Jessica Lee Peterson

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 survives without them. Jessica’s 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.

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 licensed social worker since 2001, helping people and their families navigate complex systems and work through the hardships of life. Jessica has used her own grief as fuel to make the world a better place, embracing a philosophy of choosing light over darkness.

Jessica has been called to share her story in large and small ways. Her experience as a speaker began organically. What started as a simple "thank you" speech to approximately three hundred people morphed into an extensive talk about surviving domestic violence and living with grief. The opportunities to share Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia's stories and the lessons learned from their tragic loss grew from that moment. Jessica has spoken to groups large and small, young and old, professionals who work with darkness and seekers of light. She is available for a range of speaking engagements. Her memoir Thistles & Thorns will be released in the summer of 2022. It is currently available for pre-order through Written Dreams Publishing.