profesh me /
Passionate senior-level ideator, writer, and problem-solver recognized for creativity, enthusiasm, and attention to detail. In 20+ years as a big-idea/copy lead, 17 as an independent consultant, I’ve worked with all the greats across every category, seamlessly collaborating with art directors, designers, marketers, and sales teams to flawlessly deliver on-point, engaging solutions that consistently exceed expectations.
I'm also a visual artist (follow me @gypsyphilosopher on IG) and a child and adolescent yoga and mindfulness teacher, 95-hour certified through Little Flower Yoga.
specialties: Consumer-facing family, lifestyle, fashion, beauty, entertainment, kids, and health content. Known for lightning-fast turnarounds and well-thought-out copy that simplifies even the most complicated objectives.
current: In addition to living my best full-time life spreading the #Bookjoy as Executive Editorial Director at Scholastic, I take on 2-3 projects monthly for new and longtime clients through my business, Tess Forte Creative.
note: While the Scholastic-related pieces shown here as part of my personal portfolio are representative of my current work and creativity, work initiated on my own behalf or for my freelance clients is my own and unrelated to my position or the opinions of Scholastic, Inc.
the real me /
(who, truth be told, is pretty close to profesh me):
Brooklyn-born, Staten Island-raised pop culture maven and creative guru with both an expansive imagination and a fine attention to detail. I'm as NYC streetwise as they come, but I'm also a Tarot-flipping, Reiki-practicing spiritual softie who believes connecting with people is life's greatest gift.
Also a mom of 3 so yeah, I get it.
me according to the tarot /
VIII Strength
me as a chakra /
Green / The Heart
me as an aura /
Turquoise / Feelings, Intuition, and Knowingness
me as a post-punk goth indie song /
Cannonball by The Breeders
me as a fairy tale heroine /
Princess Tuvstarr
me as a time of day /
4am; not quite middle of the night, but not exactly a new day, either
me as a french poet /
Louise Labe
me as a punctuation mark /
ellipsis...because there's always more to say...and some things are better left unsaid
me as a nyc subway train /
The D to 18th Avenue; it's underground, it's elevated, it's like a DOT rollercoaster to the opening montage of Saturday Night Fever
me in six words /
do it because you love it