About
Jessica Lee Peterson is, first and foremost, a mother who has built her life around raising children. While developing her family, she also pursued a career in social work. She has been a social worker since 2001, helping people and their families navigate complex systems and work through the hardships of life. In July of 2012, Jessica lost her three daughters Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia to domestic violence. Since then, she has used her grief as fuel to make the world a better place, embracing a philosophy of choosing light over darkness. She works for Washington County as an adult protection investigator and resides in River Falls, Wisconsin with her husband Matthew, stepdaughters Ellianna and Maya, and her children Trinity and Flint.
Featured Work
Thistles & Thorns
On July 10th 2012 Jessica woke up a single mother of three complicated creatures named Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia. By the end of that bright summer day, she was empty arms and broken dreams. Her journey of survival would start from the deepest pit of despair, a world in which her children had been murdered by their father. This is her story about the people she made, how they were taken from the world, and how she survived without them. Jessica was not alone in her grief. The community the girls had grown up in was rocked to it’s core and rose up to support Jessica and her family. Friends, family, and strangers from around the world came together to help Jessica face the darkness and feed the light. The battles would take her from court rooms to playgrounds to the edges of the world. Her journey of survival led her back to a life worth living. Tragedy and suffering are endemic in this world but can be overcome by grace and love. This tale will wreak havoc on the status quo of how to survive and grieve.
Other Works
Awards and Recognition
- Readers Favorite Gold Award
- Midwest Book Awards MiPA Silver
- Eric Hoffer Award Finalist
