my story

When I was about five, I created one of the first stories I remember making. My mother typed while I dictated a very compelling tale about two children completing their morning chores. There were many stories and drawings that followed, all equally riveting, 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, 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 have a rare claim to growing up in a home where creativity, imagination, and play were encouraged and the norm, and I will forever be grateful to my parents and God for this gift.

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. The Lord continued to grow my love for writing and art, slowly and steadily, even while studying 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, my family moved from Massachusetts to Maryland, and I moved to Nashville to see what the music scene was like. I was overwhelmed and intimidated, but kept writing, and learned so much. 2023 brought me to Maryland, and I’m currently working on building a living from making and creating.

I don’t know what the future will hold, but I do know the Lord has given me a privilege and duty to steward well the gifts and opportunities He’s given me. I feel spoiled that I get to make art, whether that be in written, visual, or musical form, and I hope you will join me as I share projects and new pieces.

-Tara