b724-4217-b4e2-4700600d7fba/02+falling+1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1bb70d64-7ac0-45d5-8ab1-f9b5cc8d4dd3/03+falling+3.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/5a238eaf-de69-4148-860f-5b0da149119b/05+farm.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/bf6bc9d9-52ba-4bf7-9549-8ae8eb2e0fd3/trees.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/7a5629a7-5d81-48d1-969b-f0f6b6ed6e9c/flowers.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/241ec68e-aa97-4fb2-a8a1-b9e968ed4a06/z+lonely+girl.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/2df1f62e-d6e0-4792-a41a-bf2f16123bfb/*+journals11.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/cae16013-b154-474a-83ee-4ac51c7fdfde/*+journals17.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/9cba7b97-2292-46aa-8ad7-0e1a1c07646f/aa+wreath.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/10621872-3ba5-4e00-8b38-3d1a755e6494/fairy.jpeg https://www.jessicakautz.com/contact daily 0.75 2022-04-09 https://www.jessicakautz.com/music daily 0.75 2024-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593574199796-3BNTNM0WQLMVGEAAO8KC/b%26w+on+street.jpg Memoir - I am currently reworking this project and will be seeking representation when the next draft is ready. A MAD LIFE is a memoir about nearly nine years I spent living and working in Madrid. There’s travel and teaching, rock ‘n’ roll and rocked expectations, love, heartbreak, marriage, fertility struggles, parenthood (at last!), and the surreal experience of becoming part of a Spanish family. My book combines the confusion-beauty-loneliness-excitement of life abroad as portrayed in Lost in Translation with the joys and challenges of working as a grade-school teacher in Abbott Elementary. It pairs the starry-eyed, sometimes soul-crushing, experience of loving and marrying a musician in The Most Beautiful with that of being messy, nontraditional, cross-cultural parents as in Catastrophe. https://www.jessicakautz.com/gallery daily 0.75 2024-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1630692909124-HKK8YQAH750DW24KT531/Getting+Started+image.png For Adults - June 2021 Adventures in pandemic homeschooling. (Sixteenth story down when clicking on image.) You can also directly link to my story here - https://www.dropbox.com/s/m0fiy6mqdktjslw/Getting%20Started%20-%20The%20Sun%20-%20June%202021%20pdf.pdf?dl=0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593543186732-65G2AHL8HHAJ7DQL1C24/Weekends+screen+shot.png For Adults May 2020 An abandoned dog wins over two teenagers. (Fourth story down when clicking on image.) You can also directly link to my story here - https://www.dropbox.com/s/hxd9r0gprva9g2z/The%20Weekend%20-%20The%20Sun.pdf?dl=0- https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593543691808-SBV95C4XXDK1HPUUZ78Z/Interruptions+screen+shot.png For Adults December 2019 Speaking Spanish in an American bar. (Twelfth story down when clicking on image.) You can also directly link to my story here - https://www.dropbox.com/s/0049h94168kdpiz/Interruptions%20-%20The%20Sun.pdf?dl=0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593543985792-VBCBYH38XPGM16WHGTPB/Taking+Your+Time+screen+shot.png For Adults August 2018 A stray cat is a good influence. (Second story down when clicking on image.) You can also directly link to my story here - https://www.dropbox.com/s/caf7xlromhzkhnq/Taking%20Your%20Time%20-%20The%20Sun.pdf?dl=0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593544315088-U35KZIKQIARB6K071M1H/Bad+Habits+screen+shot.png For Adults January 2018 I say ‘I’m sorry’ way too much. (Twelfth story down when clicking on image.) You can also directly link to my story here - https://www.dropbox.com/s/9rnswpuf3uvjqsn/Bad%20Habits%20-%20The%20Sun.pdf?dl=0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593544584281-DAQSIFPZS3C23UICER7M/bioteka_madrid.jpg For Adults Madrid Mutt (Published September 26, 2018) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593904142803-BAHNBKU94S30NAQZPMD2/Moore+screen+shot.png For Adults Spookily in Seattle (Published September 19, 2018) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593905314506-F311F2CSUB8PPIB27WQX/A+1+Vanishing.png For Adults Vanishing Act (November 13, 2012) My experiences with theft and pick-pocketing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593905409120-XKUAUWZA2OID2G642E7V/A+2+Insecurity.png For Adults Home Insecurity (November 17, 2012) Valiant measures my neighbors took to protect their homes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593905621069-O4W2S4YP74PTAHDNKJEO/A+3+Different.png For Adults Different Strokes (November 20, 2012) The top ten things that my parents observed about day-to-day Spanish life during a visit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593905647060-E0KBZU60SCT3CIGQCWLJ/A+4+Gracias.png For Adults Giving Gracias (November 25, 2012) A few things about Spain for which I gave thanks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593905878449-LNFGWABYAKGAYW2XXYV8/A+5+Surprises3.png For Adults Snapshots from Spanish Suburbia - Shopping Surprises (February 5, 2013) A collection of items in Spanish stores that Americans find unusual https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593905904543-M0GNZ9XCYDTKHTGI76ZG/A+6+Produce.png For Adults Snapshots from Spanish Suburbia - Buying Produce (February 12, 2013) If you have never thought of grocery shopping as a social experience, you’ve probably never run out for a quick bunch of bananas or broccoli in Spain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593545082339-DDYZ9QVSJ3FLS4B49G6A/Poland.png For Adults https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593546673778-7T6JSHG75B2BJQ9MFLI6/Love+and+Logic+-+Feb+24%2C+2000.png For Adults https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593547405619-XP6K7NFR11N2X4UEGPUM/Puppy+Whisperer+-+Nov+26%2C+2000.png For Adults https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593547796515-OQAH5OJ0KDCRHLTX93NT/Ani+DiFranco2+-+April+28%2C+2000.png For Adults https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593550328174-C34NZCUGXEDGNS19OJBO/Aspen+Ridge+Road2.png For Adults https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593550192909-YA9G7EP1SOI53DGEI7BY/Kids+on+PBS+-+Jan+13%2C+2000.png For Adults https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593547320528-H13M2AEUTGI4AQJL5822/Meet+the+Wilderness2+-+Feb+10%2C+2000.png For Adults https://www.jessicakautz.com/about daily 0.75 2026-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1593286612352-PXAJM6HO0S8C094SVUNB/*+1+124A2859+2.jpg+maybe%2C+very+normal%2C+i%27m+tired+-+THIS+ONE.jpg About I used to write for adults. Now I write for children. I’ve also worked as a grade school teacher, a reporter, a grocery store clerk, and a barista, but my favorite job is being the mother of a very cool boy. My writing has been featured in The Sun, Bust, High Five, Highlights, Wanderlust, the Vail Daily and the Des Moines Register, among others. I graduated from the University of Colorado-Boulder with a B.A. in Sociology, a B.S. in Journalism, and a M.A. in Social, Multicultural, and Bilingual Foundations of Education. Read more about me in this interview with the Children’s Book Insider (October 2022) . https://www.jessicakautz.com/for-children-1 daily 0.75 2025-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1618690985706-CF9QLWXHH4W8SK6DWQ7Q/124A2833%2B2.jpg%2Bnot%2Blooking%2Band%2Bwith%2Bmax%2BTHIS%2BONE%252C%2Bbut%2Bcould%2Bdo%2B3.jpg For Children I think kids are the best. Kids are why I started babysitting way too young. (And kept babysitting till I was way too old.) Kids are why I became a school teacher in my late 20s. And my kid has made this parenthood gig the most fun I’ve ever had. The stories I pen for children are written with the intent to make them feel seen, to make them feel accepted, to make them feel appreciated, and, on a good day, to make them laugh. (Scroll down to see published stories, as well as those in progress.) Currently seeking an agent for representation. The picture books I have ready to pitch are focused on social-emotional topics, bicultural childhoods, and often cats. I hope to add more gentle goth and humor to this list soon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/b03b3053-4749-4807-a004-eda1e22889c0/HL+1.jpg For Children - Make it stand out “Not Too Much” is a tribute to the unsung pleasure of doing things in moderation. Please enjoy this preview … but just in a mildly pleasant sort of way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/5e0839a3-0a48-4bfd-8926-6b5ea0252fda/HL+2.jpg For Children https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/ad09e99e-de66-4bdd-9bb5-843993e079e9/twit1.jpg For Children https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/397e40d2-f0f8-4e8c-bde1-0ba8a83801d2/twit2.jpg For Children - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/ba4449a3-5e3a-4431-b329-d94181362db2/287004525_1665821430468057_3533079262469796576_n.jpg For Children https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/c3c1191b-382c-40b6-bc3a-facf9819acc4/IMG_4958.jpg For Children James loves asking “Would You Rather” questions. His sister, Isabella, definitely does NOT. Will he be able to change her mind? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/06603ba7-6931-4160-85f1-a66afd26b7ea/highfive1.jpg For Children https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/2519b7ad-92ad-4561-8bf0-d7a2e06b05f7/high+five+3.jpeg For Children https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1630529057688-RX36C60DYN4XC3VP2TNR/June+2021+cover.jpeg For Children https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1630529716540-2RAEK3Y9Q7ZMDBKDUIE6/June+2021+inside+spread.jpeg For Children - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1618689899602-3XXR9303RUTQXHYK8D26/Too%25252BMuch%25252BNoise1.jpg For Children https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef797c92375551cdded6643/1618686963318-G1RE3GCAPKD82IGK4D7K/Too+Much+Noise2.jpeg For Children https://www.jessicakautz.com/the-distance-between-us-1 daily 0.75 2025-04-23 https://www.jessicakautz.com/that-was-then-v1 daily 0.75 2025-04-23 https://www.jessicakautz.com/turquoise-moon-1 daily 0.75 2025-04-23 https://www.jessicakautz.com/new-album daily 0.75 2025-04-23