Joe McGee and Jess Rinker

Help Joe McGee and Jessica Rinker pay their medical bills and living expenses while Joe undergoes treatment for squamous cell carcinoma esophageal cancer.

Together, as writers for children, they have over twenty-five published books. Joe also works as the Writing Coordinator at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, a position he just recently started. They were married in 2018 and have 6 children between them, ages 15-24. They live together with their two dogs, and Jess’ daughter, Ainsley, in the mountains of West Virginia.

In an interview with fellow writer, Rebecca Evans, they were described in this way:

“Gloria Steinem and Aliens. Brenda Berkman and Peanut Butter. These are unlikely pairings, until you meet Jess Rinker and Joe McGee, a power-author couple who, despite their different approaches to craft and writing life, have found a way to thrive together, creating art that matters for our next generation.

Jess pursues contemporary trailblazing women, like Steinem and Berkman, for her picture book biographies. Joe captures a monster-approach through aliens, zombies, werewolves, and vampires for his picture books and his Junior Monster Scouts chapter book series.... Their own weave, navigating art and life, is as intricate and beautiful as the symbolic bond that holds them.”

In December of 2022, Joe began experiencing difficulty swallowing and weight loss, along with severe congestion and flu symptoms. He was treated for the flu and while those symptoms subsided, the others persisted and worsened. After tests for pneumonia and bronchitis, they never expected to be in an oncologist office just a few weeks later with an esophageal cancer diagnosis. Having no genetic, lifestyle, or environmental markers, Joe’s diagnosis was unexpected and terrifying.

Joe and Jessica are facing several months of intense medical care, including a gastric feeding tube, daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy treatments, and possible surgery. With the hospital over an hour and a half away, they find themselves needing to stay in hotels and find care for their home and pets while they are away. Their expenses are increasing while they experience a reduction in income.

Living expenses for the next 6 months will be approximately $46,000. This includes mortgage payments on the West Virginia home, hotels in Winchester, anticipated medical and prescription payments, food and gas, care for their dogs, and other incidentals.

Please consider donating to help support their daily lives and provide Joe and Jess with as much peace of mind and support as possible during this difficult time.

To stay up to date with Joe's journey, connect with their Caring Bridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joemcgee13

You can also follow Joe's personal blog here: https://joemcgeeauthor.wixsite.com/quirkville

More from their interview with Rebecca Evans, can be found here: https://www.thenormalschool.com/blog/2019/4/3/interview-with-joe-mcgee-and-jess-rinker-by-rebecca-evans

To learn more about their creative work, check out these sites:

Joe’s author page: https://www.joemcgeeauthor.com

Jess’s author page: https://jessrinker.com

Creative Partnerships blog: https://pantserandplotter.blog/2022/12/27/this-is-us/