Jessica Wakeman
Writer, editor + storyteller
Asheville, North Carolina-based storyteller with 20 years experience reporting and editing. Reach me at jessica.wakeman@gmail.com.
The New York Times
Book Review: ‘Jersey Angel,’ by Beth Ann Bauman
A review of the YA novel with mature themes.
patreon.com
How Choire Sicha Is Steering Style in a Crisis
The man behind the curtain of the New York Times’s most innovative section emerged fully formed from the Internet. But the Style section's reputation for lightness is running up against our chaotic moment.
theassemblync.com
Pride Cometh Before The Fall
After a two-year fight over LGBTQ books and displays, Yancey County is pulling its public library out of a regional system. Residents wonder what will be left.
The Guardian
Hurricane Helene Destroyed Asheville’s Flourishing Arts Community. Can They Rebuild What Was Lost?
The River Arts District attracted artists with cheap rents. With buildings flattened, the community fears a land grab.
Glamour
Men Who Scream at Work Aren't "Passionate." They're Abusive.
The toxic effect of verbal harassment in the office.
Rolling Stone
‘Put Your Head Down, Help Each Other Out’: Inside Asheville’s Helene Response
Helene’s destruction and the need for immediate response has activated a community long considered to be so-called blue dot in a red sea to provide care for their neighbors while they wait for aid to arrive.
theassemblync.com
FEMA Extends Temporary Hotel Stays, But Not Without Widespread Confusion
Even Helene survivors who’ve benefited from FEMA programs feel exhausted by the effort that’s gone into making phone calls and navigating red tape.
theassemblync.com
U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards Accused of Hitting Man At Rotary Event
This story is co-published with Talking Points Memo.
A regional Rotary conference in Asheville on Saturday night appears to have ended with a confrontation between Western North Carolina’s U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards and an unknown man, with witnesses attesting that the congressman struck the attendee.
New York Magazine
A Beginner’s Guide to Danielle LaPorte, Shailene Woodley’s Self-Help Guru
The woo is strong in this one.
Mountain Xpress
Neighborhood Backlash Derails North Asheville Emergency Shelter
Misinformation, inadequate communication and unsubstantiated fears have scuttled plans to offer temporary shelter for homeless people at a North Asheville church.
theassemblync.com
In Asheville, a Natural Disaster and a Housing Crisis Collide
After Hurricane Helene, the sudden crisis of a natural disaster collided with the slow-moving crisis of homelessness.
Bustle
The Women Of Democratic Socialism Prove The Movement Isn't Just A Bunch Of Sexist White Guys
Meet the young women joining the Democratic Socialist movement in the wake of the 2016 election.
theassemblync.com
Lost and Found
Hurricane Helene swept away many beloved possessions for Western North Carolina residents. Meet the teams working to reunite people with their missing mementos.
The Guardian
‘They Regress’: Kids Struggle Without School and Structure After Helene
Asheville families cope as experts say learning disruptions caused by hurricane can set children back for years.
The Guardian
Asheville’s Slimmed-Down Restaurants Make a Comeback a Year After Hurricane Helene: ‘Back to the Basics’
Many eateries in the North Carolina city now welcome tourists after navigating complex insurance rules to survive.