Shawntae Sneed

I had a typical childhood and was raised by my parents in Miami, Florida. Most of my childhood days were spent at my grandma’s house when she was alive, and many wonderful memories were made. I enjoyed playing with my cousins. We used to have a lot of fun together, playing outdoors and using our active imaginations. Those were the “good old days.”

I began journaling at a young age. I wrote about the things I wanted to accomplish in life. When I was young, I thought about my future often. Writing created a safe place and space in my mind. It was and still is very therapeutic for me. I wrote about getting married and having children. The life I am currently living is similar to what I wrote on paper as a child. I truly believe in the power of writing your goals and dreams to accomplish them. First, you envision your dreams in your mind, and then you live them out.

My faith in God encourages me to help make the world a better and brighter place. Many people are dealing with anger, anxiety, and depression, which are all destroying our world. People need to know that there is hope. I want to be a voice of hope to as many people as possible. I try to look at every bad situation in an optimistic light because it could always be worse. We have to change our focus and see the bright side of everything. What we focus on becomes our reality.

I began writing in my teenage years.

The best part about writing memoirs are the cherished memories you recall in your mind and can share with others. The worst part about writing memoirs is remembering all of the obstacles and hardships you have gone through in life. In addition, you have to determine what things you are willing to share and the things you do not want to share. Writing a memoir puts you in a place of vulnerability. Your life becomes an open book that can be read by anyone at any time, so you want to ensure that you are comfortable with the information you are sharing.

My inspiration for writing “You Are a Work in Progress” was myself and many others. A lot of times, people may look at someone and admire them for where they are at that moment in their lives, but they do not know what a person had to overcome to get there. For example, I strive to be the epitome of health and wellness, many times people admire my progress, but they do not understand the process of my journey. Fitness does not happen overnight. It is a lifestyle and a constant battle to maintain. Our dreams and goals are attainable, but we must work hard to achieve them. This is how I came up with the title of my book because we all are a work in progress striving daily to do better. We must choose progress over perfection. We need to focus on our successes and not our failures. One step at a time, until we reach the finish line.

Writing “Igniting Your Inner Fire” came with many challenges. It was a tedious process. I had to decide where I wanted to begin and how I wanted the words to flow. I wanted my book to be written in sections, and subsections, not in chapters. Writing in sections makes books easier to read. I wanted it to be filled with inspiration and motivation because it is vital in the times, we are living in. I wrote snippets of my life, the obstacles I overcame by faith, and the ways to look at life’s challenges in a positive light. Writing “Igniting Your Inner Fire” was a very enlightening experience, and I learned so many valuable lessons along the way. It has set the stage for my future writing projects.

I would have to say my daughter because she recognized my gift of writing when she was young. One day while we were in Walmart looking at books, she said, my book was going to be on the shelf. At that time—I had never thought about authoring a book. Her words of encouragement gave life to me. It was a prophetic utterance that became a reality.

I hope my books will leave an impactful and life-changing impression on people all around the world. I hope they will inspire and motivate people to become the best version of themselves, teach them how to overcome obstacles by faith, and help them find their true purpose in life.

I write my blurbs for my books which can be a difficult task. It is my least favorite thing to do in the writing process. I have to think of the right words that will captivate the potential buyer when they read it. The blurb has to provoke immediate interest. It has to tell a snippet about the book without giving too much information, which can be very intimidating to write. Thankfully, I can do it.

Writing “You Are a Work in Progress” was an easier process because it is fewer words. In addition, it is in bullet form. “Igniting Your Inner Fire” is a much longer book, so I did experience writer’s block at times. I was able to get my brain moving and continue writing when I put the stories together in my mind and remembered how each of them occurred. One of the key components to avoiding writer’s block is to remove all distractions and stay focused on your purpose, which is writing.

I believe reading and writing bring intellectual culture and added value to literary works. As a published author, I now have a greater appreciation for literature of all kinds, knowing the process it takes to write and publish books. Reading is vital to the success of adults and children. Reading and writing expand our mindsets and allows us to go places we have never been before. Writing is a form of art, which ignites a fire in people who are artistic and looking for various ways to utilize their creativity. Overall, reading and writing bring people of all ethnicities together for a greater cause, which teaches us all the power of written words.

Write from your inner being and use your authentic voice. People can feel what is real. Write with a purpose and a targeted audience in mind. Write passionately to inspire and impact others. Take your time and perfect your writing craft, knowing that your books will be read for years to come. Remember, quality over quantity. When you are ensured that you have created quality work, it is easier to be confident in marketing your product. Connect with the news media and magazine publishers to get your work publicized. Think of positive publicity as creating credibility. The more publicity your written works receives——the greater your chances are for success. Create a professional website and market your publications via Social Media. Continue to be excited about your published work. Make short videos about upcoming releases and keep your audience informed and engaged. Marketing is hard work, but do not give up. Market, market, market!

Yes, something new is in the works. I am so excited about this new book project. It is filled with inspiration and affirmations for children and is scheduled to be released this upcoming Fall.

I am pleased with All Author Services. It is a wonderful resource for authors. The services provided are professional and help authors reach a wider audience. I purchased the Pro-package, which has been a great addition for advertising my publication. The package includes weekly book banner mockups and frequent tweets about my book. I am grateful to be a part of All Author Services, and I recommend this service to all authors.