Meet Toni Lynn | Author & Certified First Responder Supporter
We had the good fortune of connecting with Toni Lynn and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Toni, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
My book was born out of a season where silence felt safer than speaking, but that silence was crushing me. As a law enforcement spouse, I have carried the unseen weight of fear, trauma, and resilience in the shadows of my husband’s badge. For years, I thought my strength came from pretending I was unaffected, that if I just kept pushing forward, I would be okay. But when a series of critical incidents brought everything to the surface, I realized how deeply the lack of resources and understanding impacts families like mine, and so I vowed to change that.
This book is my way of breaking that silence, not just for me, but for every spouse and family who has felt invisible in their own struggle. It gives language to the emotions we bury, the nights we lie awake waiting for the garage door to open, and the resilience we are expected to carry without being asked how we are holding up.
The feedback since the book has launched has been overwhelmingly positive. Over and over again, people have told me that it gave them words for their own experiences, validated their feelings, and reminded them that they are not alone. That has constantly pointed me back to my why for being willing to step out in vulnerability and share my story. I wanted it to be more than just my journey. I wanted it to be a reminder that their story is not happening to them, it is happening for them, and that they have the ability to grow through all that this unique lifestyle brings with it.
Since publishing, I have seen how it has opened meaningful conversations with other first responder spouses and allowed me to step into peer support, especially for those navigating life after a critical incident. It has created opportunities to connect with agencies beyond law enforcement, helping them recognize the value of caring for first responder families as part of overall wellness, and it has given me the chance to be a voice and advocate for spouses and families. I have been able to support my husband’s department by helping to create a family academy, and I also partnered with Revital Colorado to launch a spouse support group. This group provides a safe space where spouses from all first responder backgrounds can come together, build community, and connect with one another, while also gaining access to resources and trainings designed to help them not just survive but thrive in this lifestyle.
This journey is continuing to lead me toward new ways of serving. In the new year, I plan to launch a coaching business specifically for first responder spouses, families, and couples. My hope is that the book will continue to be a door-opener—sparking connection, creating healing, and serving as a reminder that when families are supported, first responders and communities grow stronger too.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Getting to where I am today professionally has been the result of years of deep personal and internal work. I have been writing for as long as I can remember, first as a child learning to put words on paper, then through blogging and freelance writing over the years. Publishing a book has always been a dream, but I wanted it to be meaningful, authentic, purposeful, and vulnerable.
For several years, writing took a backseat as I focused on raising and homeschooling my children while navigating life as a police officer’s spouse and managing the challenges of shift work. It was during some of the hardest moments of that journey, when I felt alone in my experiences, that I realized I wanted to advocate for others like me. That is when I made the decision to write and publish a book that could serve as both a voice and a safe space for law enforcement spouses and families.
This journey has not been easy. As a recovering perfectionist, it took immense courage to release something so personal into the world without knowing how it would be received or if it would reach anyone at all. There were fears about judgment and the vulnerability of sharing my story in a society that does not always understand or welcome the unique challenges of law enforcement life. But leaning into my why, to advocate, to connect, and to support, helped me push past that fear.
Along the way, I have learned that I can do hard things. Vulnerability is not weakness; it is powerful. Sharing my experiences opens the door for others to share theirs and creates a community of understanding and connection. I have also learned that imperfection is beautiful, and learning as I go is humbling and deeply honoring.
I want the world to know that I am a person rooted in strong principles and unwavering core values, and I strive to align everything I do with my personal mission of advocating for spouses and families of first responders. I am introspective, calm, curious, and creative. I build relationships intentionally, guided by genuine conversation and a desire to deeply understand others. Nature inspires much of my creativity, and I seek to weave its lessons into my writing and work. Everything I do, from the words I write to the initiatives I lead, is done with intention, authenticity, and a commitment to meaningful connection.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, we should start with a few days in my favorite hidden gem, Lake City, Colorado. We would wake up early to the crisp mountain air, hiking Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre, taking in the sweeping views of jagged peaks and wildflower-strewn trails. Afternoons would be spent paddleboarding across the calm waters of Lake San Cristobal, the sun sparkling on the surface. We would stop by the Lake City Bakery and Eatery for coffee and fresh pastries, a place where I spent several summers writing in the early mornings, soaking in the slower pace and quiet beauty of this special town.
After soaking in the mountains, we would head back to the Denver metro area to mix in a little city fun. Mornings would start with breakfast at my favorite restaurant in Lafayette, Morning Glory Cafe, before heading out for the day. Tacos and margaritas would be on the menu at the BirdHouse in Erie and Vatos in Westminster because you can never have too many tacos. We would spend lazy mornings catching up over coffee at Cozy Coffee Co, take scenic drives through the mountains, chase hidden waterfalls, and if the timing worked, catch a live show at Red Rocks, feeling the music echoing through the canyon as night falls.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In all honesty, I could give a thousand shoutouts because the journey of bringing my book into the world has been anything but a solo effort. It has been carried on the shoulders of so many who poured into me with love, encouragement, mentorship, and support.
First and foremost, my husband and children deserve the greatest recognition. They are my anchor and my inspiration. My husband is my rock, my biggest cheerleader, and the first to recognize potential in me that I sometimes struggle to see myself. He embodies what it means to be a warrior with altruism, empathy, and courage, and he teaches both me and our children how to show up that way in the world. My three beautiful children are my greatest gifts. They are the reason I keep pushing forward when the weight feels too heavy, and their willingness to sacrifice time with me so I could carve out time to write made this book possible.
I am also deeply grateful to my extended family, who have believed in my writing since I was a little girl, who have shaped me and taught me. To my grandmother, for always loving me, showing up for me, advocating for me, and believing in me. To my mother, I am all the best parts of you and am the warrior I am today because of you. To my in-laws, who have supported, encouraged, and shown up for us in every way possible, from late-night emergencies to date nights to sporting events. To the unofficial aunts and uncles who have shown up with firewood, meals, child care, and endless encouragement. We could not do this without you. And to my sister and brother-in-law, who willingly took on three extra children for long weekends when the world felt incredibly heavy and we needed a moment to rest in the quiet.
There are also dear friends whose presence is woven throughout this book. To Micale, who has stepped into my darkest moments with tenderness and gentleness, offering a presence that is both validating and healing. She is my biggest cheerleader, unafraid to hold me accountable, and her influence is etched into these pages. To Rachael, who not only designed my beautiful cover but also flew in to stand by my side at the launch. She has been my adventure buddy, hype girl, and soul sister from day one, the one I can ugly cry with and belly laugh with in the same conversation. She makes every mountain climb, literal or metaphorical, easier. To Heather, whose authenticity and empathy are unparalleled. She fights for me, reminds me to honor my emotions, and gives me permission to dream big. She is a force of nature, and I am forever grateful our paths crossed.
I also want to recognize my coach, Mariangela, who has helped me lean into my strengths and honor them, championing me and this book since day one. My therapist as well, who held space for my deepest wounds and darkest secrets, teaching me how to reframe my pain into strength while doing incredible work in the first responder community.
To my husband’s department, who have shown up for him and our family in countless ways, you each know the role you have played, and it has not gone unnoticed. To Revital Colorado and to Kym and Jordan, whose work in the first responder community is changing lives, and who trusted me to help build support for the spouses standing behind the badge. And finally, to Tammy at Cozy Coffee Co, whose delicious coffee fueled me through exhaustion, whose cozy space became the backdrop for so many of these words, who believed in my mission from the very beginning, provides a safe space for our spouses to gather, and graciously opened her doors to host my book launch.
And to the many more who are not named here, you know who you are, and I do not love and appreciate you any less. These words, this work, could not have happened without each of you and your love, support, and mentorship.
Each of these people and organizations has played a unique part in my story. This book may carry my name on the cover, but it is truly the result of a community of love, belief, and support that lifted me up every step of the way.
Website: https://toni-lynn.com
Instagram: @tonilynnofficial
Other: email: authortonilynn@gmail.com
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
