Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori D.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Tori D, Digital Content Creator, Author, Mom, and more. I would like to call myself a wonder egg! I’m chocolate filled with a surprise. I dance, I sing, I act, I do YouTube I’m a mom lol! However, the two most important right now would be both YouTube and me as an Author. I’ve always loved to read even as a kid. Growing up I stayed reading fiction novels. It’s kind of corny, but I always wanted to read and write about a life I knew I’d never live. I lived in Atlanta for 3 years where I professionally danced. When I lived in Atlanta that was all I did, work, school, and dance class. When COVID hit, I guess you can say that’s when all of us tapped in our creative bag! From there I started back doing my YouTube “Simplicity is T” and started drafting books. I truthfully don’t have a “direction” to where I want the YouTube to go because nowadays people love to prank, show fake love, or do these challenges, etc. My channel is real life. Joining me in my journey as single mom, me moving how I did it. How I’m doing and how I haven’t gave up just yet! In fact, a good friend of mine Valworth Jones pushed me. I remember I’d stay on the phone with VJ and tell him “Man I’m bout to start writing books I’m bout to start my YouTube,” when I lived in Augusta, Ga prior to moving to Atlanta. Him along with my boyfriend and a few others pushed me. COVID honestly was just the green light. It took me about a year to say, “Okay T, it’s Go time.” I had lost my mom back in 2013, and when COVID hit in 2020, I lost my dad (not COVID related) but it kinda of gave me that push I needed in a way. My mom always pushed me to go after everything I knew in my heart and mind I could do. Which is why I pursued my career in dance but see me. I don’t stop at one talent! Everybody was doing the TikTok’s and the hair and the makeup etc. I wanted to branch out and be different from my friends. Granted I’m one of a kind but I knew this was something I wanted to get out and do, so how I was going to make my page different? Be me lol! I think in September of 2021 that’s when I kinda got my feet wet, I had more time on my hand because I had shut myself out from the outside world. I found myself studying the ins and outs on Amazon KDP, making videos editing on my phone, etc., and just went from there. What’s crazy is, lol my first book FLOPPED! And I’m still growing my channel and making videos on my phone lol! I actually took my time too, and it still didn’t hit the way I thought it would. I remember all the promoting I did, but in honesty, I can say I didn’t know as much as I did now. Can’t even lie, there were many times I felt discouraged and said know what F it I’m not doing it. I even had an associate say “nobody reads books” in fact people do though! Instead of taking the same approach when I decided to release my new book series, I used my current platform. As a dancer and freelance photography model I did what I knew best! Promote using my tools and friends. I’d make reels to give a feel of what the book is going for and even post mini-clips of my Vlog! Crazy thing I HATE POSTING! Even through my YouTube, I self-promote and come up with ways to get both out! I’m not where I want to be just yet; however, I truly believe with the pressure I’m applying today it’s going to push me towards my goals tomorrow. I honestly just love to write and get my story out which was how I came up with the concept of telling my story through my channel!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being real no. As a single mom, one of the things I’ve noticed is how negative of a light we have shinning on us. Ultimately, we are looked at to fail! For one, I moved all the way to Texas with a 7-year-old who is not turn 9 in September! I did it with no help nor family while still trying to pursue my dreams. It’s still not where I’m wanting to be because I just started. However, when I got back on YouTube my following started at 200, and when I published my first book Vs now, I’ve seen my books do numbers and even making it to number 1 twice. I would have to say one of my biggest struggles was support. They say you find out who your real friends are when you go after your dreams. When I moved to Texas out of all the friends I had only a few kept it contact. There were times when I’d reach out and try to get my “friends” to let me take pics or use them as a book cover, and they’d want to “pencil me in.” Or times where I’d personally text everybody in my phone, and only 3 would actually support. I think that’s when reality hit me. I had to change my audience and company as a whole lol. It was more so a moment of realization and truth for me. I’ve been on my own since I was 20 and even still finding my way through what we call “life” I think one of the biggest struggles when you’re taking this leap of faith is know where you stand with people. From being homeless and having all these “friends” to accepting it for what it is when you see who’s down when the struggle gets real. Failure is not an option for me being real! I’m all my son has so I have to get it you know! I have to keep going. Putting myself in nursing school all while being an independent Author and exploring YouTube full time, the struggle can’t get no realer!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a full-time Mom and Nursing student. However, outside of the boring life, I create Digital Content for my YouTube Channel, I do freelance modeling, and I’m also an Independent Author! I’m known for my “Story Times” on my YouTube channel; I’ve never had a filter and don’t plan to. You can find me and subscribe to Simplicity is T
“I am the T, hints the T, that is Me!”
My personal IG @ Tori.__D that’s two underscores lol and lady but not least My authors page Author Tori D.
In all that I do, I would say I’m most proud of me not giving up. After writing my first book, I decided to go back and regroup. My BEST work yet would have to be my NEW URBAN serious “When Cherish comes My way” it released in June and has been flourishing since. You can find it on amazon or amazon kindle by typing my name Tori Allen or via the books title!
As a student and mom doing all of this, I can’t even lie; it’s hard. I’ve had ups downs and plenty of low moments. Yeah, every day I want to say know what forget it, but like I said, I can’t fail. I don’t have the luxury of going back home so I can’t fail. I guess this is my way of showing other woman like me out there that no matter what, you can do it. It’s going to be hard lol facts! However, you can do it. A lot of sacrifices were made along this journey, but I can never say I didn’t try.
What sets me apart from others is the fact that I’m me. We live in a world where somebody is always doing the same thing the other is. However, what makes me different is just that me. I’m the only Tori with a story that can be told through my eyes. I don’t look at my struggles as struggles or lessons, in fact for me their blessings. I’m blessed enough to still be here and be a living witness that man life be lifing but she still going’. Everything I do I do it because I have a pair eye on me that won’t allow me to quit. So, yea, everybody just might be doing the same, but everybody don’t have my name or move like I do. I love seeing everybody win so instead of figuring out the next “come up” I look at others as teachers I can learn something apply it and have my dreams take off in a sense all why paying homage and respect! I’m cut from a different cloth, and they don’t make the fabric anymore.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
To be real, although audiobooks are taking over. I truthfully see people getting back into books. That’s how movies and television started and being real; since we are surrounded by so much technology, I see a lot books hitting the big screens soon
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iamtoridenise.com/
- Instagram:@ToriDenise._ and @AuthorTori_D
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/SimplicityisT
