Jenessa Ren: An Enchanting Voice in Fantasy Fiction
I’m thrilled to spotlight Jenessa Ren, an indie author whose enchanting storytelling transports readers to the magical world of The Five Realms, filled with intrigue, romance, and adventure. Her first novel, Heir of Sun and Moon, is captivating readers with its blend of fantasy and fairy tale elements.
Jenessa Ren’s journey to becoming a published author is as compelling as the stories she writes. Not becoming an avid reader until 2022, Jenessa quickly became obsessed with fantasy romance. Within a year, the idea for Heir of Sun and Moon was born, marking the beginning of The Five Realms Series.
When Jenessa isn’t crafting intricate plots or developing complex characters, she can be found on Bookstagram and Booktok, likely fangirling over other indie authors, enjoying time with her family, reading, and watching Pedro Pascal edits. Her favorite holiday is Halloween, and she considers herself a forever fall girlie, despite living in a place where the autumn season is non-existent.
Jenessa draws inspiration from her surroundings and her love for fairy tales. She loves hearing from other readers, so feel free to drop into her DMs anytime.
Join us as we dive into a Q&A with this talented new voice in fantasy fiction and discover the magic behind her work.
Q&A:
Can you explain your journey of being a self-published author? Are there any tips you would give an aspiring writer you wants to self-publish?
I feel like my start into authorhood was a little unconventional. I got the idea for what would turn into Heir Of Sun And Moon and after spending some time plotting out the worlds and characters (both of which expanded beyond what I had originally intended), I began to write. Eight weeks later, I had a finished manuscript. It was about halfway through the writing process, where the story was really taking shape, that I really started thinking long and hard about if I wanted to publish it. Ultimately, I decided to go for it and flashforward to almost a year later and another book under my belt, a self-published author I have become.
Tips I would give to someone just starting out is to allow yourself to daydream about your characters and your world. That is just as important as writing. Don’t worry about what your words look like on the page (structure, grammar, etc), instead just focus on trying to get the story down on “paper”. Make friends with indie authors and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most of us have had the help of other, more experienced authors to guide us along when we are first starting out. I know my journey into publishing Heir Of Sun And Moon was made exponentially easier because I had trusted author friends I could go to for advice.
How do you create complex and relatable characters in your novels? Are there any specific techniques or inspirations you draw from when developing their personalities, motivations, and arcs?
This is such a tough question to put an answer into words, but I’ll try my best. The biggest thing that I focus on is just staying authentic to the character in ways that still allows them to grow and be challenged. Having outside eyes that you trust to look at the story and ensure that you haven’t deviated in a way that doesn’t feel “right” is big too.
I like to take little personality tests for my characters that I find online. It helps me fine tune their voices in my head and makes it easier to imagine what they would do in different scenarios. I’m a planner, so knowing what obstacles my characters will face long before they actually do also helps round them out in a way that makes them, I hope anyway, relatable.
I think it’s easy for authors to fall into a trap of trying to guide a character into a certain direction because it might fulfill a certain trope, but if the character isn’t naturally already on that path, it’s going to be obvious to most readers that it’s not an authentic journey for them to take.
Your fantasy worlds are richly detailed and immersive. Could you share your process for world-building? How do you balance creating unique setting while ensuring they resonate with readers?
I think a lot of people assume writing fantasy means there are no rules and while that is true to a certain extent, I’ve found that having parameters around the worlds I create helps me not only stay consistent in my story but also helps the reader feel like it’s actually a place they could exist in. Fantastical is great, but like with anything, sometimes too much at one time can be a detriment. So I like to sprinkle real world things into my kingdoms to help create the tether from something real to something make believe. Also writing to the senses gives the reading experience a 3D effect. If you’re in the Mage Kingdom in my world, you’re going to smell the woodsy aroma of a forest. You’re going to be surrounded in a sea of rich greens and you’re going to feel the soft petals of different flowers and bushes brushing against the back of your hand as you make your way through. It’s those little touches that transform a reading experience from words on a page to something immersive.
What have been the most rewarding moments in your writing journey? Conversely, what challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
The most rewarding moment in my writing journey was nailing a scene that I had been dreaming about for months. I write in chronological order, I find that I can’t bounce around or skip ahead without the rest of the story feeling off, so when I finally get to a scene that I’ve been dreaming about, it’s almost euphoric. For the first book, it was getting to write when two characters kiss for the first time. For book two, it was getting to reveal a secret that was foreshadowed in the first book. Those moments are truly some of the most exciting as a writer.
Challenges are easily not letting outside noises affect me. Writing HOSAM was easy because no one knew I was writing it, so I didn’t have to worry about what expectations would be set upon me from readers. But when it was time to write COSAT, all I could think about for a while was writing a book that wouldn’t be a let down to those who enjoyed HOSAM. I let myself get completely overwhelmed with imposter syndrome, to the point where it created a mental block, and I kept writing and rewriting the same 20% of the book.
I was lucky that I had people I could turn to and vent to, and I eventually was able to trust my writing process and, most importantly, myself, to tell the story that I needed to tell in the way it needed to be told. That meant skipping out on looking at reviews of HOSAM, not spending so much time on social media, and making sure I did other things to creatively fill my cup up. Writing book two taught me a lot about what it means for me to be an author and while it was hard at the time, I’m grateful that I experienced it. I’m much more equipped to making sure something like that doesn’t happen again with future books.
How do you connect with your readers? Do you have any memorable interactions or experiences with fans that stand out to you?
Social media is the biggest platform for interacting with readers. I’ve met so many truly incredible people because of Instagram and TikTok. Even Pinterest has introduced me to new readers! I love, love, love getting messages from you guys, so please never feel nervous to say hello!
I’ve also been able to go to a few signings this year, and I’ve met some amazing people at those as well! One of the coolest moments was, after a woman came to my table and grabbed my book, I heard her tell her friends that she was so excited to read it because she had seen it on social media. That was a very surreal moment because I sometimes forget just how wide-reaching social media can be. Even if you never go viral.
What are some of your all-time favorite books, and why do they resonate with you? Are there any lesser-known gems you'd recommend to fellow readers?
I need to preface by saying that I was not a reader growing up, and when I dove into the bookish world for the first time at age 34, I hadn’t read anything that wasn’t required for school. ACOTAR was the very first fantasy romance series I ever read and I was obsessed. ACOMAF & ACOWAR in particular honestly altered something in me, and it made me voracious for the romantasy genre and even shaped how I write stories.
I’m a huge fan of Hannah Whitten. She is an auto-buy author for me. I love her prose and how lushly she creates worlds.
Scarlett St. Clair is a master at writing the male pov, and I just love the way she approaches world building and romance. Plus, she’s the nicest person in real life.
A lesser-known gem that everyone MUST READ is The Lost God series by Sheila Masterson. Seriously, go read it and then come back and vent all your feelings to me. Sheila’s writing is powerful and emotional, and there are some scenes that just linger in your mind long after you read them.
What do you wish people/readers knew about you?
I am hopelessly optimistic, and I really want to be everyone’s friend. But I also have crippling anxiety, and feel like I should preserve as much privacy as I can in a space where I’m constantly asked to be as open as possible. It can lead to me being overwhelmed easily, and worrying about if people perceive me a certain way. Even writing this is anxiety inducing haha.
What future projects or ideas are you excited about? Can you give us a sneak peek into what you’re working on next?
I’m currently working on book three in The Five Realms Series, and I’m just excited to continue the story. After I finish this book, I have a novella set in this world that I will write and then the fourth book. My hope is to finish the series in 2025 so that I can dive into new things after!
Start Her Series:
Book one in The Five Realms Series
Heir of Sun and Moon
Synopsis:
Forced into isolation by the ruler of the Mortal Kingdom, Princess Rhea Maxwell spends her days in the company of her pet fox, Bella, dreaming of an existence outside the confinement of her tower. As the rightful queen, she knows that there must be more to life than the endless monotony she's been forced to live. Harboring a deadly secret from her past, her desolation grows until one fateful night brings an unlikely ally into her life. Though wary to trust this stranger, Rhea suddenly finds herself with something she's never had before: a choice. With a future she never thought possible hanging in the balance, the princess must decide if following her heart is worth risking everything she's ever known.
In the neighboring Mage Kingdom, Princess Bahira Daxel is the first of her kind to be born without magic. Fixated on finding a way to unlock the power she believes to be hidden within, Bahira knows there is no price too great to achieve her goals. As tensions rise and her kingdom prepares for a threat they can not defend against, her desperation comes to a head. Ultimatums push Bahria to rethink who she truly is and the future that she had pictured for herself.
In a post-war world where kingdoms are divided by a powerful spell, can Rhea and Bahira each break free from the shackles of the lives expected of them to forge their own paths? Or will lies and obsession threaten to destroy everything.
Includes:
Slow Burn
Two Princesses
Animal Companion
Hidden Magic
Mental Health Rep
He Falls First
