From Werewolves to Mafia Men: Why I'm Putting My Paranormal Series on Pause

Jessica Cox
Jun 29
2 min read

Updated: Jun 29

A Love That Started It All

When I wrote Bones of the Forbidden, I was 22 years old—full of imagination and a burning need to bring my characters to life. That book, and the Secret World series it launched, meant everything to me. It was my first step into being an author, and it still holds a special place in my heart.

Growing Up and Growing Forward

Now I’m 36. I’ve grown—not just as a writer, but as a person. My voice has changed. My style has evolved. I became a mother. And I see story, emotion, and character through a deeper, darker lens than I did back then. And as much as I love the Secret World, I’ve found myself pulled in a new direction—one that’s more intense, more intimate, and emotionally raw.

That direction? Mafia romance.

Where the Fire Lives Now

It started with Dark Obsession, and something just... clicked. I was suddenly writing about power, obsession, loyalty, revenge, and love that wounds before it heals. I was crafting a world of dangerous men and the strong women who match them. And I felt a fire in a way

that I hadn’t in years.

And I knew: this was where my creative energy lives right now.

Why I’m Pressing Pause

Creating a paranormal series takes time. It takes structure, research, and world-building from the ground up. Every magical rule, every hidden realm, every creature—it’s all built brick by brick. And to do it well, I have to be in the right creative headspace.

Right now, I’m not there. And I’d rather wait than give you something that doesn’t live up to what the Secret World deserves.

So, I’m officially putting the series on hold—not forever, not abandoned. Just paused until I’m ready to give it the heart and precision it needs.

What Comes Next?

In the meantime, I’m pouring myself into The House of Russo and the stories that will follow. If you felt the emotional pull in Bones of the Forbidden, I think you’ll find something even deeper here. Because if that first book was who I was, Dark Obsession is who I’ve become.