I’m Tessonja Odette, a young mother living in Seattle. And by young, I mean 30-something. It’s the new 20, right? I have been writing fiction since I was a child. My wild imagination, my love for magical things, and my fascination with the great unknown led my writing into the realm of fantasy.
My debut novel, Shadows of Lela, is book one in The Lela Trilogy. This YA fantasy features strong female characters, swooth-worthy romance, epic magic, and unicorns. It is available on Amazon as an ebook and paperback. Read more about it here.
In addition to writing, I am a multi-passionate creative with a ton of artistic hobbies. I believe in the importance of following your joy, and hope to inspire others to live their dreams.
My Writing Story
I wanted to be a published writer ever since I wrote my VERY first draft of my very first novel at age 18. However, like 99.9% of ALL first drafts, it was NOT ready for publication back then. Not realizing this was perfectly normal, I felt discouraged and shrank away from my dreams as I went on to navigate the minefield of my twenties. Even though I did continue to write and work on revising and improving that first manuscript, I also continued to take on layers of self-doubt.
But like many a hero’s journey, I reached a breaking point in my when I realized it was time to make a choice. Did I want to be a writer, or not? YES! Was I going to let self doubt and fear hold me back for one more day, one more year, or one more minute? NO!
While that sounds like a heroic moment, in reality it felt more like a slow dance of putting the pieces of my life back together after after a chain of mild mishaps. That’s the great thing about hitting your own personal rock bottom: you have nowhere else to go but up.
I took a new look at my life, my dreams, my goals, and decided to build a new reality. My hero’s journey became a spiritual quest that resulted in me finally making writing a priority. Once I made that choice, the manuscript that had undergone fifteen years of procrastination, fear, abandonment, and self-doubt was finally finished in under a year.
I was amazed at what I’d been able to accomplish from a few shifts in mindset, perspective, and priority. My life began to feel more magical. Creative joy was the norm. And, best of all, I finally published my book.
Helping other writers
My own journey from self-doubt to Inspired Writer made me want to help other writers who need the encouragement to keep going. I started a Facebook Group called the Inspired Writer’s Tribe to bring like-minded, positive, supportive readers together. I also wrote a free eBook about Affirmations for Writers, and plan to create an entire series of books geared toward encouraging fellow authors. If you’re a writer, you’ll find some awesome resources that I share here. For those who REALLY vibe with me and my philosophy, I help them through 1:1 coaching.
Blog
My blog is another expression of my fascination with mindset, emotional health, and spiritual alignment, and their tremendous impact on life AND the writer’s journey. I want to share my experience in a way that inspires others, and uplifts my fellow creative beings.
Life
When I’m not writing, working on my business, or having dance parties with my daughter, I enjoy my other hobbies as an artist and musician. My goal is to follow my joy and encourage others to do that same.
FAQ
- Who is my photographer? Kathryn Louise
- Who is my cover illustrator for Shadows of Lela? Merilliza Chan
- Who is my editor for Shadows of Lela? Kristen Portillo