Welcome

Hello. Thank you for stopping by. I'm happy you're here.

My name is Wren Valentino. I'm an actor, entrepreneur, film producer, movie critic, workshop instructor, and writer. I write in multiple genres, primarily romance, thriller, young adult, and horror. In addition, I'm a playwright, poet, and screnwriter. 

As an actor, I can be seen (and heard) in thirty films, including many horror movies. Currently, I play fashionista Velvet Vane on the popular web series Horror Hound Bites with Mary Kate (Forever Entertainment). Check out the Acting section for more info. 

If you'd like to learn more about me and my life, the About section offers more details. 

The Links page is a great list of writing resources and links to the individual webpages of the members of my collective creative team. There, you will also find links to places you can connect with me online, as well as where you can read some of my work.

I've created a series of workshops for writers of all levels of experience, genres, and form. Visit Workshops with Wren for more information.

Visit Fantastic Classics for film reviews I write about classic films of all eras and all genres.

All of my titles are published by Blue Dasher Press. 

My most recent project is a short story about magic, romance, a black cat, and Halloween called Bells and Spells. 

Don't forget to check out the Giveaways page where you can find information on when the Kindle Unlimited editions of my books and short stories are available free every month. 

Please send all professional inquiries via the contact form. A member of my creative team will be happy to help you. 

Again, thank you for being here. As always, thank you for your support!💙

Why I’ve Declared Myself a Joy Aficionado

Lately, the world has felt… a lot. The news scrolls by like a relentless wave of heaviness, and the weight of it all has been sitting squarely on my shoulders. I’ve found myself feeling drained, overwhelmed, and wondering where all the light has gone.

That’s when I decided, quietly at first, and now loudly enough to make it official: I am becoming a self-proclaimed Joy Aficionado.

It’s not about pretending the hard things don’t exist. They do. But in the middle of the noise, I’ve been teaching myself to hunt for joy in everyday life. Not the big, sweeping, cinematic moments (though those are wonderful when they come) but the tiny glimmers.

Some days, finding joy feels like a challenge. But on those days, the search is even more important. When I focus on things that make my heart smile, it shifts my mood in a way nothing else can. Sometimes it feels like I’m giving myself a much-needed hug.

That’s why I’m sharing joyful content whenever and wherever I can under the fun name Wrender Lust (a playful mash-up of my name, Wren, and the word “wanderlust”). You can find my joy-hunting adventures on Bluesky, Instagram, and even on X (Twitter—where joy is often in short supply).

This isn’t just about me. I want to invite you into this practice, too. Celebrate the small goodness in your day. Share it. Tag me. Tell me about the things that make you pause, smile, or breathe a little deeper.

Because yes: the world can be heavy. But there’s still light to be found. And sometimes, we have to be the ones to hold up the lantern.

Here’s to being joy aficionados together.