Guest Sheila Athens

In what ways did author Sheila Athens transform her personal grief into a powerful source of resilience and creativity, leading to the release of her third novel?

In this episode of "Every Soul Has a Story," host Dara Levan welcomes novelist Sheila Athens to share her inspiring journey from a corporate HR executive to a successful author. Sheila recounts her early passion for writing, which was reignited in her 40s after a serendipitous NPR ad and the support of her husband. Sheila's HR background had quite an impact on her storytelling, offering a unique perspective on human behavior that now enriches her narratives. Sheila opens up about navigating the grief of losing her husband and soulmate to cancer, finding resilience through writing and the support of a vibrant women’s writing (and hiking!) community. Her experiences highlight the importance of maintaining work-life balance and remaining open to life's serendipitous messages. With her third novel on the horizon, Sheila's story is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling and the courage to follow one's creative calling.

Sheila Athens writes smart fiction set where the South meets the Sunshine State. Her stories are about women navigating internal and external battles to find peace. Her stories resonate with readers who believe in everyday heroes making a difference. After growing up in the Ozarks, Sheila relocated to Northeast Florida, where she now enjoys life living near her two grown sons. From a career in corporate HR, she gained deep insights into human nature, which fuels her writing. A feminist, nature lover, and audiobook enthusiast, Sheila is also discovering the joys of cooking while embracing a quiet life of writing and reflection.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Sheila’s path from an HR career in corporate America to novelist
• (03:15) Career shift from journalism to business, HR career and human behavior insights, a supportive spouse and NPR ad inspiring a writing career, moving to Florida
• (11:51) Grieving her husband’s death and finding resilience, writing and community support during personal grief, creativity and planning life after loss
• (19:00) A family of men and boys, value of female friendships and writing community
• (23:30) Neena Lee is Seeing Things: the novel's unique premise, Cumberland Island, the Carnegies and Kennedys
• (28:15) Signs, synchronicities and messages, closing thoughts
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Resources:
www.SheilaAthens.com
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