Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Reen.
Hi Emma, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
What hasn’t changed since the previous interview is the fact that I have always been a daydreamer. My mind is always on the side of fantasy, perhaps dangerously so — especially when dealing with real-life events. The positive side to this is that it gives me so much fuel to write all kinds of stories.
Finished and published, I only have three stories: a full-length novel, a short story, and a children’s book. Unfinished or not yet (or ever) published, I have so many stories, poems, scripts, even silent conversations that I wish I could have with people, but it may not be possible. It all gets written down.
I have an obsessive personality that also helps me hyper-focus on my work. At times, the focus might change shift from my work to other aspects of life, but it always comes back to writing. I hear so many people wish they could finish a novel or publish. They ask me about my process. In my opinion, it either takes a lot of discipline to sit down and write, or you have to obsess about it.
Recently, a friend of mine — an illustrator — and I completed a children’s book. It was a lot of hard work; it was time-consuming, and it even got frustrating a few times. Once we got to the end of that journey, we saw our hard work come to fruition. The feelings we get when accomplishing something can momentarily feel like relief, and even give us a sense of pride as creators. The hard part comes right after: “What’s next?” my brain goes. Truly, the hard work will never stop, because there will always be something inside of me that wants to do more and more and more. A creator will never be satisfied with just one project, just one book.
Another recent experience at Yale University: a professor quoted two students he talked with. Professor Burrello shared, […he told me he wanted to be an Author. An Author is an aspiration full of ego, someone chasing fame, or an easy life they think comes with writing books. Another student told me, ‘I just want to write.’ Him, I would be glad to teach.] It was a long story, but the reason that conversation stuck with me was that I understood the need to want to create, always and forever, and share my creations with the world. Becoming an Author can indeed be an aspiration, but it shouldn’t be chased without knowing all the work that goes into it.
The last event I attended and exhibited at was San Diego International Comic-Con 2026. Very little sleep happened, but the outcome was very rewarding. The next one I hope to attend is North Park Book Fair in October 2026 — I have yet to hear back. These are the types of events I like to showcase my work, not just to connect with international and local readers, but I get to meet other creators and hear about their processes, their struggles, their joy. It is wonderful to learn from and meet other creatives.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We all face obstacles in life, whether financial, social, family-related, medical, etc. While it may be harder or easier for each individual, in my case, I have had to learn to prioritize. I have had to make sacrifices where it hurts to keep moving forward with my writing career. I believe this is the case for all of us. We all have to choose what is most important.
My biggest current obstacle right now is wanting to do too much in a very limited amount of time. I’m still learning to prioritize.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I write.
I am known for mostly fantasy works, like my Young Adult High Fantasy novel “Immortal Essence,” and its paraquel “Deodara in Nahare.” I most recently released the children’s book “Snappy and the Candy Passport.”
At the moment, I am most proud of writing and managing projects involving other people (artists, investors, partners). My skills as an art director have come in handy, and I love collaborating with others. It makes sharing the worlds I create even bigger when others are involved.
The latest collaboration involves artist/illustrator Glorissa Rodriguez-Corona and a candy shop located in Liberty Public Market called The Candy Passport. The idea of the children’s book “Snappy and the Candy Passport” started as just a dream. We thought it would be funny if the logo mascot had its own story. For about a year, we spoke about it with no plans to develop the story. At some point, we all realized there was potential to enter another fantasy world, create more amazing characters, and have fun building a story that readers of all ages and art fans alike could enjoy, especially since the mascot is based on a real-life beloved pet tortoise.
I continuously get inspired by my love of travel, history, the natural world, and different cultures. Many descriptions in my work, whether written or art-directed, come from inspiration from around the world. Some of my earliest memories include landscapes of Guanajuato, Mexico, where my grandparents lived, and where I grew up as a kid during summers. More recently, I became inspired by the views of the majestic Mount Rainier, Washington.
Also, having studied languages and other cultures during my college years (and I love to continue this independently) and having spent many years working in multiple environments involving human interaction with children and adults, I have learned to observe and create authentic characters and dialogue rooted in real experiences.
Another experience I draw on daily, from marketing and creative collaboration, has taught me to think not only as a storyteller but also as someone who understands how to connect with an audience.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Many people who know me, or see me, or see my work, believe I am a very happy and positive person. The jobs I have had throughout my adult life to pay the bills are in customer service and education. For most of the day, I live with a smile on my face. However, as we are all human, I also have a side that I don’t normally let the world see — perhaps very few close friends and only close family members know — I can be very passionate with my emotions, from highs to lows, and when in the lows, I cry a lot. The good news is, when I am feeling any “negative” emotion, I can also be very creative, but this is when I write all the personal poems or pages and pages of inner speeches. I have also turned to painting when in times of anger or sadness. Most of these works I do not share with the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emmareen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmareenn/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryrosas/
