My Mission
The security field is full of stories with fascinating characters. I’ve had my fair share of strange jobs in this industry, but my favorite so far has been storyteller.
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From high-stakes conflict to quirky personalities, from moral dilemmas to mental health, the security community holds a wealth of stories with life lessons for us all. So, let’s dive in.
Here’s what I’m up to:
Writing Books | Translating Chaos Into Communications Strategies | Teaching Writing & Story Craft
About Me
I'm a communications strategist, video producer, and writing instructor based in the Washington, D.C. area. With a unique blend of national security expertise and strategic communications skills, I help organizations amplify their impact through compelling storytelling and targeted messaging. My multidisciplinary background spans the defense industry, military service, hi-tech security marketing, and creative multimedia—providing me with unique insights into defense sector communications challenges.
The (In)Security Blog
As a blogger, I've written articles on a range of security and mental health topics and conducted interviews with military leadership, law enforcement, CIA officers, psychologists, filmmakers, and more. Whether it's an expert interview or perspectives from my own career, I aim to take a multidisciplinary approach to everything I explore.
"Maximizing Impact" Workshop
In today's fast-paced business environment, concise and compelling communication is a critical skill. I teach a full-day workshop on maximizing impact through strategic communications, story craft, and writing skills with a focus on professionals who work in government, security, hi-tech, and engineering. Feel free to reach out to learn more!
Current Writing Projects
I specialize in transforming real-life experiences from the security field into compelling novels based on true stories. If you are a literary agent or other entity who would like to request additional details, please contact me at jess@jessicawaltonwriter.com.
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Check out my working titles below:
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(IN)SECURITY is based on my experience as an American woman struggling with mental illness while trying to get accepted into the Israeli intelligence community.
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Status: Manuscript completed; open to representation
GIVE ME LIBERTY is about a young Afghan refugee and a Jewish boy from Alabama who form a bond after the 9/11 attacks and deploy to Afghanistan with the U.S. military to give the Taliban hell.
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Status: Manuscript in progress