Author of The Orange Post-It Note

TERA LYNCH

From Betrayal to Becoming: A Memoir of Courage, Comedy, and Starting Over

"The Orange Post-It Note is a raw, honest, and unexpectedly funny page-turner that captures the heartbreak and resilience of betrayal trauma with rare authenticity.”

  • “The moment that shattered everything - and strangely, set me free.” 

    It started with a simple orange note and ended with the unraveling of everything I thought I knew. This section of the story captures the gut-punch of betrayal - and the flickers of strength that followed. If you’ve ever been blindsided, broken, or left to pick up the pieces alone you’ll see yourself here.

  • “The Things I Didn’t Want to Know” 

    Ignorance wasn’t bliss—it was grief on a delay. 

    I didn’t want to dig. I wanted to believe. But secrets have a way of climbing through the cracks. This part of the memoir walks through the numbness, the late-night Google searches, and the aching realization that the life I was living had been altered long before I knew. 

  • “Joy, Gratitude, and the Power of Sassy Screen Savers”

    I didn’t just find myself. I redecorated her. This chapter celebrates the peculiar power of morning gratitude, dad pep talks, surprise son calls, and beautiful silence. I curated joy with Wordles, aromatherapy, and composted pain. This is where I turned quirky routines into sacred rituals—and began to trust myself again.

  • “Post-its, Prayer, and Picking Myself Back Up” 

    A whisper became a roar. And then—finally—I listened.  Healing started slowly: in scribbled prayers, quiet therapy rooms, and brave little acts of rebellion. This section charts my spiritual, emotional, and mental shift from surviving to choosing—to leave, to grieve, to grow.

  • “The Pleasant Street Rebirth” 

    I traded 4,000 square feet for 1,000—and gained peace of mind. 

    New walls, new soil, new soundtrack. This closing chapter honors my final move—literally and emotionally. With Julia Child, Buddy the Elf, and the Chicago skyline as my roommates, I’m growing into the woman I was always meant to be. Not lonely. Not lost. Just me—finally whole.

Acknowledgements

“Tera has found a path forward for herself, with humor and grief inextricably tied together. Her path is her path. She has trusted friends to support her journey, her tribe for support and healing. She had made decisions, prioritizing Tera, even when the internal voices continued to ask, "Are you sure?" I appreciate her candor and her ability to be kind to herself AND her ex, recognizing that for her, being vengeful will not fix the situation and prevent Tera from being her authentic self. It's a journey, Tera cheering you on!”

 — Tami VerHelst, Chief Relationship Officer for Seeking Integrity LLC 

“This Memoir is a riveting example of what partners go through every minute of their day. It is an authentic depiction of Tera Lynch's thoughts, feelings, and beliefs with honesty, transparency, a healthy dose of sarcasm, humor, and wit. Tera Lynch shares from the first page…that this book is going to be a bumpy ride, and it is! I shared with the author that her writing reminds me of a screenplay because as you read The Orange Post-It Note you will walk with her through her journey of regaining her self esteem. She could not have done it by herself and, like many partners, had developed the support systems to walk with her and then leave people behind who refused to understand why she reckoned with loving a sex addict. This is a book about strength, courage, and hope for anyone who loves someone with an addiction. It is a read that you won't be able to put down!”

 — Carol Juergensen Sheets, LCSW, CCES-S, CSAT-S, CCPS-S, CPC-S; Host for Internet Radio Show:  www.blogtalkradio.com/sexhelpwithcarolth

"The Orange Post-It Note is a raw, honest, and unexpectedly funny page-turner that captures the heartbreak and resilience of betrayal trauma with rare authenticity. Tera Lynch doesn’t just tell her story—she gives voice to every woman who's had to rebuild after infidelity. It's a courageous, cathartic journey back to self that stays with you long after the last page.”

 —Maddie Corman actress/author of Accidentally Brave

The Orange Post-It Note is a powerful, honest, and deeply human story about heartbreak, betrayal, and the road to healing. Tera Lynch invites us into the rawest parts of her life with courage, humor, and a voice that feels like a friend sitting across the table, telling you the truth no one else dares to say. This memoir doesn’t just explore what happens when trust is shattered, it shows what it means to fight for yourself, to laugh through the pain, and to slowly piece your life back together. Tera’s strength doesn’t come from having all the answers, it comes from showing up, one painful, beautiful step at a time. If you’ve ever been blindsided by someone you loved, or felt lost in the aftermath of betrayal, this book will remind you that you’re not alone and that healing, messy as it is, is possible.

 — The 12th Step Podcast https://the12thsteppodcast.podbean.com/