We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Terrence Spencer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Terrence, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?

There was a time when I wished I had started my writing career earlier. More time could have meant more books, a deeper connection to the writing world, and perhaps a different level of success. But looking back, I realize that my life experiences have shaped my stories in ways that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. Without those experiences, my writing wouldn’t have the same depth or authenticity. So, no—I don’t wish I had started sooner or later. My writing career began exactly when it was meant to, and I truly believe that.

I’ve always loved telling short stories—nothing too detailed, just ideas that would come to me during long drives with my kids and my fiancée at the time, now my wife. It was something we all enjoyed, a way to pass the time and spark our imaginations.

Then one night at the movies, a preview came on for a film with the exact storyline as a story I had told my kids years before at a park. As it played, I could feel my family staring at me, wide-eyed. I think it was my second-oldest who whispered, *”Dad, that’s your story.”* That moment stuck with me.

But the real turning point came during a casual night with friends. My wife and I had company over for drinks, and someone, slightly inebriated, dared me to actually write down one of the stories I always told. On my way to the bathroom, I spotted my son’s laptop and decided to jot down a few words—just to see where it would go. I ended up writing almost an entire chapter.

When my wife read it, she was in awe and urged me to keep going. That was the moment I knew—I had to take this seriously. And here we are.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I barely scraped by to graduate from Custer High School—one of the toughest schools to attend at the time. College wasn’t something I ever desired; I was more eager to leave the city and escape the growing violence that was beginning to take hold. So, I joined the United States Marine Corps.

The Corps took me places I never imagined, introduced me to people from all walks of life, and immersed me in different cultures. I had my fair share of experiences—some good, some bad—but every moment shaped me. When I eventually discovered my love for writing, I realized that all those experiences had given me the characters, the stories, and the depth I needed to craft compelling narratives.

But my first attempt at publishing didn’t go as planned. I rushed to put my books out without the proper education or an editor who could refine my storytelling the way I envisioned. While readers loved the stories, their praise was often followed by a “but”—a reminder that grammar and structural issues interrupted the flow.

Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to mastering my craft. I’ve rewritten my stories the way they were meant to be told, and the response from my beta readers has been overwhelming. One even described it best: *”Reading the original was like going for ice cream—an intriguing story. But reading the rewrite? That’s like getting your favorite sundae with a cherry on top.”*

This transformation has given me a renewed sense of purpose, and to mark this change, I designed a logo—a skull symbolizing rebirth. It features an emblem from my first book on its forehead, the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on the cheekbone, my initials at the front, and a fountain pen nib beneath it all. This logo will appear on the back cover of my rewritten novels, set to release between mid-April and early May. If you don’t see this symbol, you’re holding an earlier edition that doesn’t reflect the evolution of my writing.

My first novel, *Strong*, is the only one outside the horror genre, leaning more into murder, thriller, and mystery. *The Rep* was my first dive into psychological horror, and my third novel marked my entry into the eerie, paranormal realm—something I’ve since fallen in love with.

Right now, I’m working on two novels set for release this year, but there’s one that I believe will be my masterpiece—*The Grandfather Tree*, a coming-of-age story based on true events.

If you’d like to stay updated on upcoming releases and events, feel free to visit my website and subscribe to my newsletter. There’s so much more to come.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned on my journey as a writer—something you’ve probably heard before—is to ignore the naysayers. There will always be people who support and uplift you, but there will also be those who would rather see you fail. Some gave up on their own dreams and would love nothing more than for you to do the same.

The key is to keep going. Stay focused. Stay true to your vision. Learn to recognize the difference between constructive criticism that helps you grow and negativity meant to tear you down. Take what strengthens you, discard what doesn’t, and never let someone else’s doubt define your path.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the hardest but most important lessons I’ve learned is that you are solely responsible for your own actions—no one else. There was a time when I blamed everyone but myself for the negativity in my life, for the situations I found myself in. But the truth is, most of those situations weren’t impossible to overcome. It was *how* I chose to respond that determined the outcome.

Take road rage, for example. Someone cuts you off, and in the heat of the moment, you decide to chase them down just to give them a piece of your mind. That one impulsive decision can escalate into something serious—someone ends up in jail, or worse. But if you had just kept driving, letting it go, you’d realize within ten minutes that it no longer mattered. The difference? A single choice.

I’ve learned that reacting out of anger or frustration often leads to regret. But stepping back, taking control of my responses, and choosing to move forward? That’s what makes all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.TerrenceDamonSpencer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authortds/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19zESTpouJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr