Jessica Payes is a spoken word artist and author, featuring in various open mics and competing in poetry slams around New York City. When not writing or performing, Jessica is a social worker helping families and children navigate life with mental health diagnoses. 

In her debut collection, Manipulated, Jessica highlights the importance of mental health and its effect in a raw and unfiltered way, being open with her journey of depression hoping readers know they, too, are stronger than their pain. 

Jessica is currently working on multiple projects including visual arts, painting, a second poetry collection, and a debut novel.