Jun 19, 2025 | Wildecraft
Summer might be all sun and sand on the surface…
But behind the scenes? It’s all coffee, chaos, and way too many open documents.
Here’s a peek at what’s been keeping me busy this summer—and what’s coming next in the world of Jena Wilde (and beyond).
🎄 A Holiday in Paradise
First up: I’m writing a Christmas novella set in the Ivory Tower world!
This story is full of warm holiday charm with a touch of sabotage (naturally). Expect snowy decorations in a tropical setting, glittering charity galas, cookie mishaps, and a security contractor who really doesn’t want to wear a Santa hat.
You’ll see a few familiar faces, too—yes, Nick might make an appearance. Possibly with a bourbon-spiked eggnog in hand.
🐉 Meanwhile… in Another World Entirely
Under a different pen name (secret for now 👀), I’m working on a dragon shifter novella for an upcoming anthology. (Here's a sneak peak at Icylin.)
It’s high-stakes fantasy with slow-burn romance, ancient magic, and a dragon prince who thinks he’s too dangerous to love—until a fierce human scientist throws his world off balance.
It’s been fun to switch gears and dive into a whole new world of mythology, power struggles, and primal heat.
🌪️ Back to the Storm
On the Ivory Tower front, I’m deep in final revisions for Book 2 (Storm Front) and working through the last few chapters of Book 3 (Storm Surge). David is being difficult (as expected). Zach is being quiet (also expected). And the women who challenge them? Let’s just say they’re not backing down.
These stories have taken on a life of their own, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
🖥️ A Fresh Coat of Digital Paint
And finally… I’ve been redesigning my website to better reflect everything the Jena Wilde brand has become—polished, a little dangerous, and full of romantic suspense.
New pages. New visuals. A whole new home for the stories I’ve been writing in secret for years. It’s all coming together, and I hope you love the result as much as I do.
So yes—it’s a busy summer. But a good kind of busy.
The kind that means stories are coming. Pages are stacking up. And somewhere in the chaos, magic is happening.
Thanks for being here for it.
More soon, Wildings.
Stay cool, stay curious—
—Jena
Feb 5, 2025 | Wildecraft
People often ask what it really looks like to write romantic suspense—the kind that simmers with heat, unravels secrets, and dances with danger. And while I’d love to tell you it’s all candlelight and inspiration, the truth is… it’s mostly routine. Repetition. Tools that quiet the noise and get me into the zone.
So today, I’m opening the door to my writing world—chaos and all.
🎧 The Soundtrack to Suspense
I cannot start writing in silence. I’ve tried. It’s unnerving.
Instead, I rely on playlists that set the emotional tone for the scene I’m working on. For tense or dramatic moments, it’s all moody instrumentals—think cello, ambient beats, rainstorms. For slow-burn romance or emotionally charged scenes, I’ll drift into soft piano or melancholy indie vocals. Occasionally, when I need to really punch up a villain scene? A little dark cinematic or even trailer-style music gets the blood pumping.
I’ve started creating character-specific playlists too. (Yes, Zach’s has a lot of dramatic strings and storm sounds. Heavy metal, too. No regrets.)
🖋 My Favorite Tools
-
AutoCrit– My digital brain. I love how I can jump between scenes, track character arcs, and drop notes without losing my flow.
-
Microsoft Word (for sharing) – Clean, collaborative, and perfect for sending chapters to critique partners or myself (yes, I email myself edits at 2 a.m.).
-
Post-it Notes & Notebooks – The walls of my office look like I’m plotting either a novel or a very dramatic conspiracy. Possibly both.
-
Timer Apps (like Focus Keeper) – I use Pomodoro sprints (25 mins on, 5 off) when I’m stuck or distracted. It’s amazing what a countdown can do for productivity.
-
Liquid motivation – Tea in the morning. Tea in the afternoon. Water when I remember to hydrate like a grown-up.
🔮 Rituals That Keep Me Grounded
-
Lip balm and a clean desk. I know it’s weirdly specific, but I can’t start a session without both.
-
Lighting a candle. One with a scent that fits the current vibe—stormy sea, smoked woods, dark vanilla. I just love scented candles.
-
Reading the last 1–2 paragraphs aloud. It snaps me back into rhythm, reminds me what emotional thread I’m tugging on, and lets me hear if something sounds off.
Writing romantic suspense means holding two opposing energies at once: love and fear, desire and danger. These tools and rituals help me step into that space—every single day.
So now I’m curious: What are your must-haves for getting creative? Do you write, paint, brainstorm, journal? What weird little ritual gets your mind moving?
Tell me your quirks. I promise not to judge.
Stay caffeinated, stay curious,
—Jena
Jul 28, 2024 | Wildecraft
The experience
It occurred to me that if I wanted to be an author, maybe I should start by writing about the writing experience itself. Why? One, I might find it interesting down the road. Two, it could potentially help others start writing as well. Third: it’s just good practice!
Why did I decide to write?
Blame it on my husband. Like everything else, it’s his fault. Seriously.
I am a voracious reader. I read every second of the day that I can. I read almost any type of fiction, excluding horror. (Sorry to all you horror fans, but I dislike nightmares.) So, hubby asked the all-important question: Why don’t you write a book? My response:
Huh. Why not?
After all, it would be a great way to get all those stories floating around in my brain out, and maybe make room for something else. Since I retired from my day job, it was time to start.
Step 1
Like everything else in life, writing is far more complicated than it sounds. Sure, I sat down and drafted up Book 1 quickly, but there’s more to it than just drafting a manuscript. At least, there’s more to it if you want to publish that manuscript.
So, I found an online conference for writers. It was geared mostly toward getting new followers, so it was really for someone a bit further along in the process than I was at the time, but it was extremely interesting, and very informative. Many other attendees were also just drafting their first manuscripts, while others had already published and were looking to expand their marketing.
In the old days, you wrote the Great American Novel, shopped it around to publishing houses, and hoped someone picked it up. When they did, they then did most of the work: they helped with editors, formatting, cover design, marketing, book signings, etc. You did what they told you to do.
Now, more and more writers are going Indie, so they have to do these things themselves, or at least start off doing those things themselves. Down the road, they might make enough money to pay others to do pieces/parts of it.
First up, from what I learned, is just learning the proper way to write. I can be a pantser, as they call writing by the seat of your pants, but if I want to be successful long-term, I need to learn to do it well on demand. What does that mean?
I have to learn to plot, to define the pieces of the puzzle that, when fleshed out, become the full novel. I need to know how to develop characters that readers will be invested in, how to develop fascinating new worlds, and how to design and build a mystery. What readers of these genres expect and how to give it to them. All kinds of things, depending on the genre I want to write in. Since I have ideas in multiple genres, it means learning lots of things.
Good thing I like learning.
So much for retirement.