Tara Shoemaker

 Holdren

If you want the whole story, you'd have to read  Sing Out, a personal narrative designed to encourage and inspire young women of faith who are dealing with depression and/or eating disorders. But, it's all sold out! 

The professional version is less dramatic!

I have had a long affair with creative writing, with a primary focus on poetry. I cut my teeth on T. S. Eliot and Plath, but was accepted into a post-graduate long fiction class where I concluded that long fiction was not going to be my cup of tea! I published my first collection of poetry Circumnavigation in 2008 and was awarded the Mulberry Poets prize. And then... Steve happened! What a blessing and what a journey to be part of God's plan for his story. Now I so excited to continue this path, helping  to bring to life the stories of others.

Non-fiction has always been a vehicle of change…letters to editors, letters to influential sources, letters of recommendations for students, and even letters to potential donors for Camp Victory all produced results. My devotions have appeared in my church’s collections of Lenten devotionals. More recently, I've been editing the weekly newsletter for Alita Reynolds and the Women of Faith. Since God had apparently delivered the gift of the well-turned phrase, I determined it should therefore be used as he needed, both in the secular and non-secular arena. 

Working with young people has always been my vocation. As a high school teacher for almost 30 years, I have been immersed in the lingo and experiences of teens long enough to feel comfortable in that shadowy netherworld. I have volunteered at my church in youth ministries for over 10 years, and served as the church contemporary worship leader for over 10. In my capacity as worship leader, I started the young women’s singing group Sing Out (the dear girls for whom Sing Out is written), developed a youth praise team, and continued to mentor youth through the venue of praise.

I am the mother of two smash-up boys, Kelly and Will, and live happily with my awesome husband in the rural hills of Pennsylvania. My studio is full of jewelry, pottery, oil paintings, sculpture and even songs all made by my own hand by the grace of God, made to bless and made to glorify.