We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Teresa Marks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Teresa below.

Teresa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

I started the journey of wanting to write a book back in 2017. Two people who I went to school with wrote a book, and that encouraged me. I was home one day and it just hit me like a light bulb (I have a story to tell so I need to write about it. It really was a battle between me, myself, and I. I kept getting in my own way, by self doubting and thinking no one would care what I had to say. After a few months, I just started typing and going back to the past I had. I would stop writing for a while then go back to writing. That was a repeated cycle for about 7 years. Around the beginning of 2023 I got very serious about my book I knew my story may not help everyone, but someone needed it and that motivated me more. I got a publisher in 2024 my book was launch and published in March 2025 it took me 7 years to write my story, but it was worth all that time because God was still preparing it!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m from a small city in Michigan called Benton Harbor. I moved to Texas after graduating from College receiving a degree in Human Services. After being in Texas for 4 years, I decided I wanted to write a book. The title of the book is Mask Off. I chose this title because for so long I wore many different Masks for many different people. Mask Off is my brand because I will no longer pretend to be something or someone I’m not! I also have color changing Mask Off Mugs I want others to know we have an assignment to help and uplift others, if you don’t know who you are, you’ve already the failed assignment. So remember, Always let people catch you with your “Mask Off” Be true to who you are at all cost! When I wore a Mask it caused me to be fake, pretentious, and not understanding who I was. Being true to who I am and walking in MY lane that God has given me, makes me different and stand out. I am very proud of the woman I am becoming, and knowing I will touch many lives with my story.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I was growing as a person, I started to understand that people and things could not grow with me.There was a time when good things or I had good news, I would call “friends”and family members to share because I knew they would be happy and proud of me. Instead I got asked questions like “why you want to do that” or I don’t think that’s for you” These type of comments came from the people I thought were my biggest cheerleaders, but they ended up being my frienemies! I learned quickly, to stop sharing my news with them and to remove myself from some of the relationships. The biggest lesson I learned from all of this is to move in silence and let your accomplishments speak for it self. It also taught me that sharing things too soon can cause a delay in the movement.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lesson I had to unlearn was self-doubt. There is a saying that goes “ we as people are our own worst enemy. I believe the self-doubt for me came from being bullied in school. It made feel undefeated.. I was told what I wasn’t, and what I could not do and I believed it. I believe I could be further in life had I not doubted myself so much. Self-doubt is poisonous for the mind. The Bible says we can do ALL things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. How I unlearned self-doubt was through affirmations, therapy, prayer, encouragement and strangers, family/friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/Mask-Off-Teresa-Marks/dp/173502824X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=209ENIP7Y6FST&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.igTUOV_ejpG5qGUS3r1iUpE9NAQ-Th8c9RtClcqtlllwijhJLOCqbopK8Ojo9gkaDuZH6TDrGFj_jWikvMWAlJe8cE4yzahlwS6eJGDZ0G0fgDZGfitz4Ng8m8lKGBVVLcxKHAi6CVlBvSh3Uq3P4wMF7WDQH4BfwN-TGkYP5GCESCdGX6telVERMZeTPKyAewL2eQMENlkEmx2bAd8smw.GXzuKDUVBVpaBWd4gQBP07VrEc3JAqgqN2H45Zs7UyU&dib_tag=se&keywords=teresa+marks&qid=1742061262&sprefix=teresa+marks%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1
• Instagram: Itmemsmarks7440
• Facebook: Teresa Marks

Image Credits

Tonya Neal, Lisa Autry, Remixx Publishing.