In June of 1976, just over a month before tall-masted sailing ships entered the New York and Boston Harbors amid furious celebration and fireworks, Kent and Linda Johnson of Concordia, Kansas welcomed their first (and arguably their best) child. Born in a modest 67-bed hospital in the Heartland, Jessica Lea was a blue-eyed angel. From these humble beginnings, I grew into the woman I am today.

My childhood was replete with incredible adventures through Kansas wilderness full of fairies, pixies and the occasional dragon. My She-Ra dolls lived in doll houses and castles in the sand, and had grand outings to the railroad bridge or Grandpa’s fish pool.

Junior high saw the beginning of my first novel and hours spent in my room creating all sorts of art — drawing, painting, collage, anything that required my creativity. I followed some farm boys to Kansas State University and completed my degree there in Art Education in 1998.

As I’ve grown up, I find I’m content to leave my past behind, but have gathered enough juicy stories, I’m looking forward to retelling them in my old age. Because of that, I have plenty of fodder for my art and writing. And a desire to help others avoid the mistakes I made.

I’m especially interested in helping girls grow up empowered. I think a sense of self-worth will eliminate a lot of the issues women currently face. There’s something here for everyone, from Civil War folk heroes to murals with Kansas kids to intensely personal stories. I love being alive and I intend to spread joy and fun and empower others to feel the same. Life is good, enjoy it!