Hi I'm Tassandra Barnaby – poet, author and creator of The-Written-Soul. I'm a storyteller first and foremost, one who writes from the core.

And poets have always been much more to me than words. It's the emotion in formation, the gateway to others, and a gentle, powerful strength that makes us softer in dangerous and beautiful ways. It reminds us of the stirring power of what is not said, and the connections we make in its silence.

Before embarking on my writing career, I worked in healthcare finance for several years at some of the country's largest hospital systems. And as fulfilling as that work was, I always had a sense deep down that it wasn't where I was supposed to be." Words had been present in my life forever, waiting silently and supportively until I found the courage to find my voice and share them with the world.

In 2024, I published my first poetry book, Ethereal Whispers: Ethereal Emotions. Then, in 2025, I released Where Whispers Become Fire, as well as my first children's book, Koa the Friendly Dog. I also develop reflective journals, now available on Amazon, which provide a gentle space for clarity, healing, and gentleness.

In my creative life, I have two significant influences: Maya Angelou and Emily Dickinson. Maya taught me to talk like fire. Emily demonstrated the power of stillness to me. One gave me courage; the other gave me grace, and I carry both in everything I do.

If I were a color, I think I would be yellow—bright, warm, and filled with light. When I start doing that, even if I help one person feel less alone, then I know that I'm doing what I was supposed to be doing with my time here."