Shawn Maravel’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Shawn Maravel. Check out our conversation below.

Shawn, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
This past year I have been called to do quite a few things that intimidate me, maybe not scare, but certainly intimidate! The biggest “calling” this year was to return to school and FINALLY complete my bachelor’s degree. I’ve been taking college courses since February of this year in pursuit of my Bachelors of Science in Psychology. While I am an author “by trade” I’m fascinated by the human mind and the human experience in general. So, while intimidating, I’ve really been enjoying my time back in school!

In addition to that, I’ve begun substitute teaching at my kids’ school district. It’s been so long since I had a “real job” and I wanted to get back into the swing of things. My long-term goals include (possibly) pursuing a career as a high school English teacher, so this is my first step in that direction. I’ve only subbed for one class so far, but my respect for teachers has gone WAY up, and that’s coming from a former homeschooling mama who already knew teaching the next generation isn’t for the faint of heart.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a wife and mother who began novel writing as a way to pass the time during my husband’s year-long deployment. While I completed one novel prior, I had no idea that writing books was, in fact, a calling for me. Because I wasn’t a strong student in my formative years, novel writing began as an education of sorts. It’s was sloppy, clumsy, and chaotic to say the least. Over the past 17 years, novel writing has become so much more. It’s how I coped with my mother’s passing, how I reflect on the life seasons I’m in, and how I reach a wider audience with a big warm hug; discussing topics like grief, healing, love, and motherhood.

I have published eight novels, the first five of which have since been unpublished (remember that bit about an education in novel writing? Yeah…sloppy.) I have a new novel in the works and plenty of inspiration and ideas for stories to come! My goal is to write raw, gritty, heartfelt novels that live with my readers long after they turn the last page.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I wasn’t very smart. This was largely due to my grades and how much more I struggled with school work than it appeared my peers struggled. It wasn’t until I got to community college and was getting A’s in English class, and later teaching myself complicated math problems while taking online courses, that I realized I wasn’t a lost cause. I COULD learn, and I could even get good grades! I realized that I could teach myself. In fact, I discovered that’s what education is, a willingness to learn the material put in front of you. That’s something I wish I’d known earlier! Then again, I doubt it would have made a difference. I had to figure that lesson out in my own time. I did use that knowledge when homeschooling my children though and I see that, despite still having room to grow in their education journeys, their self-confidence is SO much stronger than mine ever was at their ages!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Giving up has been appealing to me more than once in many areas of my life; novel writing, homeschooling, mending certain relationships, my own higher education, and I’m sure others areas that don’t immediately come to mind. And, you know what, I think it’s okay to “give up” for a season, as long as you reframe it as a pause or a break. Sometimes we need to stop what we are doing to see the full problem and to view it from a new perspective. When you’re close to something or deeply invested, emotions and feelings can become insurmountable.

I stopped writing for roughly eight years, but it wasn’t “giving up,” it was recognizing I was in a season (as the mother of young children,) that required my full attention. I stopped taking college courses twice in the past; once to get married and move to Germany to be with my husband, and again to focus on novel writing full-time. I think what’s important to remember is, we are allowed to stop, reflect, and recalibrate when in the pursuit of our goals, dreams, and ambitions. Thinking back on it, I sort of view myself (at this point in my life) as “give up proof.” I know I can pause and it’s not the end of the world or the end of a journey. It’s a valuable opportunity for reflection and to expand my perspective.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I could never be inauthentic in a public space. My face tells no lies, for one. And I’m getting to the point in my life where I don’t want someone to like or admire me if it’s not an authentic version of me. In my opinion, there’s no value in a false persona. I have chosen to keep my children off my public page and because motherhood is such a big part of my journey, it can be difficult to fully translate that, but I am constantly working to find that balance. I like to be goofy and playful and not take myself too seriously, as illustrated by the “relatable” reels I’ve been known to post on Instagram from time to time. I also love photography and I’m a little obsessed with aesthetic. In another life I would be a professional photographer or interior designer. My public presence also reflects this.

I’m not great at marketing. I hate feeling like I’m bombarding people with my novels. It’s the part of what I do that doesn’t come naturally.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
My fear is that my Christian faith will leave some believing I’m an intolerant person. Because so many people have had negative experiences with religion and hypocrisy can exist within the Christian community just as much as it does anywhere else, I worry that a wall I didn’t build will keep me from reaching some. If I could say one thing in the hopes of removing that barrier, it would be that my goal is to love like Jesus while knowing I am painfully human and always seeking personal growth and deeper empathy for others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @shawnmaravelauthor