Meet Tandra Wilkerson of Alamance County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tandra Wilkerson.

Hi Tandra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Tandra Wilkerson. I’m a freelance writer and content creator. Writing has been an enjoyment for me since childhood. I started doing it for fun but later found it therapeutic. After becoming a parent, it was an outlet to express parenting wins and frustrations alike. In 2013, I created an online persona (Thriller Mom) and a Facebook page to share motherhood experiences. My humor and honesty were well received by others -especially parents- and I had an online community I could relate to before long. Next came blogging, and in my first, I let it all hang out. My writings were filled with as-real-as-it-gets humor. A few years later, thrillermom.com was created. That’s the blog I have today. My writing style has evolved. I still write about parenting but from a different perspective. Adventure travel is also a large part of my life. I enjoy sharing my family’s adventures through written and video content. The journey has led to wonderful connections, collaborations, and freelance opportunities. More unique experiences have come in the form of:
1. Being chosen as a cast member for the Listen To Your Mother show (2016, Raleigh, NC)
2. Contributing to a few published anthologies
3. Joining the new team of writers for WRAL’s Go Ask Mom (2021). I contribute articles there monthly.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it also depends on which aspect of my work you’re referring to. As a writer, I’ve received more yeses than nos so far. Then there’s the blessing of having supportive people mention my name in rooms I’ve never entered. Those mentions sometimes led to new opportunities, and I’ll forever be grateful! In other situations, hard work and perseverance just paid off. Bumps in the road have come more from the content creation side. In earlier years, I didn’t have what I thought I needed or even the confidence to create like I wanted to. Too often, I allowed those reasons and fear to hold me back. One day I decided to “take matters into my own tentacles.” (Thanks, Ursula!). I started watching instructional videos, taking online courses, and teaching myself what I wanted to learn. I was even learning to code for the sake of my blog. During this time, I had also become a mom of two. Learning so many new things, caring for home and kids, finding my way through post-partum depression, attempting to be a good partner, and other struggles took their toll.

Yet, I never gave up. Content creation and freelance work are very common now but weren’t when I started. I’ve had tons of support in my corner. However, my unconventional career choices were sometimes ridiculed and devalued. When it came from anyone important to me, it hurt deeply. Coming from any other direction, I ignored it. I’ve found that the people quickest to spew negativity are those who haven’t walked an inch in my shoes. To anyone experiencing this now, keep going. Your visions and dreams are yours for a reason. Believe in yourself, find your tribe, and carry on. I’d love to elaborate more, but I tend to get long-winded about this topic.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m known for family adventure and parenting-related content. Because families need and use so many things daily, I’ve been able to work with a wide range of companies. I’m normally hired to market products, services, and even destinations to the public after I’ve experienced them for myself. This can be in the form of blog posts, social media shares, videos, and articles. I’m also hired to ghostwrite websites and contribute pieces from a personal perspective. The past year opened new doors for me in freelance video editing and social media consulting/management. It’s been an interesting ride, for sure!

So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
What matters most to me is the example I set for my daughters. My love and concern for them pushes me through the hard days. They are my core reason to keep going and building. Of course, I want to see my dreams fulfilled, but in the end, it’s all for them. They’ll reap the ultimate benefits. I never want my daughters to give up on what’s important to them. Therefore, I won’t quit either. I’m excited to see the trails they blaze in life. I have a feeling the show will be epic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thrillermom.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrillermom
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thrillermom
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThrillerMom
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPGyUGZ4ezIzD7slWErRmZw
• Other: https://www.wral.com/rs/bio/19822023/

Image Credits
Katie Smith Photography Jess Rotenberg Photography