Today we are speaking with Author and young student, Shanti Hershenson.  Shanti’s first two novels were published when she was in the sixth grade, although her writing journey started long before then. Ever since she could hold a pencil, marker, or crayon, she was creating stories. They started from pictures, mere scribbles, and eventually, turned into captivating tales.

Shanti lives in California with her parents, sister, and furry friends. Besides writing, she enjoys skateboarding, Beyblading, free-running, falconry, and of course, reading.  Shanti writes in a variety of genres, including Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction, although she mostly sticks to Sci-Fi.

She advocates for anti-bullying, and you may find her at open mic-nights, performing her spoken word poem Needles & Thorns, which is about the struggle of bullying in middle schools.  In this episode we dive into:

1)  Shanti’s age may be deceiving, she has gone through a lot of experiences that she decided to move into action and transform her pain into beautiful things like her writing.  Especially since the pandemic, Shanti has learned a lot about being resilient and that she was capable of more than she ever imagined.  What if we all took that approach in life?  How much more could we accomplish?

2) Shanti shares her story of self-publishing, the discipline to write and publish while going to school, and is a reminder that we are never too old or too young to do something or follow that dream we have in our life. Connect with Shanti: Website: https://www.shantihershenson.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantihershenson/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shantiwhowrites Connect with Shanti’s work on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shanti-Hershenson/e/B08QRF5LP4?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1660365475&sr=1-1

Marsha Vanwynsberghe — Storytelling Business Coach, 2xs Podcaster, Author, Speaker Marsha is the 6-time Bestselling Author of “When She Stopped Asking Why”.  She shares her lessons as a parent who dealt with teen substance abuse far past the level of normal experimentation.

Through her programs, coaching, and live events for women, Marsha is on a mission to teach you how to “Own Your Choices” in your own life.  She teaches women how to own their stories, lead themselves and pay it forward to others by creating businesses that serve, support, and impact others