Jill is my name; words are my frame.
Not a word wrote goes without a thought unprovoked.
A story refined; a community heart stoked.
Whether a note or a quote, I aim to keep the local spirit afloat.
I am elaborate and kind; I say what is on my mind.
And on my mind is you.
A community through and through.
From local owners to neighborly faces, I find magic in our Middleton places.
Where does your story begin?
I am a Madisonian through and through. Born and raised on the West Side, I grew up in the halls of Saint Maria Goretti before heading to Memorial [Val Phillips] High School. My connection to this area is not just professional; it is cellular. I ended up back at UW-Madison because this city has a way of holding onto you. Recently, my partner, Andrew Charles, and I bought a house in the same neighborhood where I grew up. It feels full circle. We love the live music, the local shops, and the fact that we can be in nature and the city all at once.
What drew you to the world of editing?
The intrigue unknowingly started with my mother. I have core memories of us sitting together as she helped me dissect my book reports. She taught me to look at writing through a microscopic lens. I learned early on that small, intentional tweaks could massively change the macro-level feel of a piece. Later, I fell for the psychology of language. I have always been a deep thinker and major empath. I realized my strength lies in bringing people together,
How did your grandpa influence your writing?
My grandfather gave me the confidence to take myself seriously. He entrusted me to help him with a 500-page book about my great-great-grandfather, Cy Williams, a professional baseball player for the Cubs and Phillies, and an influential architect in the Northwoods. Editing that project was a slow, truly sacred process. My Papa is very particular; he speaks with purpose and did not want his voice changed. It taught me how to restructure for clarity while fiercely protecting the authentic soul of the subject.
How would you describe your specific style?
It is quirky to the max. My mind naturally works in rhymes. I might ponder for ten minutes to find one specific adjective that has the right "feel." I do not write just to fill space. I write to translate a personality.
What is your process when you sit down to write?
I am a deep thinker. I don’t just churn out content. I interpret. I want to translate a conversation into a piece that resonates. My mind works in a compilation of partial thoughts that I eventually refine into something intentional. I am a total empath, so I feel the weight of the stories I tell. I want every sentence to have a point.
What do you love most about this magazine?
The opportunity to sit down with the shapers of our city. It is inspiring to encapsulate the values of a business owner and share them with the neighborhood. I want to use my background in events to create a direct dialogue with all of you. We are here to shape each other.
What do you hope for the future of Middleton City Lifestyle?
I want to be an advocate and a leader in this community. My goal is to be fully ingrained in the growth of our city. I hope to bring my wide range of experience to a community level, building a magazine that feels like a conversation between neighbors.