About Jalissa:

I am a literary artist, Marriage Celebrant, and the author of Wedlope: Wine-Infused Poems — a collection born from 15 years of living inside a marriage with intention, navigating its beauty and its becoming.

My relationship with wine began through education. Studying for and passing my first WSET exam challenged long-held insecurities about my intelligence and became part of a larger season of reinvention. In time, I began seeing wine as more than something to study — its language of vintage, notes, aging, and transformation became a creative way to explore our own stories.

"My work uses the language of wine to make storytelling, reflection, and vulnerability feel more approachable.”

My background in coaching has allowed me to support 100+ people through thoughtful conversation and reflection. As a poet and workshop facilitator, I’ve brought literary experiences into galleries, bookstores, and libraries across Arkansas. As a Marriage Celebrant, I create intimate ceremonies rooted in the stories that make each relationship distinct.

Everyone I work with deserves a story worth savoring — and the wholeness to live it.

Now Available:

Wedlope: Wine-Infused Poems — a collection of verse for the woman who loves deeply and lives deliberately.

Institutional Partnerships & Where the Work Lives

Available to purchase at Bookish, a local independent bookstore located inside the Bakery District in Fort Smith, Arkansas — and available to borrow at the Fort Smith Main Library.

Literary art belongs in shared spaces. I actively collaborate with bookstores, libraries, and museums to bring poetry, workshops, and literary experiences to the Fort Smith community and beyond. Interested in hosting a workshop or literary event? Let's build something together.