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# Inside J & J Publishing House: How JFo and JC Wilde Turned Grief, Love, and Late-Diagnosed Autism Into a Family of Books
- URL: https://www.foundedbywomen.org/women-who-lead/inside-j-j-publishing-house-how-jfo-and-jc-wilde-turned-grief-love-and-late-diagnosed-autism-into-a-family-of-books/
- Published: 2026-09-04T02:40:13.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-04T02:40:13.000Z
- Author: Editorial team
- Tags: Women Who Lead

JFo and JC Wilde have been together for fifteen years, married for seven, and creative collaborators for even longer, but it was grief that turned their partnership into a publishing house. After JFo lost her mother, she began illustrating what she was feeling one entry at a time, without ever intending to share it. Those pages became *Grief Monster*, a 23-entry illustrated diary that personifies loss itself, releasing November 15, 2026, from their own imprint, [J & J Publishing House](https://www.jjpublishinghouse.com/?ref=foundedbywomen.org).

Founded on what the couple calls "the sacred space of light, love, and freedom," the press is as much an extension of their relationship as it is a business. JFo, a self-taught illustrator, brings the raw imagery; JC, a filmmaker and writer, brings the words and the drive to build something that answers to no one but them. Together they describe their creative partnership as fiery but grounded, held together by patience, humor, and a shared devotion to honesty over polish.

We talked with JFo and JC about building a company together without losing the romance, the origin of the Grief Monster, and what's next, including JFo's forthcoming diary chronicling her late-in-life autism diagnosis and the burnout that followed.

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## Q: You've been together for 15 years and built J & J Publishing House together. What was the moment that turned your relationship into a business partnership, and how do you keep the two distinct?

When JFo was illustrating her diary, she had no intention of sharing anything—it was an honest and raw expression of her grief. The drawings were evocative and somehow offered a gateway into the experience of grief itself. As she continued to illustrate more and more drawings, I realized how powerful they were and I knew they needed to be shared with the world. I am really an entrepreneur at heart, and I’m aware that our creations—individual and collaborative—are leading edge in many ways, so beginning our own publishing company was the most natural next step. That way, we could control our message and how it is delivered—no dilution, no gatekeepers, no softening of any edges. In a way, our relationship was always moving towards a business partnership. JFo was a major player in the making of my first film, *Wild Fire*, and has always been my greatest creative ally when it comes to writing my scripts. And I’ve always championed her artwork in any way I can. She always wanted us to combine forces with creating books—I really just needed to gain enough perspective to see that the joyful, peaceful, radiant life I sought in the film industry had been right in front of my nose the whole time with my wife. Creating books together wasn’t easy at first—we’re both very fiery when it comes to our creations—but we’ve truly found our groove. And it’s rooted in honor, reverence, joy, and a slow pace filled with loving communication. Without slow space and reverence for each other and the work, working together was a minefield. I can say with much gratitude, that phase is behind us. As far as keeping the two dynamics—romance and business—distinct, I’m not sure we do. Our creativity is such an integral part of who we are, that there is really just a constant flow and exchange of that energy. But I’ll say this, we know when to stop, when to rest, when to play. And we honor each other’s pace the best we can, because it’s rare that we’re on the same track in the same day. Being present, staying curious, and choosing love is the best way to stay in harmony. Oh, and humor. Keep it light and sexy, and you can’t go wrong.

## Q: *Grief Monster* grew out of JFo's own experience of loss. What inspired the two of you to build a publishing house dedicated to books like this, made from what you call "the sacred space of light, love, and freedom”?

J & J Publishing House is an extension of who we are as humans and as creatives. Our lives are dedicated to that sacred space. Truth, Love, and Freedom are our guiding lights. The more we identify primarily with our spiritual selves—our souls, our eternal selves—the more we understand that it is the only true reality. Everything of this earth and the ego ends with our corporeal identity. The only thing we “take with us” is who and what we’ve become in our soul-reality. And the only thing we leave behind is how we’ve affected others—for better or worse. JFo and I strongly believe in our purpose and in our books, which are a manifestation of that purpose—individually and collaboratively. Bringing light to the reality of grief is such a perfect place to begin our journey. Until we all learn to turn our love and attention inward—to heal and honor and sanctify our sacred selves—the world will continue to devour itself. We need love; the world needs love. And it must start with each of us giving love to ourselves—learning what it even means to love our self—one patient moment at a time.

## Q: What's next for J & J Publishing House beyond *Grief Monster*'s November release?

JFo and I have many wonderful publications in development. In October of 2025, JFo discovered that she is Autistic. At age 52, that was quite an earth-shattering moment. While it gave her a ton of relief—finally understanding why so much of her life has been rife with struggle—it was also a total dismantling of her identity. It was like going back to square one and learning how to live all over again. This would be overwhelming to anyone, and it put her into Autistic Burnout. She is still coming out of it nearly a year later. But throughout that time, she has learned and grown exponentially and beautifully as a result of all the light she’s shedding on her reality. It’s been magnificent to watch her blossom into authenticity. Since she entered burnout, she took a page (pun intended) from *Grief Monster* and has been illustrating a Diary of Late-Diagnosis \[and Burnout\] (Title TBD). It’s already absolutely fantastic. She is so excited about it, and so am I. As for me, in addition to developing my next two films—*Windows of Avalon*, a fictional feature, and *SEX | GOD*, a documentary—I wrote two books. One is a high-level reparenting compilation of letters to my inner child called *Dearest Jennifer*, and the other will be a collaborative work with JFo called *The Lion & The Crab: A Journey of Unlikely Soulmates* (a working title), which is a heartfelt series of illustrated vignettes following these two animals who couldn’t be more opposite—and who love and honor each other deeply. It’s the story of JFo (a Cancer—the Crab) and me (a Leo—the Lion), and highlights how to find harmony in intimate relationships in the face of differences. All of our publications are delved into on social media (instagram and Facebook) where you can follow our journey behind-the-scenes, and learn more about all things J & J Publishing House. 

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