Jeneane O'Riley: A Literary Enchantress reshaping fantasy through the infatuated fae series

In the ever-expanding world of fantasy literature, where the boundaries of reality and imagination blur, Jeneane O’Riley stands as a force to be reckoned with. The Infatuated Fae Series is more than just a tale of magic and romance—it’s a redefinition of perception, an exploration of character depth, and a challenge to the conventions we often take for granted. With every page, O’Riley dares her readers to see beyond the surface, to understand that love, identity, and destiny are never as simple as they seem.

Jeneane O'Riley Author of The Infatuated Fae Series

The Spark That Lit the Fire

Jeneane’s journey into writing began like most great adventures—unexpectedly and with an undeniable pull toward storytelling. From an early age, she found herself captivated by worlds beyond our own, always drawn to stories that questioned the traditional notions of right and wrong. “I wanted to create characters that felt real—not just heroes and villains, but people with flaws, desires, and contradictions,” she explains. That philosophy became the heartbeat of her writing, shaping her narratives into something profoundly personal and immersive. She laughed and explains how she is a hobby mycologist, a physicist and a mom of 3 because of this she “Hobbied too close to the sun and wrote a book.” thus ultimately quiting her path toward finishing her physicist degree.

Challenging Perceptions Through Fantasy

At the core of the Infatuated Fae Series is a theme that O’Riley is passionate about: perception versus reality. “We often think we know who someone is at first glance,” she muses, “but if you strip away the layers, there’s always something unexpected beneath.” Her books are woven with complex characters who defy expectations—lovers who are not merely star-crossed, but deeply entwined by fate and choice; villains who may not be as cruel as they seem; heroes who sometimes stumble before they rise.

Mendax and Callie from The Infatuated Fae Series

Two core aspirations she holds as an author for her readers.

1. To think differently than the traditional norm we have been groomed to believe about character types.” Jeneane is a reader herself and the ideals that we are given these stories where we have expectations and twisting it on my readers so they are caught off guard is what really shapes this series. When I read it plays outlike a movie in my head, and there are always gaps and turns that I wish these stories would take. “So…One day I sat down and I did just that, I took what I wanted to see in a story and I made it into my own”.

2. In the full spectrum of the series, it is “what is good and evil” playing off of that. “Just because you have a preconceived notion of what something is does not mean that is what it is. There are so many aspects of the story where I am able to play in your mind to lead you into things as a reader to look at things differently.”

Romance Beyond the Ordinary

Romance in O’Riley’s novels is not merely about passion—it’s about connection, transformation, and understanding. She explores relationships in a way that feels both raw and poetic, forcing her characters (and her readers) to ask: What do we truly see in another person? And how much of that is shaped by our own fears and desires? Her stories remind us that love is not about finding perfection but embracing the beautifully imperfect.

Can You Take It? Book Dedication:

“To you. Your fate was never written in stone; it was shaped by the moments you rise after every fall, by the choices you make when the road splits, and by the courage to rewrite the story you’ve been told to accept.”

Myth, Magic & Deeply Intimate Story Telling

A Journey of Passion and Persistence

O’Riley’s path to authorship was not without its trials. Like many writers, she faced doubts, rejections, and the overwhelming pressure of bringing an entire world to life. Yet, she never wavered. “Writing is an act of devotion,” she says. “You have to believe in your story even when no one else does.” Her dedication has not only brought her books to life but has also inspired a growing community of readers who resonate with her vision. One of our Editors picked up and started the book, having no prior knowledge of the story, because of the dedication, “To you. My hope is not that you finish this book, but that this book finishes you.”

O’Riley was very open to the struggles from going Indie to traditionally published. When she is focused on something she dives whole heartedly into her project. She explained how this can be problematic because if it isn’t exactly how she sees it in her mind she will fixate and almost to the point of exhaustion. Book 3 and 4 really tested her as an author.

Looking to the Future

With the Infatuated Fae Series gaining momentum, O’Riley has no plans of slowing down. She is already deep into her next project—one that, she hints, will push the boundaries of fantasy even further. Whether it’s through myth, magic, or deeply intimate storytelling, she remains committed to creating worlds that challenge, captivate, and awaken something profound in those who step into them. When asked about what she is currently working on Jeneane described the book to be “a little different, contemporary gothic romance - very Edgar Allen Poe” who is one of her greatest inspirations, and the theme of this story will be healing.

Mendax from The Infatuated Fae Series

“I like to manipulate my readers. Guiding them to look at a character differently than how we have been groomed to perceive what is good and what is Evil.”

While book 3 just released for the Infatuated Fae Series, for Jeneane the series is complete. In the last 6 months she wrote the final 2 books, thus finalizing the journey of the Infatuated Fae Series. With tight deadlines and a lot of writing in such a short period of time it is a bittersweet end. While the series is over for Jeneane it is still very much alive for her readers. She hasn’t had to have the let down of finishing the series yet because she knows that her readers have yet to experience “the end”.

Even with the completion of one series Jeneane is presently working on a new series that will be published with Bloom.

“Technically a series of standalones, but all tied together in a series, full books, very fun, all kind of my inspiration of retellings - they all have fantasy elements. Some are more fantastical than others, there is a dragon in one, all have a very different vibe, it has been very fun.”

June will be the release of book four, but also in the words of Jeneane, “some super secret things will finally be revealed.”

A Final Invitation

For those who have yet to dive into O’Riley’s enchanting world, she leaves a simple invitation: “Come with an open heart and an open mind. The journey will take you places you never expected.” And in true Jeneane O’Riley fashion, it is not just a journey through fantasy—but through the very nature of human perception and emotion itself.

For the Indie Authors: If I had a nugget for Indie Authors - Write for yourself. Be unique to yourself. Don’t be afraid to enter a saturated market, find your niche and don’t be afraid to be different. Mine was the MMC wearing the FMC’s tooth on a necklace around his neck. “Was the tooth weird and dark? yes ...but it caught a lot of attention.” But dare we say our editors also found it oddly endearing. Lastly O’Riley urges authors to find their readers. They will be the most loyal once you have them and they will do all the hard work of spreading the word you are terrible at.

Between the Pages

“If you want to try something, just try it. You never know how it will make you feel and if it was something that you were searching for.”

Callie from The Infatuated Fae Series

All Thanks to the Plot Twists

She’s always been an avid reader, particularly of fantasy. As she read, she found herself thinking that something was missing or off in the plots, so she decided to try writing her own. Once she began writing the Infatuated Fae series, she realized that writing was her true calling—she was meant to do it, and she knew she’d never stop.

All About the Fungi

She’s a hobbyist mycologist with a physics background. "I hobbied too close to the sun and wrote a book," she laughs. After stepping away from physics, she realized it wasn’t quite giving her everything she needed. "It just wasn’t hitting all the things I wanted. Plus, I would’ve been like 45 by the time I finished." O’Riley tends to hyperfixate on her passions—fungi and science being at the top of that list.

Biggest Inspiration

Author V.E. Schwab is one of Jeanine’s biggest inspirations. She shared how Schwab's quote, “Everything is Fantasy,” deeply shaped her thinking and writing style. When you really stop and think about it, everything is fantasy, with incredible romantic moments sprinkled in. It's all about looking at things from a different perspective, and once you do, you’ll see the magic.