Taylor Thomas Smythe shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Taylor Thomas, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
That’s a great question. I think many people struggle with imposter syndrome—the idea that we’re not good enough or creative enough, and that everyone (except us) has it all figured out. That’s a huge lie that even the most competent people believe. For me, one way to combat that is to continue to be courageous, putting my creative efforts out there and building my self-efficacy as I go. Deeper than that, though, is that I start with the foundation: that I’m loved by God and created for a purpose. When that’s the starting point, it helps ground us and shield us from needing to find validation elsewhere. Otherwise, we’re easily tempted to base our worth on our work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Taylor Thomas Smythe, and I’m an author, designer, songwriter, and creative. I tell stories across visual and written mediums. What makes my work unique is that most of it is tied in some way to the wild, weird, and beautiful state of Florida. My inaugural book series, Kingdom of Florida, roots itself in the actual, factual place, but spins off a new fantasy mythology that’s akin to the Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, or The Wizard of Oz series.
I just released my first fiction podcast—an audio drama spinoff of the Kingdom of Florida series. It’s called Treasure Hunters: A Kingdom of Florida Adventure, and it’s a five-episode prequel to the main series. (And don’t worry; it’s a standalone story, so you don’t have to read the books to enjoy it.)
I had so much fun producing the series. It features a full cast of characters, voiced by some of my very generous and talented friends and colleagues, and immersive sound effects that bring the world to life. I also composed an original soundtrack, which features a half-dozen or so themes spread across roughly 30 tracks.
I started writing that story about five years ago, with the intent to release it as a novella before I adapted it into the podcast. As I put the podcast together, I realized I still wanted to get the book version into readers’ hands, and I’m thrilled to finally do that in the form of a new book: Kingdom of Florida: Journey to the Wayward Isles.
This new book is a faithful recreation of the character Jesse’s journal from the novels and podcast, taking readers deeper into the story with handwritten illustrations, sketches, maps, and notes from the characters. My hope with this journal is that you feel like you’re holding an artifact straight from the Kingdom of Florida series.
The audio drama, Treasure Hunters: A Kingdom of Florida Adventure, is available now on all of the major podcast platforms, and the book is available from my website.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was about to start college, I found myself growing anxious, worried that I might choose the wrong major or university and permanently ruin the trajectory of my life. A family friend helped me reframe my calling in a super helpful way. He shared an idea from Frederick Buechner, who said that a person’s calling “is the place where [their] deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
This reframing was so freeing to me because it removed the need to find the “one right path.” Instead, it allowed me to look inward—at my talents and who I’ve been created to be—and then look outward—where and how I can use those gifts for the good of others and the world.
When we’re not worried about messing up the “plan” for our lives, we can enter each day in freedom, focusing on taking the next right step.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I think something that has held me back the most in life when it comes to creativity is the fear that my art is not worth people’s money or time. I tend to undervalue my own art or creations, which has kept me from pursuing some creative dreams at different points in my life. Thankfully, I’ve pushed through the fear and decided to create things anyway; I’m grateful that I haven’t let fear steal the joy of creativity from me. And I want to say that to the readers, too: don’t let fear steal the joy of creativity from you.
With the book I’m currently working on, I’ve had to push through several different seasons and life changes, which has caused that process to drag on a lot longer than with prior novels. I’m proud to say that I’ve persevered in finishing what I started, reminding myself that this art is worth my time—and, I believe, my readers’ time. I’m stoked to share more about that in 2026.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to the belief that I was made to create beautiful things that bring people together. To that end, I am very intentional about organizing my life around that, always building space into my routines to write, create, and dream.
On a more practical level, I have what feels like an infinite list of ideas for stories that I am constantly revisiting and revising to prioritize which one to work on next. Recently, I sort of mapped out what the next five years could look like, in terms of what stories I want to spend time on. The nice thing about that is that I can adjust as I go; I’m not locking myself into something just because I wrote it on a spreadsheet. If history is any indication, I want to be open to how life circumstances can change and reshape how I’m able to spend time and energy.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people remember me for my faithfulness to my friends, family, and to God—and to the gifts I have stewarded. I would also hope that my life and work would inspire people with hope and creativity of their own. While it ultimately doesn’t matter to me whether people remember my stories or songs, I hope that my art and life bring people together and point them toward our creator.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lamplightuniverse.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/taylorsmythe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaylorThomasSmythe
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttsmythe
Image Credits
Taylor Thomas Smythe
