We were lucky to catch up with Candance Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Candance, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

The legacy I hope to leave behind is one that extends beyond financial security. I aim to create a lasting sense of family history, belonging, and purpose that will resonate for generations to come. I want others to recognize the presence of God in my actions and see that I strived to reflect His image in all I did.

My greatest desire is for people to remember that I genuinely wanted the best for them, that I was always willing to share what I had and what I knew, and that I encouraged others to push beyond their limits. I hope my life demonstrates that with belief in oneself and hard work, anything is possible, and that with determination, one can overcome any challenge.

Candance, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a proud Sibling of a Deaf Adult (S.O.D.A.), and my life has been deeply shaped by growing up within the Deaf community. This experience led me to become a certified and licensed American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, a role I’ve had the privilege of holding for over 17 years across various settings. In addition, I’ve recently transitioned into becoming a certified Special Education teacher within an inner-city public school system. My passion lies in working within the Deaf community, sharing the rich culture and history of Deaf individuals, and teaching basic sign language to facilitate communication within the community.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked with both children and adults, developing modified educational curriculums for deaf and autistic students and creating online resources for educators and parents. These resources aim to bridge the gap between the Hearing and Deaf communities, fostering greater understanding and collaboration.

I have also authored two books: Tyler’s Life Story, The Setback of Her Life, a semi-autobiographical account of my personal experiences, and It’s DEAF-initely My Life, my first children’s book. Writing is a form of self-expression I greatly enjoy, and it provides a sense of liberation and creativity. This creativity inspired me to establish TaylorMade Visual Productions, a business focused on empowering young people (both Deaf and Hearing) through education, advocacy, and the arts.

At TaylorMade Visual Productions, our mission is to foster inclusion and positive change by providing young individuals with opportunities for self-expression and personal growth. We offer a range of visual and performing arts programs for youth ages 7-18, including music, acting, painting, graphic arts, dance, and more. Our vision is to help youth recognize their unique strengths, build confidence, and develop resilience, giving them the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges and create a lasting impact on their communities.

I’m especially proud of my journey and how I never gave up on my dreams, even when they seemed too big or impossible. Years ago, I set aside my dream of opening a center where both Deaf and Hearing children could take classes and experience the arts together. But after publishing my first children’s book in 2023, I revisited that dream. I began developing a character to engage and educate youth, and with the help of a friend, I wrote my first stage production. The process of writing, directing, and producing this show has been one of the most rewarding yet challenging experiences of my life, and on January 18th, 2025, the stage production will premiere.

The support I’ve received, from sponsors to in-kind donations, has been overwhelming. It is clear that this is just the beginning for TaylorMade Visual Productions, and I look forward to expanding our offerings to include dance, musical instruments, singing, poetry, creative writing, acting, signing and more.

Above all, I am proud of the woman I am today—always progressing and striving to be my best self. My goal is to encourage others, regardless of their background or abilities, to believe in their own potential and become the best version of themselves. Through TaylorMade Visual Productions, I am committed to providing a safe, supportive environment where youth can express themselves freely and confidently, embrace their differences, and contribute to their communities.

I am excited about the future and the many opportunities ahead to continue making a positive impact in the lives of others.

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

I recently made the decision to republish my children’s book through a distributor, rather than continuing with a publishing company. The primary reason for this shift was that the publishing company was not their own distributor, which meant that ordering additional copies of my book was costing me twice as much as it would if I were working directly with a company that handled both printing and distribution.

By partnering with a distributor, I am now able to take on the role of “publisher” for all of my books. This change gives me the ability to order books at a significantly lower cost, set my own pricing, and decide where my books are listed. It has empowered me to have greater control over my work, which is exactly where I believe authors should be—fully in control of their creative and business decisions.

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

A valuable lesson I had to unlearn was doubting myself and my abilities, and allowing others to define who I was or tell me what I should do. For a long time, I let the opinions of others influence my decisions, which caused me to question my worth and purpose. Over time, I realized that there are people in your life who can see things in you that you may not yet recognize in yourself, and those are the individuals you want around you—people who support and uplift you.

Another key part of this lesson was learning to trust in God’s plan for my life. We often look everywhere for our purpose, but sometimes it’s right under our nose, waiting for us to see it. The more I prayed and sought His guidance, the more my faith grew, and with that, I developed a confidence that allowed me to step out and pursue what I was truly called to do, regardless of what others thought or whether they supported me.

It was and still is, a journey of trusting in myself, in my abilities, and in God’s purpose for my life. That trust and confidence have been fundamental in empowering me to move forward and embrace my calling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.taylormadeauthor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylormadevp/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcandancetaylor