my story

Growing up with a dad in the Air Force, every 2-3 years we moved somewhere new, and one of the first places my mom would take us to visit was the library. We would fall into a routine of one weekly trip, 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 somewhere is my first recorded story, which I dictated as a 4-5 year old 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 12, 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 know if I would have such a love for creative things if the Lord hadn’t placed me in the family He did, so I feel extra spoiled to enjoy this with them.

When I was 15, 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 a handful of novels later, I’m happy to report my characters have started to find 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 wheel a piano back to the dorms each night, I bought an acoustic guitar and started learning bossa nova standards and writing sad songs (that’s normal, right?). After graduating, a producer reached out in 2020, and working remotely, we released my first single, “Weatherman.” I set up a little closet studio and started recording and releasing my own music.

During this time, I established an LLC and started building my business, but in 2021, I moved from Massachusetts to Nashville to check out the music scene. It was intimidating being around so many talented musicians, but I kept writing and playing, and learned so much (mainly that I don’t want to be a touring musician!). In 2023, the Lord brought me to Maryland, and now I live and create here. I’ve been working on getting my shop live, and the next project is a picture book about seven children who live with their Uncle Charlie (a retired pirate) and have to find four hidden keys after a treasure map mysteriously appears on their front porch. You’ll have to wait to see what they unlock…

Finally, the privilege to create and share is something I don’t take for granted, so thank you for being here.

very warmly,

Tara

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

-Colossians 3:16-17