Thomma Lyn Grindstaff

About Me

A Writer

From early childhood, my twin passions have been writing fiction and playing piano. I was an early reader, and I wrote my first story at three years old. For me, writing has always gone hand in hand with reading, and I can't remember a time when I wasn't in love with words.

I'm married and have four cats. I spend time not only at my computer, writing fiction and poetry, but also at my piano, playing and composing music. And I'm every bit as much an outdoor girl as an indoor girl. The mountains are my second home, and I'm an avid amateur photographer, capturing with my camera everything from wildlife to wildflowers to funky fungi. And during Tennessee's growing season, I enjoy vegetable gardening.

A Musician

I'm a classically-trained pianist and have composed approximately fifty songs and instrumental pieces. And I play classical guitar by ear. I can't imagine my life without music. I wouldn't want to.

A Cat Wrangler

Segueing from music to cats, this picture seems appropriate:

The little girl is me at eight years old, and the kitty in the picture was Petula, one of my first cats. Her memory is still precious to me. Today I have four Ballicai (otherwise known as cats): a big orange Alpha boy (CJ or Brainball), a small, sleek black girl (Dora the Explorer or Dorydoo), an odd-eyed white girl (Marilyn MonREOW or Duallipot) and a snowshoe Siamese boy (MaoMao or Maoknocker).

An Adventurer

I grew up in a medium-sized city, but I'm a country girl at heart. No, not even country. I'm a wilderness girl at heart. I spend a good bit of time hiking in the mountains near my house. The hikes not only help keep me fit but they rejuvenate me on all levels: emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and creatively. I regularly post pictures from my hikes on my blog.

A Gardener

I love watching my garden grow! Growing a vegetable garden is rewarding in countless ways: it's fun for an outdoorsy girl like me, it saves a bundle on groceries, and talk about healthy eating... yum yum!

During the growing season, you can keep up with my gardening adventures on my blog.