Jess Porto grew up in the Adirondack region of upstate New York and subsequently moved to a handful of other states, including Illinois, Iowa, where she graduated from high school and attended Iowa State University, then to South Carolina, Florida, and North Carolina. Jess graduated from Southwest Florida College with an Associate of Science degree in interior design. After various positions in retail, construction, and design, she is currently the marketing director for her longtime employer in Florida and works from home in North Carolina, which allows her more time for writing.