My Start
Some may consider me an accidental writer when you think about how my journey unfolded. It began when I was fresh out of university, trying to unravel thoughts for my life and career as an interior designer. Those thoughts seemed to flow better as I allowed them to pour through my nondescript ink pen onto a generic notepad. Writing allowed me to build my confidence as I sorted through competing thoughts with a certain rhythm I came to recognize as poetry.
I hid behind a pen name until I garnered the confidence to face readers and professional editors. These initial handmade hardcover books were printed locally at a little printing press on Bernard Road and bound by a local book binder, until I upscaled my print job to more standardized paper with a saddle-stitched cover, that upon reflection, looked more like a mama cut and papa stitch project than a professional book. That collection was entitled Call Me Good...
When our children came along, my husband Tellis and I wanted to ensure they had clean, culturally rich reading materials to shape their minds and build their self-esteem, at a time when there was limited access to books featuring children of color with positive virtues. This became an indirect assignment for me to write interesting children's stories like Tilly goes to boarding school, another handmade project printed locally, which were later shared with cousins and classmates. Then came my first professionally published poetry book, When My Spirit Sings... which made its debut many years later.
Today, the majority of my children's books are approved by the Bahamas Ministry of Education and have been enjoyed by homeschooled children in the Bahamas and abroad and in local classrooms. While children may love the colorful antics of the main characters, parents love the character-building, history, geography, and faith-based life lessons shared through the pages of each book.
Extraordinary Experiences
I'm a flip-flop island girl at heart. Born and bred in Nassau, and hopped through many islands in the chain. Although I've traveled and attended schools in the United Kingdom and the USA, there is no place like home. One of the high points of being from a nation of seven hundred islands is having a myriad of choices where you can plant your feet on a rock and call it home. I enjoy life on a small island where incidentally, there are no traffic lights or dual carriageways or sirens screaming through the day and night hours, and if you care to throw out a line, dinner is on your doorstep.
That's where inspiration flows and book ideas tow a line to be squeezed in between publishing clients and daily walks on peaceful roads overlooking the Lucayan Sea. Island living offers a slower pace where it seems so much easier to inhale the fresh ocean breeze, stop on the side of the road to grab a handful of sea grapes, or wait patiently in a line of traffic that may grow to seven or more cars in front of you during the tourist season. Of course, that's not the capital of Nassau which also has its perks if you prefer the hustle and bustle of what we would call city life on a 7 x 21-mile island.
A Change of Pace
Rather than talking about myself, I’d prefer to pen an exciting story or a self-help book for those experiencing relationship challenges. Nonetheless, this island girl does have a story and a life behind the pen. As a child, I was extremely timid and a terrible student until the principal of a new high school I was attending sat me down to tell me of his high hopes for me. (I share my story in greater detail in Courageous Overcomers Anthology). His chat which lasted only a few minutes was enough to shift my life from being a D student to an honor roll student for the last two years of high school and excelling in my college studies for the following four years. I would like my books to be that quiet voice to bring hope, inspiration, a sense of purpose, and joy to my readers.
By profession, I was an interior designer who fell in love with fabric painting and, along with my husband Tellis, owned and operated Wearable Art, a garment manufacturing company that specialized in creating one-of-a-kind painted resort wear. That business eventually developed into Teri Monique hand-painted designer handbags, focusing on creating boutique quality purses. During that period, I operated an online school teaching my techniques to students internationally and later in live classes on several islands of the Bahamas. Tellis and I have also been active in youth, marriage and for me women's ministry through the churches we have attended. Throughout this journey, there was always a blog or a book in the making on my computer geared to answer questions, and offer solutions to families experiencing difficulties. Though it seems like I stumbled upon destiny, having written 35 books and counting, and numerous articles for the Tribune and the Eleutheran newspapers, I believe I just became aligned with my purpose. In addition to writing my books, I’m also a ghostwriter, literacy advocate, podcaster, and publisher at InspirePublishing.org.
I’m married to my teenage sweetheart, Tellis, who is also an author, and we have two amazing adult sons.
