Welcome to Letters From Heidi, a refuge for truth seekers, deep-feelers, and the homesick searching for Eternity.
My name is Heidi Tai and letters are my love language. I share, inspire and encourage best when I’m putting pen to paper. This is my hope for Letters From Heidi—that each post will feel like an honest letter from an old friend passing on relatable truth, meaningful inspiration, and heart-felt encouragement for the journey home.
I intend to keep the majority of my publication free to access, however paid subscriptions are available if you wish to support me in this way.
Why do I write?
I believe beautiful words can change the world. I believe Truth cannot merely be taught as an intellectual exercise—it must also be shown with poetry, music, and story. I want to write to renew minds and stir affections for the greatest story ever told.
I write for my inner-child and for generations to come. For far too long I have hid in the shadows of my comfort zone, allowing shame and trauma to limit and define me. I write to empower my inner-child and the next generation with gospel hope—that no matter our stories, in God, second chances are always possible.
I write to restore what’s lost. The online world can be a shallow place of filters and fake news. I write meaningful, long-form content to restore authenticity and to speak truth in love in a world that’s desperate for hope.
I share my story so that you can feel less alone in yours. Social media gives us a taste of perfection and connection, but it cannot wipe the effects of the Fall. I write to build genuine community and camaraderie, so that together we can face hard things with grace, courage and resilience.
Who am I?
I’m awkward with personal bios. So let me try to paint a picture with poetry and prose:
I am from a kingdom forged by refugees—fleeing homelands with bruised hearts, empty stomachs, and pockets full of dreams.
I am from women, strong but silent: single mothers, cycle breakers, r e b e l s, survivors.
I am from striving, saving face, debt and what’s deserved—never accepting gifts that I haven’t stacked and earned.
I am a second-generation Asian Australian woman, and a first-generation Christian woman, wife and mother.
I am an eldest daughter.
I am a walking paradox: playful but deep, loud but hesitant, rebellious but loyal, expressive but guarded, self-reliant but needy.
I am a sentimentalist, nostalgist, and grieving optimist.
I am a new creation but a work in progress.
I am in Christ (alone).
Why subscribe?
The words we read informs our thoughts and shapes our feelings. At Letters From Heidi, you can expect monthly stories, essays, devotionals, poetry, and e-letters on topics such as:
Finding joy, meaning, and freedom
Joys and challenges of growing up in an immigrant home
Culture, identity and bridging the gap between East and West
Motherhood and healing the inner-child
Work, purpose and self worth (of a modern-day woman)
Analysing pop culture with a Christian and gospel framework
You can get a taste of my work here:
Closing the Cultural Gap – A father-daughter immigrant story of reconciling East and West.
Sorry I Deleted My Blog, I Got Suspended - A mini memoir about my school suspension, my phobia of closed footwear, and God's kindness.
It’s OK to Fail - Wisdom and life lessons learned from the two people who drew me out of my writing hiatus.
Goodnight Chinatown - On Chinese restaurant closures, immigrant hustle, and future hope.
The Kingdom Didn’t Come For Daughters Like Me (Paywalled from 17/10/24) - A letter detailing my heart as a Prodigal Daughter and how I found healing and hope in God’s mercy.
Why upgrade to a paid subscription?
Letters From Heidi is a reader supported publication. I intend to keep the majority of my content free to access to bless as many as possible, however, as a full-time Writer Mum any financial gift will help me as a source of income, and free me up to write on topics that this community cares about.
If you support me with a paid subscription, you will get:
Occasional paid-subscriber only posts. Any posts with book ideas or material will go behind a paywall after a complimentary access period.
Sneak previews and updates to my book projects
ALL THE LOVE for supporting an artist from burning out *hugs*
Any Founding Member subscriptions will also get a signed copy of any future published work.
Reader and Patron Endorsements
“Heidi Tai is one of my favorite young writers. Not only is she an exceptionally gifted wordsmith, but she also skillfully combines theological acumen with cultural reflection.”
- Tim Challies, Blogger at Challies.com and Letters From Heidi Founding Member
“Words that bring healing to the heart, and hope for the future. Heidi's letters bring language to the complexity of life, relationships, love, motherhood and, my personal favourite, the intersection of faith and culture.”
- Anna Tran, Heart & Hope
“Reading Heidi’s writing is a bit like hearing from a good friend. Her words bring hope, and she has a gift of writing and presenting the Gospel in a way that is real and relatable to the everyday."
- Billy Lam, Founder of Ever Architecture and Letters From Heidi Founding Member
“Loving these lyrical, thoughtful, God-centered essays! And the fact that they’re from a fellow Australian woman is delightful!”
- Rebecca Marie, The Sunday Morning Snuggle
“From the moment I read Heidi Tai’s writing I knew I had to support her work. Heidi and I have never met in person, but she has brought me face-to-face with mercy and grace in the person of Jesus.”
- Aaron Lee, Dive In Dig Deep & Publishing Manager for The Sola Network
“Whenever I see a new post from Heidi pop up in my feed, I know it’s time to sit for a while as Heidi helps the gospel soak in to the rough edges of my life and heart. Heidi is an engaging story teller, so I have been blessed by the way she brings the stories of the gospel to life.”
- Megan Walsh, Lecturer, Queensland Theological College
“The world and the church need more quality writers on life, faith and culture, especially from an Asian-Australian and more importantly, gospel-centred perspective. To understand mercy is one thing but to encounter it is something else altogether. Heidi has an unsettling ability to articulate the guilt, fear and shame that many of us fear to confront. But again and again, she shows us that however great our sin, God’s mercies are greater still.”
– Adam Ch’ng, Pastor, Cross & Crown Melbourne
