my story

Growing up, my dad was in the Air Force, and every time we moved, the library was one of the first places my mom would take us to visit. After becoming established, we would make weekly trips, returning home with bags half our size, brimming with picture books that my siblings and I would spend hours pouring over. I think this, coupled with my mom reading to us before bed for most of my childhood, ignited a love in me for writing and imagining things.

Tucked away in a box is my first recorded story, which I dictated while my mom typed. Printed, it came to a grand total of three paragraphs. There were many stories and drawings that followed, and I eventually started stapling printing paper together to make my own picture books. By age twelve, I knew I wanted to be a published author.

At about the same time I started writing stories, my parents enrolled me in piano lessons, as they did all my siblings, and I eventually grew to love the piano so much that when I played, it felt like an extension of my arms and fingers and heart (and still does). I don’t think I would have such a love for creative things if I hadn’t grown up in the family I did, and I am so grateful to enjoy these things with them.

When I was fifteen, I decided to try my hand at writing a novel. I trudged through my first draft, three notebook pages a night at my desk while listening to the soundtrack of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and finished it several months later. Unfortunately, my protagonist spent most of her time crying, angry, or fainting, but six novels later, I’m happy to report my characters have found a little more variety in how they express emotion.

Slowly and steadily, the Lord continued to grow my love for writing, art, and music, and I chose to study classical piano in college.

I loved studying music and piano—the private instruction, accompanying, and performances—and during this time, I also started songwriting. Since I couldn’t very easily carry a piano home to the dorms each night, I bought an acoustic guitar and started learning bossa nova standards and writing sad songs (don’t ask). After graduating, a producer reached out in 2020, and we released my first single, “Weatherman.” I built a little closet studio and started recording and releasing my own music.

In 2021, I moved to Nashville to see what the music scene was like. It was intimidating being around so many talented musicians, but I kept writing and playing, and learned so much. 2023 brought me to Maryland, and while I currently make most of my living from piano, I’m working on building things in the writing and art spheres as well.

I hope you will join me as I grow and share projects and new pieces!

-Tara