She was that kid. The one who asked for summer reading assignments and checked out library books regularly in elementary school. When she ran out of books, Tara Coyt would read whatever was in the house. Encyclopedia. History books. Murder mysteries. The newspaper. Agatha Christie detective novels helped her learn how to analyze problems and solve mysteries in middle school.

Living a lifetime of being an avid reader, Tara also wanted to be a writer. After an idea she had on a book about the history of Black banks and financial institutions fell by the wayside in the early 2000s, she began writing articles and an op-ed column. She went on to co-author several books, including passion projects from NBA All-Stars Joe Barry Carroll and Sidney Moncrief, and Death Row Records photographer Simone Green.

“It was 2015 when my personal passion project revealed itself. ‘Real Talk About LGBTQIAP’ took five years to research and write, and was worth every minute. I am now working on another book, a screenplay and a stage play.”

When Tara first moved to Decatur, the Dekalb library system was important to her writing and research. Attending the Decatur Book Festival (DBF) and Georgia Center for the Book events also provided opportunities to meet and hear national and local authors. “Those book talks are informative and inspiring. I always walk away with expanded knowledge and new ideas. It’s also rejuvenating to meet and talk to other book lovers.”

She recalls one of those career-defining moments after being selected as a featured author at the Decatur Book Festival. When she arrived at the hotel, the assigned room was empty. Busying herself by rearranging the set-up and ensuring the audio-visual system was working, it would be 20 minutes before a colleague told her to stop and turn around. The room, filled beyond capacity, included middle school kids, senior citizens, and people of different genders, sexualities and races. “Tears trickled down my face. People were seated on the floor and hotel security eventually refused to let anyone else in. You always wonder if anyone will show up, especially where there are so many other book talks to attend. That was an incredible day for me.”

Today, the writer, editor, author coach, award-winning marketing strategist and entrepreneur continues to be a source of inspiration for others, both as a writer and marketer. For example, she has developed campaigns for brands like Disney, General Mills, HBO Max, McDonalds, NBCUniversal, Porsche, etc. She has also served small businesses and non-profit organizations, including 100 Black Women, ARD Logistics, Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority, and others.

“Sometimes, when I’m writing or in a board meeting, I offer a perspective or suggestion and wonder, ‘Where did that come from?’ It’s a result of my curiosity and various positions I’ve held. Stories are pivotal, starting with the stories we tell ourselves, real and fictional, in all their formats. They can give life and extinguish it.”