Shawn Simon talks about her debut book Stories from Stepmoms!

It’s my great pleasure to welcome Shawn Simon, debut author with 4RV Publishing to visit here today. Make yourself comfortable, Shawn, and we’ll get down to business.

First of all, let’s have a look at the cover of your book.

Shawn Simon

Book Blurb:
Author Shawn Simon thought being a stepmom would be easy until her stepdaughter spit on her dog. That’s when she knew a long road lay ahead. So she decided to make it her mission to meet other stepmoms and hear their stories. Once she did, she felt supported and no longer alone, and she decided to write a book. This collection of stories from stepmoms contains tales of inspiration, triumph, tribulations, and joys of being a stepmom. It’s like a stepmom support group in writing.

Can you tell us something about yourself that isn’t included in your author bio?

Yes, in addition to my step-parenting books, I’m also working on a book about differences. I was born with one arm, so I know what it’s like to feel odd and left out. From working with kids with learning differences, I realized their stories are similar to mine. This prompted me to include all kinds of differences in this book, which will be a similar style to my stepmom book. It will include my stories as well as the stories from the people I interviewed. My goal is to shed light on people identified as different in the hopes of helping the world see we are more alike than we realize.

What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome?

In terms of writing, I think it’s believing in myself as a writer and believing that I have something worthwhile to share with the world. I’ve always been a helping kind of person, wanting to encourage others to see their worth. My hope is for my books to be like support groups in writing.

Without going into too much detail, what was one of the most difficult challenges in your stepmom journey?

Feeling connected to my stepkids and dealing with their mother. Those two areas caused me the most distress and ultimately prompted me to write my book.

How long (or has it happened yet) did it take for you to feel completely accepted by your stepchildren?

I feel connected and close to both my stepkids now. My stepson and I have always gotten along and have always butted heads. We are a lot alike, in both good and not so good ways. But my stepdaughter had a harder time connecting with me. She ran hot and cold for the first five years or so of our relationship. Now, I’m happy to say; I am her go-to person when she needs advice or help.

About the author:

Shawn Simon

Shawn Simon, MA, is a Board Certified Educational Therapist who works with children. Therefore, when she met the man of her dreams, who just happened to come with a couple of kids, she thought being a stepmom would be a breeze. She was wrong. However, as someone born with only one arm, she’s learned to overcome obstacles. Thus, she knew she could face the challenges of step-mothering. Shawn is published in the Association of Educational Therapists’ Journal and is an award-winning inspirational speaker in her field. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two step-kids, two rescue dogs, and one sixteen-year-old cat. Shawn is currently at work on more books for stepfamilies.

You can follow Shawn on:

Facebook: Stepmom Shawn Simon Says 
Twitter: @shawnsimon44
 

And you can buy her book here:

14 thoughts on “Shawn Simon talks about her debut book Stories from Stepmoms!”

  1. Dear Melanie,
    So nifty to see Shawn Simon on your blog. She is an outstanding lady and a talented author. I learned fun things about Shawn here.

    Dear Shawn, Thanks for sharing about you and your writing with Melanie and all of us who read her blog. As a fellow 4RV Publishing Author, its fun to learn about the quality books of other authors published by them. I look forward to interviewing you on my blog soon.

    Never Give Up
    Joan

  2. Thanks for stopping by, Joan. In a way, Shawn’s book reminds me of yours on elder care. If there’s nothing out there, write it yourself. 🙂

  3. I’ve made some really wonderful friends at 4RV. It’s a pleasure to help them out by showcasing them here on my blog.

  4. Dear Melanie,
    You’re right. That’s exactly what I did. There weren’t any books about elder care at that time, so I wrote it to help others. Thank you for pointing that out and reminding me. Enjoy your day!

    Never Give Up
    Joan

  5. Thanks for helping to spread the word about Stories for Stepmoms & 4RV Publishing … Hope all is well with you and yours.

  6. Thank you so much, Melanie, for hosting me on your blog! I appreciate the press for my book. You make a good point about Joan’s book and my book being similar. There were no books like them out there, so we had to write them ourselves! I hadn’t made that connection before. 🙂

    Joan, thank you for commenting and for hosting me on your blog, too. Both you and Melanie have been so encouraging and helpful on this writing journey. xoxo

  7. Dear Shawn,
    It’s my pleasure to interview you on my blog. I am excited that both of us were creative and wanted to help other people solve problems we faced with no books available on the subject.

    Good luck with your this book and others you hope to have published!

    Never Give Up
    Joan

  8. Dear Aidana,
    What a wonderful cover creation you did for Shawn Simon’s book! Enter it in a contest. I believe it would win!

    Hope you are doing well and being safe!

    Never Give Up
    Joan Y. Edwards

  9. I imaginebeing a stepmom would be a challenge. It sounds like you’re doing a super job, Shawn. Congratulations. Have a wonderful life.

  10. Aw, thanks so much, Beverly! It took time and patience, but I like to think that I am doing a good job. 🙂 I hope all is well with you and your family!

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