Meet Sonesta Wilde

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sonesta Wilde and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sonesta, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember—on napkins, in journals, across the margins of to-do lists and the inside covers of books I was supposed to return. My notes app is overflowing. Inspiration tends to find me at the most inconvenient and magical moments, and writing has always been my way through—through grief, growth, celebration, self-return, and making meaning of this messy, beautiful world we live in.

Eventually, it became more than a practice. It became a calling. A truth I couldn’t ignore: these words weren’t just mine anymore. They were meant to be shared—held by others, and in the moments they needed them most.

I started by publishing my first book, Chamomile & Lavender: Sips of Peace, Comfort, and Introspection—a collection of poetry, affirmations, reflections, and guided prompts written during some of the most tender, transformative seasons of my life. I’ve always believed that vulnerability invites connection. The more honestly we share, the more others feel seen—and safe enough to feel through their own complexities. This book was my way of opening the door first. Of saying: it’s okay to be layered. It’s okay to be in process. You are not alone.

But I kept dreaming beyond the page. What if the words we need most could live in more places? What if they could be worn, gifted, framed, or quietly kept—there to meet someone in the everyday moments that often go unseen?

That’s how Sonesta Wilde Studios came to life.

You’re not just buying cards and shirts. You’re stepping into a language for healing, transition, and self-connection—in forms you can wear, frame, gift, or write into.

Sometimes it’s a sentence someone can carry with them:
“I’m still here. Still worthy. Still becoming. And that is something worth celebrating—despite everything I’ve endured.”

Sometimes it’s an interactive greeting card designed for reflection—
because sometimes the words we need most are the ones we write to ourselves.

Whether it’s a card, a shirt, a journal, or something to carry with you, my goal is the same: to create meaningful, intentional offerings that speak to people wherever they are on their journey.

That’s the heart of Sonesta Wilde Studios.
To give people the words they didn’t know they needed—right when they need them most.

To reach someone not just when they’re reading—but when they’re living, moving, healing… or simply trying to make it through the day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a poet, author, and the founder of Sonesta Wilde Studios: an emotionally resonant stationery and lifestyle brand created to help people feel seen, heard, and held.

“Sonesta” represents softness—reflection, introspection, and emotional depth.
“Wilde” represents complexity—the mess, the wildness, the parts of life we’re often told to hide.
The space between the two? That’s where my work lives.
Somewhere between vulnerability and strength, stillness and storm.
It’s where my poetry flows, where my wit and humor live, where healing begins.

I chose this name because I didn’t want to be just one thing.
And I didn’t want my work to be either.

The majority of my art is poetry-led—
but not just in the traditional sense of rhyme and verse.
To me, poetry is a way of seeing the world.
It lives in reflections, affirmations, and the spaces between words.

It’s present in the shimmer of morning dew on quiet leaves,
in a sentence that steadies your breath,
in the design of something that makes your heart nod quietly, “yes.”

Ultimately, my creative work lives at that intersection—where language becomes a bridge,
and beauty meets emotion in all its forms.

I design greeting cards that go beyond surface-level sentiment. One thing I’m most excited about is redefining how we use the greeting card itself. Many of our designs include reflection prompts or affirmations, encouraging people to write not just to others, but to themselves. Some are designed for heartbreak. Others for healing. Some are for the moments we rarely talk about—like grief, divorce, burnout, or starting over.

They’re intentionally sized at 5×7—so they’re not just cards, but keepsakes.
Whether someone wants to frame a text-based card for daily affirmation or display an art-focused design that simply feels like home, the message and beauty can continue long after the card is received.

Alongside my product work, I also lead and co-host intentional events.
Earlier this year, I guided a meditative poetry reading and reflection experience where participants wrote letters to their future selves inside greeting cards.
It was a quiet journey of the senses—filled with hot tea, shared stories, tenderness, and deep introspection.
I believe poetry isn’t just something to be read—it’s something to be felt, lived, and used as a portal into the self.
Whether through workshops, readings, or reflective gatherings, I hope to continue creating spaces where people can slow down and feel more connected to their own voice.

And now, through intentional apparel, I’m extending that same mission: to help people wear the words they need most. Whether it’s a reminder to be gentle with yourself or a quiet declaration that you’re still here, these are not just products. They’re invitations. To pause. To reflect. To remember your worth.

Growing up, I was often told I was “too emotional” or “too sensitive.” And navigating this world as a Black woman who didn’t “talk Black enough,” I was made to feel like my voice—both in sound and in message—didn’t belong.
For years, I tried to shrink myself. I felt shame for my big emotions. For speaking up. For feeling deeply.
But over time, I’ve come to realize: those very things are my superpower.
They’re the reason people feel seen in my work.

What I’ve learned is this: despite being told to filter my emotions or tone things down, sometimes the most personal stories are the most universal.

And there is power in being soft.

There is power in telling the truth, even when your voice shakes.

And I encourage others to do so, too.

Let your voice rise.
Let it take root.

Your voice is not an accident.
Somewhere, someone needs to hear exactly what you have to say.

I want the world to know that Sonesta Wilde Studios isn’t just a brand—it’s a movement.
One built on the belief that words can heal, that beauty and emotion can coexist, and that our softness doesn’t make us weak—it makes us human.

So no, it hasn’t been easy. But it’s been worth it.
Every time someone holds a card and says, “I needed this,” or wears a shirt and says, “This reminds me to keep going”—that’s the kind of success that means the most to me.

That’s the heart of it, really.
I create for the ones still becoming—
and to help us all honor life’s intricate moments,
held softly in the palm of our hands.

And with that said, I’m proud to announce that the full brand launch of Sonesta Wilde Studios is coming soon, just in time for Suicide Prevention Month!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, I’d want to give them a little bit of everything—some slow, grounding moments, some local treasures, and a few spontaneous adventures along the way. We’d probably start the trip with a morning hike at Kennesaw Mountain—not just for the view, but for the calm it brings. It’s the perfect reminder to breathe a little deeper and let the week unfold gently.

Afterward, we’d head over to Marietta Square, one of my favorite little pockets of calm. I’d take them to Tiny Bubbles Tea Bar, tucked away near the square, to grab a warm tea or boba. Then we’d make our way upstairs to The Reading Attic, a cozy independent bookstore filled with charm. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to linger—surrounded by stories, soft light, and a window view of the square below. ATL is known for how lively it can be, but this little spot is a hidden invitation to slow down and just be.

We’d spend an afternoon strolling the Square, popping into local shops and grabbing something sweet from a nearby bakery or café. I love how many small businesses are nestled in this area—you never know what treasure you’ll find.

Later in the week, we’d make space for the vibrant side of Atlanta too—maybe a trip into the city for a visit to Ponce City Market, catch a show at The Fox Theatre, or wander through the High Museum of Art. But honestly? Some of my favorite memories come from the quiet in-between moments. Sitting on a porch, tea in hand, reflecting on life. Watching the sunset from a hilltop. Or just laughing over late-night takeout.

Because the best trips aren’t always about the busiest itineraries—they’re about connection, presence, and discovering places that make you feel at home, even when you’re far from it.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This is always the hardest question—because truthfully, I could name so many people. And at the risk of sounding wildly cliché (which I’ve learned to be okay with), I want to dedicate my Shoutout to you.

To the dreamers.
To the seekers.
To the ones carrying invisible weight.
To those navigating grief, heartbreak, burnout, identity shifts, and all the quiet, unspoken transitions life throws our way.

You are the reason I create. You are the reason I made this my life’s work—to help others feel seen, held, and understood.

I know how easy it is for pain to convince you that you’re finished.
To make you question your worth.
To silence the part of you that still believes in hope.

And yet, you’re still here.
Your resilience gave me rhythm.
Your stories reminded me I wasn’t alone.
You’ve inspired me more than you know.

So much of what I do is rooted in the knowing that we all walk our own path—but together, we can find healing.

I also want to give a special shoutout to poet and author Jennae Cecelia, whose mentorship helped me bring my first book, Chamomile & Lavender: Sips of Peace, Comfort, and Introspection, into the world. There’s so much vulnerability that comes with stepping into authorship—limiting beliefs, imposter syndrome, and the overwhelm of simply not knowing where to begin. But Jennae led with encouragement, patience, and example. Her presence gifted me something I’ll always be grateful for: the belief that I could do it, too.

Website: https://www.sonestawilde.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonestawildepoetry/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingPathCollective

Other: Link to Purchase Book: Chamomile and Lavender: Sips of Peace, Comfort, and Introspection

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