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The Family Story
Terra Nova follows a father and daughter surviving the unknown as they navigate life across planets and face impossible decisions when he becomes gravely ill. Where did the idea for this book come from?
I wanted to explore the emotions and trials inherent with someone you love facing serious illness. I also wanted to allow Sev to grow into herself as a young woman, her father’s illness being a catalyst for making some tough decisions to keep her family together. I also wanted to showcase everyone’s role in the family story…everyone’s importance. Even Phoenix, despite being ill, undertakes significant emotional work to maintain the family unit. I was a caretaker for my grandmother during her illness, and a lot of Sev’s plight stems from my experiences.
What is the most challenging part of writing a series?
I’ve found that keeping the details straight over the series, as well as crafting the larger story outside of each installment, where everything is cohesive and engaging, is the most challenging aspect of writing a series. It’s also rewarding, though. I enjoy planning these adventures as much as I enjoy writing them.
What was your inspiration for the characters and their relationship?
The Terra series is an exploration of the purest form of love in all its designs…parental, familial, and romantic. I also wanted to explore the strength and flaws in people and their resilience through adversity.
Can we look forward to seeing Book 3 soon? Where will it take readers?
Yes! Terra Lux, the third installment in the Terra series, will come out in the Spring of 2026. You can expect new worlds, new adventures, as well as a few twists along the way.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Three years after the events of Terra Firma, Phoenix, Sev, and Pearla are thrust into a new battle—
one that will test them in ways they never imagined.
But time is running out.
With enemies closing in and impossible choices ahead, the family must once again fight for their
future—this time, against a fate far worse than those on Terra Firma.
Will they find their way home, or will they be lost to the stars forever?
For fans of The Divergent Series and The Hunger Games… when the future crumbles, it’s who you hold on to that matters most.
Are you ready to uncover buried secrets, face impossible choices, and defy a broken galaxy? Get your copy of Terra Nova today and be part of a journey where loyalty is tested and destiny rewritten.
Terra Nova
Jessahme Wren’s TERRA NOVA is a beautifully imagined and emotionally charged story about a father and daughter navigating life across planets, love, grief, and the sheer grit it takes to survive the unknown. At its core, it’s a tale of devotion. Sev, a whip-smart teen growing into herself, and her father, Phoenix, a loving and resilient man with a painful past, live on a world called Dobani. Their peaceful life is upended when Phoenix becomes gravely ill, and Sev must make an impossible decision to try and save him. What follows is a journey across stars to the snowy, distant planet of Ocarro, where medicine is cutting-edge but answers are scarce. Alongside them is Pearla, Phoenix’s partner, and Sev’s steadying force, as they face medical mysteries, bureaucratic red tape, and the shadows of old trauma.
Wren writes with an intensity that sneaks up on you. Her pacing is smooth and measured, letting the emotion build naturally. The world-building is sharp without being showy. Every planet feels lived in, not just imagined. What stood out most to me was the tenderness between Sev and Phoenix. Their relationship isn’t perfect, but it’s thick with love and care. Wren doesn’t rush the drama or the science fiction, she lets her characters breathe. And in those breaths, the humanity shines. I found myself rooting for Sev not because she was heroic in the usual way, but because she felt real. Smart, a little stubborn, and so brave.
The emotional punches land hard. Watching Phoenix deteriorate is gutting, especially because he’s portrayed so vividly in the beginning. I did wish, at moments, that the story pulled back a little to explore more of the broader universe. The political backdrop and the mystery of Terra Firma are ripe for digging into, but they take a backseat to the personal arc. That isn’t a flaw exactly, just a choice that trades scale for intimacy. And maybe that’s what this book is really about: not saving the galaxy, but saving the person you love most. That trade-off feels worth it.
TERRA NOVA is a warm but gut-wrenching story. It’s a sci-fi story for anyone who’s loved someone through illness, who’s had to grow up too fast, or who just needs a reminder that love is its own kind of gravity. I’d recommend it to fans of Becky Chambers, Martha Wells, or even folks who normally steer clear of sci-fi but love a strong emotional hook.
Pages: 234 | ASIN : B0FD48SQJS
Find Your “Happy Place”
Terra Firma follows twelve-year-old Sev and a one-armed scoundrel as they navigate the deadly landscape of an unforgiving planet, forging an unlikely bond while fighting to survive a perilous harvesting mission. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted to play with the dynamic of an opposite sort of relationship…a man, a girl, an adult, a child, an amputee, and so on. Then I wanted to explore the dependency/partnership evolution, and how that might go. Science Fiction has always been an inspiration to me, so I decided to set it in a dystopian/otherworldly environment. The rest just sort of fell into place. It really stemmed from me wanting to explore a dynamic, then creating a world to allow that to flourish.
Sev and Phoenix have such distinct voices. Did their characters evolve as you wrote, or did you know who they were from the start?
I knew Phoenix would be worldly…educated by experiences but unrefined. Well-read, but not pretentious. An every-man. The sort of ne’er-do-well you love to root for. And Sev immediately was wise beyond her years, hardened by life, but with the molten core of childhood innocence. A yearning for stability. Sev evolved the most, I feel. She really found her voice, her confidence, and her peace. Early on in the story she has this latent anxiety. It’s subtle, but it’s there. By the end of the book, that is all but gone.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Found Family, number one, coming of age, the concept of inherent goodness and right/wrong. Universal themes of belonging…the desire to find your “happy place,” whatever that is. We all have a definition.
What sci-fi stories or authors influenced your approach to storytelling?
Ray Bradbury is my biggest influence. His language…his storytelling and descriptive nature. I read him from very early on, and just admired him so much. “All Summer in a Day,” a short story about a young girl named Margot not unlike Sev, made me want to be a writer.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
In a galaxy where stability is a luxury few can afford, young Sev dreams of a home she can call her own. Roaming the cosmos with her distant father, they drift from one perilous job to the next, barely scraping by in a universe full of danger and adventure. But when their last big job on a treacherous planet doesn’t go as planned, their lives are forever altered.
Join Sev on a thrilling journey through danger and discovery as she fights for a future—and perhaps a family—beyond her wildest dreams.
For fans of The Divergent Series and The Hunger Games… home is more than a place—it’s the people who fight for you.
Are you ready to start on an interstellar adventure like no other? Get your copy today and dare to dream beyond the stars!
Terra Firma
Jessahme Wren’s Terra Firma is a riveting blend of spacefaring adventure and poignant human struggle. It follows Sev, a resilient twelve-year-old, and Phoenix, a one-armed scoundrel, as their fates intertwine on a perilous calcet harvesting mission on the deadly planet Terra Firma. Both characters, bound by desperation and circumstance, embark on a gritty journey that explores survival, morality, and unlikely companionship in the unforgiving expanse of the Outer Reaches.
Wren’s writing stands out for its rich detail and emotional depth. The opening chapter drew me in immediately, painting Sev’s worn-down existence with vivid, raw strokes, her hunger, her strained relationship with her father, and her longing for a life beyond survival. I was particularly moved by Sev’s moments of reflection, such as when she daydreams about her late mother while chewing on stale ration bars. Wren balances these tender moments with the harshness of Sev’s reality, creating a striking contrast that lingers.
Phoenix, too, is an intriguing character. His introduction, a high-stakes gambling cheat that costs him an arm sets the tone for his roguish, stubborn personality. I found myself torn between rooting for him and cringing at his reckless decisions. Yet, his humanity shines through in his interactions with Sev, especially when he risks his life to save her on Terra Firma. Their uneasy alliance blossoms into a partnership, which feels both inevitable and heartwarming. The dialogue between them sparkles with subtle humor and emotional weight, particularly during their stay in the miner’s tent.
The worldbuilding is another highlight. Terra Firma itself is practically a character, with its toxic spores, undulating calcet pits, and lethal unpredictability. Wren crafts an environment that is as menacing as it is mesmerizing. I could feel the weight of the air and hear the hiss of Sev’s overworked filter. Similarly, Dobani, with its sunlit beaches and bustling markets, feels like a breath of fresh air—a sharp contrast to the grim chaos of space and Terra Firma.
Terra Firma is a story for readers who enjoy character-driven sci-fi with a strong emotional core. Jessahme Wren delivers a tale that’s both gritty and hopeful, full of heartbreak and healing. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a story about survival, found family, and the tenacity it takes to find beauty in an unforgiving world.
Pages: 237 | ASIN: B0DR61PCFR
LITERARY TITAN 