Tysha
AUTHOR

Tysha

City African American Short Story
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Tysha was born in Youngstown, Ohio & raised on the same gritty streets that influence her fictional tales. The author was raised by her grandparents alongside her mother and many other family members. Tysha considers herself blessed to be part of a family that believes it takes a village to raise a child. She often boasts that the Hill family raised a spoiled little poor girl. While listening to her fourth grade teacher read from The Hardy Boys series, Tysha became fascinated by the art of storytelling. That intrigue resulted in her first poem, titled M.O.T.H.E.R., being published in the hometown newspaper. In high school many students balked at the assignment of logging daily journal entries for English class but not Tysha. English was her favorite subject in high school and Miss Stevens her favorite teacher. Tysha was a student of Miss Stevens every year in high school. Miss Stevens recognized her talent for writing during freshman year. She encouraged Tysha to utilize her gift, often entering her in writing competitions. As a high school senior, Tysha placed 5th in a city-wide writing contest (she had unknowingly entered thanks to Miss Stevens). After graduating from South High School in 1988 Tysha chose to skip college and enter the workforce instead. She secured a position in the banking industry and devoted her life to caring for her ailing grandfather. After his passing 1991, Tysha was forced to find independence without the guidance of the person she depended on the most. It was an extremely difficult time for Tysha and a series of bad decisions followed. She often escaped life’s trials and tribulations with a good book. At age 22, Tysha was an unemployed single mother of two young boys struggling to survive on welfare. In order to make ends meet, Tysha began two hustles; braiding hair & dealing in drugs. Doing a favor for a lifelong friend, Tysha stored his drugs and hid his money. He paid Tysha for her loyalty. In short time, details of the favor got out and other hustlers came to Tysha seeking the same arrangement. Warehousing drugs for a few dealers made money but preparing the dealers product for distribution was lucrative. Life became one big party. Tysha excluded her business deals from her journals. Creating paper trails in the world of crime has always been a hustler’s downfall. In the summer of 1992 Tysha was plagued with multiple health problems. Complication from major surgery in the spring of 1993 almost cost Tysha her life. While recovering from the life threatening ordeal, Tysha decided she had to make better life choices. Three months after a two week hospital stay, Tysha met a man and fell in love. Tysha’s knight in shining armor was a college senior with life goals and focus. He had no connection to the streets and was far from a hustler. Their backgrounds were polar opposite but that only strengthen the connection they shared. Being in his world inspired Tysha to be a better person. After a few seasons together, the relationship ended abruptly. Tysha was left heartbroken but the light College Boy (he knows who he is) brought to her life remains to this day. The two went their separate ways and Tysha sought to live up to her full potential. She soon went back to school and became a certified phlebotomist. After making herself employable, Tysha relocated to Columbus, Ohio on her eldest sons last day of kindergarten, June 12, 1995. Within the first year of relocating to the capital city, Tysha returned to the banking industry, purchased a new car and found a place to call home. For the first time since the death of her grandfather, Tysha felt strong and independent. Not a day went by that Tysha didn't make a journal entry about her struggles and triumphs. Life was good. Early in 2002 a mysterious illness began attacking Tysha’s body, forcing her to resign from her job with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office. The illness required numerous hospital stays and trips to various specialists. Her faith in God and support from loved ones helped Tysha to stay strong. Later that same year, Tysha’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. That diagnosis would lead Tysha to discover her true purpose in life – writing. Tysha and her sister composed a letter to family and friends informing them of their mother’s battle with cancer and educating them on the importance of self-breast exams. A cousin read the letter and said to Tysha, “You should write a book.” Tysha had no idea that her cousin, Malcolm Cash, was a college creative writing professor, so she didn’t take him seriously. A few weeks after their initial conversation, Tysha received a package from Malcolm. The huge envelope contained samples of writings by various African-American writers and a posted note that read, “Remember you’re Uncle Juin’s child. You can do anything you put your mind to.” It was then that Tysha picked up a pen and notebook and began writing her first novel titled Poetic Life Lessons – A Novel (unpublished). It took another two years before doctors diagnosed the ailment attacking Tysha’s body. Fibromyalgia is a muscular-skeletal disease that causes severe widespread pain (both muscular and nerve pain) and is most time combined with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Living with never ending pain is a challenge that Tysha is faced with every hour of every day yet she refused to allow the ailment to stomp out her dream of becoming a published author. Through a series of introductions and chance meetings, Tysha quickly cemented a place for herself in the literary world. Tysha landed her first two book deal with Urban Books, an imprint of Kensington Publishing. The Boss…the story of a female hustler was released in March of 2008. The debut novel went on to make the June 2008 edition of Essence Magazine’s Best Sellers list. Today, Tysha continues to live with the daily challenges of Fibromyalgia. She is a divorced mother of two adult’s sons and the grandmother of a baby girl. Tysha library includes two novels, The Boss...the story of a female hustler & Young-Minded Hustler along with multiple anthologies. Tysha and author Brandi Johnson are putting the finishing touches on their first collaboration. Tysha is also working on her next novel.
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Young-Minded Hustler

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  • A Woman's Work: Street Chronicles Audiobook By Nikki Turner, Keisha Starr, Tysha, LaKesa Cox, Monique S. Hall cover art

    Regular price: $15.75 or 1 credit

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  • Young-Minded Hustler Audiobook By Tysha cover art

    Regular price: $15.90 or 1 credit

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  • Around the Way Girls 5 Audiobook By Erick S. Gray, Mark Anthony, Tysha cover art

    Regular price: $15.56 or 1 credit

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  • The Boss Audiobook By Tysha cover art

    • The Boss

    • The Story of a Female Hustler
    • By: Tysha
    • Narrated by: Michelle Alexander
    • Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
    • Release date: 08-13-19
    • Language: English
    • 2.5 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

    Regular price: $15.93 or 1 credit

    Sale price: $15.93 or 1 credit

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