Greetings!
Allow me to introduce myself, my family, and a little bit of my musical and literary journey.
My name is Tyler Thralls, and I was born and raised in Livermore, CA in the Bay Area. I grew up playing Suzuki violin in the local community, drumming in the school jazz band and marching band, and strumming guitar at Young Life youth clubs.
In 2006, I moved to Spokane, WA where I earned a Bachelors in Theology at Whitworth University. It was there that I also met my beautiful wife, Lydia.
Before getting married, I had the privilege of serving in Africa with Village Schools International. In the small village of Kambo, Tanzania, I taught English and Theolog to high school students. During that year I also experienced African drumming in the local churches.
In 2011, Lydia and I were married and we settled down in her hometown of Vancouver, WA. Fresh back from teaching in Africa, I decided to get a Master’s in Teaching at WSU Vancouver. I taught middle school and high school English for seven years in the public schools. This was a good time to hone my writing and storytelling skills, especially tailored to children.
After seven years of teaching, I felt the Lord prompting me to take a sabbath year. I acted in faith and took the next year off. It was during this year that I wrote down half a dozen drafts of books, childrens books, poetry, and even a novella. Four of these books have now blossomed into published material today.
Lydia and I also began attending a liturgical church that prioritized singing the Psalms as part of congregational worship. I served as one of the worship leaders there and began to compose Psalm tunes of my own.
In the last year I have picked up my old violin and enrolled in private lessons. As part of my musical repertoire, I enjoy playing many different instruments: guitar, piano, ukelele, violin, and the djembe. Currently, I am working on the banjo.
In the present season of life, we live with and take care of Lydia’s grandmother while also raising five wonderful children. We enjoy homeschooling, gardening, cooking, and playing music together. Grandma Dovy has now reached the age of 98 and it is our honor to keep her healthy and engaged in a robust and active life at home and out in the community.
Each twist and turn of my life has been infused with God’s grace, and I pray now that He will “establish the work of my hands” as I offer books and songs to the community.
