Order our first release
Order our first release
Order our first release
Order our first release Order our first release Order our first release
We are proud to be an upcoming platform dedicated to sharing a unique intersection of storytelling, community, and digital commerce.
Our first offering is a powerful memoir which recounts the life of Joan G. Mitchell, where she shares her journey through some of life's most challenging and exuberant moments.
Tressie & Nana (T&N) is inspired by the childhood nicknames of Joan's two daughters Tereska and Tanya.
What started as a series of social media posts leading up to her 70th birthday, “Celebrating Life is My Religion” recounts the life of Joan G. Mitchell from a young girl into adulthood, as told by her daughter, author Tereska E. James.
From the challenges of teenage pregnancy and surviving domestic abuse, to the heartbreaking loss of her daughter Tanya to skin cancer, Joan shares her story with bravery and conviction. She reassures us that while life is full of sorrow and loss, there is still joy and reason to celebrate life.
Tereska hopes to inspire through capturing the essence of her mother's resilience by uniting community, and telling stories filled with hope and compassion.
“What’s in store can shift the reader to immediate self-reflection as they gather inspirational wisdom. I invite you to travel the distance to know Joan’s story.”
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From the Author
On August 14, 2023 while on a family cruise to Alaska, I invited my mom to our cabin at 5:30am for a birthday surprise.
It was one year to the day from my mother’s 70th birthday where I promised her that I would finally write her life story. This video captures the moment when I told her that I had finished writing the first draft and gave her the completed manuscript.
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Tereska (00:01) Okay. This is my birthday present to you, okay? Yes, I need you to promise yes, I'm gonna write your book. Yeah, and after the year, writing, working mommy-ing, having a life and everything in between, right, I finished it.
Joan (00:24) No, you didn't!
Tereska (00:27) It has all of the names and places which will have to be changed if it ever sees the light of day! Your life story as you told to me. I don't believe you are many interviews I didn't edit anything yet.
Joan (00:46) I know and I really wanted [it] but I said she's been busy. Oh, it's heavy. Oh! Oh my god! Oh my god, oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god! Look at this Oh my god And celebrating life is my religion, Jone’s journey. She loved, lost, grief and joy. Written by Tereska.
Tereska (01:29) So I didn't print the comments out, but I printed out all the photos from day one from day 70 from last year. I got it done. Grayson knows. Early morning, late night.
Joan (02:00) I know that you were going to do this because Grayson kept getting after you and yeah, and he wasn't gonna let it go, you know? This is the best birthday. The best birthday ever.
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Delve into Joan’s powerful testimony of strength and resilience.
$20
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Photograph by Justin Clynes Studio
Meet Tereska.
Tereska E. James has always had a passion for writing ever since she won a school-wide award in the 4th grade for a play that she wrote focused on her family and served as a “ghost writer” in the 5th grade by penning Mother’s Day greetings for her classmates after she was selected to read the one she did for her mother in front of the class. By day, Tereska is a marketing and advertising executive with more than 20 years in agency client services.She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and also the past president of Brown Skin Too Foundation which she founded after the loss of her sister to melanoma.
Prior to her mother’s memoir, Tereska also wrote and self-published a motivational guide called “Single-licious: For a Lifetime or the In-Between Time” in 2009 which touted all of the things a woman could do during the “single” season. She often contributes her writing skills and talents for personal, philanthropic and business pursuits.
Tereska, born and raised in Delaware, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and currently resides in the greater Boston area.
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