Meet Katy Tessman

We recently connected with Katy Tessman and have shared our conversation below.

Katy, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Mothering while battling breast cancer has made me more resilient than I could ever imagine. I received the devastating diagnosis when I was 39 and my sons were ages 3 and 6. I felt like I had fallen down a deep dark hole with no ladder to climb out.

How do you explain cancer to your young children while you’re fighting the hardest physical battle of your life? I searched for a book I could read to my children but instead I found my own words to explain what was going to happen to me. Finishing my fight with children who stayed optimistic gave me the confidence to self-publish our family’s story; “Our Mama is a Beautiful Garden” is written in the voice of my two young sons. I hope having Louis and Maxwell tell our family story will give other families the strength and courage they need during an awful time that can feel quite hopeless.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As a singer-songwriter, I perform on stages throughout Minnesota and around the region. After a 20 year pause from performing, my eagerly awaited album, “Fly,” is releasing on October 14, 2023. The album weaves a tapestry of uplifting melodies and heartfelt ballads, resonating with themes of self-discovery and resilience. It’s produced by Michael Koppelman, who has a rich history as an engineer, producer and writer at Paisley Park, working for Prince. Musical collaborations led to stellar performances by my bandmates as well as Nikki Lemire on harp and backing vocals and Jillian Rae on strings.

My band, Katy Tessman and the Turnbuckles is made up of my son Louis “Sweet Lou” Tessman Stanoch on electric guitar, my bandmate from the 90s Tom Leier on bass, and reunited high school friend Kelley Lima on drums. My music is a blend of Americana and Folk-Rock and our live performances are engaging and captivating.

As a writer, I have published two picture books: “Our Mama is a Beautiful Garden” is my young family’s story battling breast cancer. A decade after my cancer diagnosis, I wrote a song that sums up the everyday-hero’s journey and published the accompanying lyric picture book, “Hero Now Crowned.”

As a Minnesota Women’s Press CHANGEMAKER, I am involved in many outreach events including organizing a fundraiser concert for the Angel Foundation, speaking at the MN Young Survivor Coalition gathering, being a guest on the closed circuit television program at Children’s Hospital, and being a guest speaker at churches and community gatherings.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Optimism – My parents say optimism is my superpower. I believe life is better when you see the best in people and you take every step forward with a positive attitude. Writing helps me find plateaus during life’s stumbles and summits. Using the wisdom I’ve gained through breast cancer survival, heartbreak, and motherhood, I aim to spread hope, strength, and joy.

Courage – Daring to return to performing after a 20 year break has taken as much courage as it did to fight cancer. It also takes a lot of courage to write songs from the heart. Music is a wonderful source of strength as I navigate life’s challenges and celebrate resilience and creativity. Expressing emotions through music is a powerful way to cope, heal, and share my journey with the world.

Communication – Personal connection is important to me. I want to establish relationships with people I admire and can learn from as well as be part of creative communities that support each other. I enjoy curating songwriter showcases and special events to share opportunities where others can share their stories and unique creativity. The best way to build these connections is through open communication.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents instilled a love of music and books in me (something I believe I have passed on to my two sons). As a child, weekly trips to the local library with my mom ignited my love for reading. Singing in choirs and performing in musical theater productions sparked my love for the stage. My dad called Choir my “team sport.” My parents still attend as many of my performances as they can. Their continued support and encouragement is beyond measure.

Stories and songs truly heal. Releasing a collection of songs on a new album after authoring two picture books has been a dream come true. My hope is to evoke laughter and tears, spread smiles, and foster a sense of hope and togetherness.

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Image Credits
photographer credits are on the photos

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