Today we’d like to introduce you to Teanna Lynne.
Hi Teanna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in Orlando is a unique experience. I was lucky enough to consider a trip to Disney or Universal as just another Tuesday, compared to many kids whose families might spend years saving up to visit the parks. Being so deeply immersed in the theme parks filled my life with magic and fantasy, something that shaped who I am today.
I was homeschooled from kindergarten through 8th grade and only started public school as a freshman at University High School. There, I signed up for journalism and was a part of the staff for the school newspaper. I was on the team throughout all four years and spent my junior and senior years as Editor-In-Chief. I have always enjoyed storytelling and spent much of my childhood writing short stories. Being a part of the newspaper gave me an outlet for my writing, even if it wasn’t the fantasy world I was used to dreaming up. When it came time to apply for undergraduate programs, I was still determining what I wanted to do. Part of me loved Journalism and thought it would be a great way to make a career out of writing, even if it wasn’t necessarily the kind of writing I loved most. I also considered pursuing a degree in English or Creative Writing, but both intimidated me more than I was willing to admit at the time.
Ultimately, I chose a B.A. in Communication from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and a minor in Creative Writing. My undergraduate and master’s programs forced me to write a lot—academic works, research papers, and, eventually, a graduate thesis. I had little time for my creative writing. Truthfully there was a large gap where I only wrote the assignments required of me. The burnout was real. Then, 3 months after graduating with my M.A. from UCF, I got an idea from a story. Six months later and the first draft was complete. By July of this year, I was seriously looking at the publication, and the day before my 24th birthday, I self-published my first novel. Realms of Peace is the first book in the Sovereign Sisters series.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t believe I have ever met someone whose life and work could be described as a “smooth road,” and I am no exception. One of my biggest struggles was the period from 2016-2018 when I was in my undergraduate program. I truly loved my undergraduate program, I learned so much and found new passions that I would have never even known existed, but the one thing I found myself struggling with was writing itself. In no way do I regret my decisions of where to go or what degree to get, but I do regret the time I wasted comparing myself to those around me.
My creative writing classes put me in an environment that tested my skills and showed me how many other talented writers are. There were moments when I felt lost and like my voice had been stolen from me. This was when I mostly worried about others’ perceptions of me and my writing, what I thought I needed to write, and just letting other people get into my head. But the truth was that I had silenced myself by letting other people’s voices seem more important.
In 2018, I participated in a Study Abroad program in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan, where I learned about Japanese literature. While there, I was put outside of my comfort zone and allowed to write anything and everything I wanted. Then, I remembered a piece of advice that my favorite author told me back when I was 15, “Write what you want to write, not what you think you should write.” this experience was the first time where I felt like I was genuinely following that author’s advice.
Please tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others.
I am a busy person. I work full-time at Universal Orlando, where I have been a Team Member for five years, and I also teach Public Speaking at Valencia/UCF. My passion, however, lies with my writing. It still feels weird to call me a writer, like a snowboarder, after one trip up north, where I mostly fell down a mountain with a board strapped to my feet. Yet somehow, I’m here to talk about my writing. In July of this year, I self-published my book Realms of Peace, the first book of five in the Sovereign Sisters series. This is the first book I have ever actually finished writing, and the thing I am most proud of. It still feels a bit like a fever dream, and at any point in time, I’m going to wake up and realize that I fell asleep at my desk with the | key flashing and taunting me as the words fail to come to mind. The good thing is that it is not a dream, and every day when I wake up, I find my book sitting on a shelf, staring back at me. Realms of Peace (ROP) is a story that I wrote for myself. It might sound not good, but it’s true. It’s the story that I needed as a reader. Back in 2020, I felt overwhelmed and helpless. The world was (and is) a mess, and there was nothing I could do about it. I saw my friends struggling, and everything was falling apart. Yet somehow, it brought us all closer. My best friends and I started a book club to stay connected, and that choice changed my life. I would have never written ROP if it weren’t for that book club. I am grateful for them every day and even dedicated the book to them.
What matters most to you?
The one thing that matters most to me is the people that I love. I would be nothing without the people who have stood by my side and supported me every step of the way. I have struggled a lot with my mental health, and I know that I wouldn’t be here without them. I owe them more than can ever be explained, and I want nothing more than for them to be happy and healthy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.authorteannalynne.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorteannalynne/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorteannalynne
Image Credits
First photo/headshot – Peyten Maki aka parkhunny Cover art- Delilah Cay Other- Teanna Lynne
