Tonya Grace was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama where she graduated from the University of Alabama in Birmingham with a Bachelor of Science in English and minor in Drama.

After graduating, Grace taught English, reading, and writing for three years in Alabama as she served eight years in the military where she completed tours in Europe and El Salvador. A few years later, she and her family moved to Georgia where she spent eight additional years teaching reading, English, and writing in the classroom and internationally online.

In May of 2012, Grace founded the Atlanta Filmmakers Alliance. Her organization provides resources for those with hardships who dream of working in film.