January was a super-sized month for me as a writer—so many projects came to fruition, a few new accolades were earned, and exciting new opportunities were presented. It was one of those months where the momentum of my creative work felt unstoppable, and February has continued to bring wonderful developments.
One of the most exciting pieces of news is that my all-female play
I Bet She Has a Party to Go To has been selected for inclusion in the upcoming anthology
The Best 10-Minute Plays of 2025, to be published by Smith & Kraus and edited by Debbie Lamedman. This play had its world premiere at Futures Explored Film Studio last January (2024), and I am beyond thrilled to see it reach a wider audience. The play explores the reactions of three women after they watch a beautiful, free-spirited woman roller-skate through a city park—resentment, curiosity, and deep-seated emotions emerge as they reflect on her assumed carefree life.
On the horror front, my voice will be featured in the upcoming films
Amityville: Infinity, Ouija Slumber Party, and
Paula Takes the Stage. Additionally, I am thrilled to be a part of Morgan Wellborn’s upcoming project
Circus Satanicus. Horror storytelling continues to be an exciting part of my career, and I can’t wait to see these projects come to life.
Speaking of horror, my short film script The Playhouse was recently named a finalist for The Thing in the Basement Horror Fest. This recognition is an incredible honor, and I’m hopeful the script will soon find its way to production.
On the producing side,
I Feel Fine, a beautiful film I’m an associate producer of, is now available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Seeing this film reach audiences through major streaming platforms is an amazing milestone, and I highly encourage everyone to check it out.
One of my favorite films this season is Gia Coppola’s brilliant
The Last Showgirl. The entire cast is fantastic, and I must give a special shoutout to Pamela Anderson for delivering a career-best performance. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, add it to your must-watch list!
Several of my new works have also been released recently, including:
Just Before the World (short story) – Naomi and Dominic, both grieving the loss of loved ones, form a deep connection while spending time together in a cemetery.
Homecomings (short play) – In a small-town laundromat, two former high school rivals come face-to-face for the first time in over forty years.
Love in the Shadows (novel) – When American journalist Quintin Pearson meets the mysterious Luca, an Italian spy, in the wake of an ambassador’s assassination, a spark ignites that soon becomes an intense, passionate affair. Their journey takes them from London to a secluded seaside town in Belgium as they work together to uncover the truth behind the assassination.
Check out my film reviews at Fantastic Classics.
In literary news, I recently had the pleasure of reading some of my poetry at
The Avid Reader in Sacramento. The event was sponsored by the wonderful team at
Queer Sacramento Authors Collective (QSAC), and I was grateful for the opportunity to share my work with such an engaged audience.
Another incredible honor this month: I received first prize in the
Fade In Awards TV Pilot/Web Series Competition for the pilot episode script of my original television series
Her Other Life. This show follows two teenage sisters who suspect their bipolar mother led a secret life—and that her death may never have happened. It’s a deeply personal and thrilling project, and I’m excited about the possibilities ahead for it.
I also had the opportunity to teach The Who Exercise: Getting to Know Your Characters workshop for the fantastic members of Contemporary Romance Writers. It was such a rewarding experience, and I’m looking forward to teaching a dozen more workshops for various writing organizations and groups throughout the year. More details on these soon!
This month also brought two delightful personal discoveries. First, I’m absolutely loving
Marie Antoinette on PBS—it’s an engaging and beautifully crafted series. Second, I’ve found a new favorite comic book character in DC’s
Mister Miracle. Sometimes, the best joys come from stumbling upon something new that resonates deeply.
Outside of my creative pursuits, January was filled with cherished family moments. We enjoyed a fun outing to Leatherby’s ice cream parlor, participated in a trivia night at Futures Explored Film Studio (we came in last in all three rounds, but at least we were consistent!), and celebrated my mother-in-law’s 75th birthday. On a less enjoyable note, I had the first of two dental surgeries, and I’m still recovering—ouch!
As we move further into the month, I want to wish everyone a beautiful Valentine’s Day. As someone who writes a lot about love, I believe deeply in its power—whether romantic, platonic, or self-love. Let’s all make an effort to share more love in this world. We all need it.
Wishing you all a wonderful February filled with creativity, joy, and connection!
With love and gratitude,
Wren
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