Tristen was born and raised right here in Greenville, where she was homeschooled through the eighth grade. She has been an avid reader and writer since she was a child, leading her to get a B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication and publish a collection of her short stories. In high school, she completed the Teacher Cadet Program, spending a semester working with a third grade class in an elementary school. This experience emphasized her love for homeschooling and desire to one day teach children of her own. In December of 2024 Tristen married her best friend, with whom she stays busy working on their little fixer upper. Tristen pours her energy into hospitality, mission trips, and volunteering at her local church, fostering her belief that it is better to be forgotten and to leave people feeling loved and a little closer to God.