Author Q&A: Behind the Veil with Jeni Tholmer

Every story has a secret history, and The Between: The Awakening of Renee Caldwell is no exception. Today, I’m answering some of the most common questions I’ve received from readers, early reviewers, and fellow dreamers about the book, the world, and my writing journey.

Author: Jeni Tholmer

Q: What inspired you to write The Between? A: The Between was born from my own vivid, unsettling dreams. For years, I kept a dream journal, recording the strange, haunting, and sometimes terrifying encounters I experienced at night. One dream in particular—a confrontation with a gargoyle-like devil—became the seed for this story. I wanted to explore what would happen if those dreams were more than just dreams, and what it would mean to live with that kind of gift.

Q: Is Renee based on you? A: Fun fact—Renee is actually my middle name! I wanted my protagonist to carry a piece of me with her on this journey, and giving her my middle name made her story feel even more personal and real as I wrote this book. While Renee is definitely inspired by my own experiences and shares much of my personality, she’s also her own person. She’s braver than I am and faces her fears head-on. Still, her struggles with feeling ordinary, her fierce desire to protect her family, and her journey toward accepting her gift all come from a very real place in my own life.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the veil and the Luminaria? A: The veil is my way of visualizing the boundary between life and death, dreams and reality. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that there are thin places in the world—moments or locations where the ordinary and the extraordinary overlap. The Luminaria grew out of my love for secret societies and the idea that there are people working behind the scenes to keep the balance between worlds.

Q: What was the hardest scene to write? A: The hardest scenes for me weren’t the supernatural battles or the nightmares—they were the moments when Renee had to deal with David pulling away and realizing she was helpless to stop it. That sense of loving someone deeply but not being able to reach them, no matter how hard you try, is something I think many of us have felt. Writing those scenes meant tapping into real vulnerability and heartbreak, which was far more difficult than facing any demon.

Q: Will we see more of Aubrey in future books?A: Absolutely. Aubrey’s story is just beginning, and she has her own journey to take. Without giving too much away, let’s just say the legacy of the veil is far from over.

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring writers? A: Write what scares you. Write what fascinates you. And don’t be afraid to let your real life—your dreams, your fears, your relationships—shape your stories. The most powerful fiction comes from a place of truth.

Have more questions? Drop them in the comments or send me a message—I love connecting with readers and fellow dreamers!

Thank you for walking through the veil with me.

—Jeni Renee