Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Smythe.
Hi Taylor, We are so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi there! My name is Taylor Thomas Smythe and I am a multi-disciplinary creative. My primary creative outlets are novel writing, graphic design, and songwriting. My journey began when I was just a young boy, with the threads of all three of those endeavors already weaving together from a young age.
As a child, I’d write simple stories, printing words onto pages then taping them into a cardboard binding to form my first hand-crafted books. On more than one occasion, I can remember when other kids would use crayons in a coloring book, I’d request a plain white sheet of paper on which to draw something from my imagination, rather than be confined to the pre-existing lines. At other times I’d hum along to the frequency of the refrigerator, eventually spinning the note off into a lengthier tune.
So absolutely no one should be surprised at who I’ve become today. I’m grateful that my parents gave me the time and space to imagine, play, and experiment, which helped build self-efficacy and creative problem-solving abilities. Without that experience in childhood, I think I would never have known what was possible.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Even though I’ve always “oozed creativity” (as one former supervisor put it), I haven’t always had the confidence in my own abilities or the bravery to share it with others. I was a somewhat shy and awkward child, so I lived with a deep fear that I might embarrass myself if my art wasn’t well-received.
All of that began to change in high school and college when I was given the opportunity to create and share in spaces that welcomed vulnerability and imagination in the community. The more I began to feel loved, seen, and known by others, the more I felt free to remove my armor and share the things that flowed out of my heart: my art and creativity.
Despite that growth, though, I’ve battled the well-known specter of imposter syndrome, which I think is common to most artists at some point in their stories. To be honest, I sometimes still struggle to believe that my art is “good enough.” I’m grateful for encouragement from friends, readers, and fans over the years who have helped me know that my art is good enough.
I’d like to encourage you, reader, to take a chance and share something from your heart with another person. Start small: Share a short poem. A piece of visual art. A joke. Then find others who want to share their art as well. Everyone has something inside of them just waiting to be tapped. Who knows: maybe your courageous act will spark something even more beautiful in your fellow humans.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As I mentioned earlier, my creative works run the gamut. Graphic design has been my livelihood at several points in my life, but writing is an incredibly satisfying outlet for me. Since 2019, I’ve released nine novels (with a tenth due later in 2024). That total is comprised of two series, Kingdom of Florida (a seven-book middle-grade fantasy saga) and Magic City Wonders (an ongoing young adult sci-fi story set in 1980s Miami).
Over the past few years, both series have racked up a handful of awards and accolades. It is incredibly humbling to know that someone I’ve never met found my books outstanding in some way. More than any awards, though, I get such a thrill knowing that people read and enjoy the stories and worlds into which I’ve put so much time, thought, and energy.
In 2022, my band The Transient Friends released our first full-length album, called Multiverse, for which I wrote all of the lyrics, sang lead vocals, and directed the album’s companion film. That project is a special one to me as it is a creative collaboration with one of my dearest friends, David Urbinati, who himself oozes creativity. The album is a sort of celebration of our local community of musicians in West Palm Beach, Florida, and an homage to 1980s pop.
Over the past year, I’ve been trying my hand at screenwriting, with a long-term dream of someday creating feature films and TV series. I’ve also been doing more songwriting sporadically, which may someday see the light of day if the right collaborators materialize.
I think what sets me apart from others is that I don’t ever let myself become pigeonholed into one creative discipline. To me, all of my passions are so interwoven and interdependent, that I can’t imagine JUST writing a novel; I also have a distinct vision for the graphic design of the page layouts and cover. And I couldn’t JUST release an album; I had to create an hour-long film to complete the experience. I don’t ever want to be known for just one thing.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
It might surprise you that all of the aforementioned artistic endeavors (except for graphic design) have always just been hobbies; they’ve never been primary sources of income. While I’d love for that to change, I’m grateful that I’ve been able to create so much without the pressure of needing to “sell” something. Because my livelihood isn’t dependent on them, my creative works can have a sense of purity and fun to them that allows me to really lean into my personal vision.
Let this also serve as encouragement to the readers who are waiting to land their “big break.” Don’t wait: just start writing, start singing, start making. Especially in the age in which we currently live, you don’t need to wait on some gatekeeper to give you permission to start creating. The world only has one of you and we can’t wait for you to share what only you can create.
Pricing:
- Paperback books range from $8 to $16
- Hardcover editions available for $17 to $24
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.lamplightuniverse.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ttsmythe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaylorThomasSmythe/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttsmythe
- Other: https://www.magiccitywonders.com/
