Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheena Binkley.
Sheena, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My first experience with writing started when I was nine years old and had to do a writing assignment for school. It was a short story about my friends and I being locked in the mall overnight. To this day, I still have that story in a binder tucked away in my bedroom closet. After writing that story, I realized how much fun I had letting my imagination run wild, so I decided to pursue writing as a hobby. I remembered writing over five to ten stories in a week timespan, which I enjoyed. Not only was it a fun experience, but it also was a relaxation method as it took me away from my everyday routine and let my mind go to different places.
As I continued to write, I never realized that I wanted to pursue it as a career until 2012. I was going through a lot then, that’s why I figured life was too short to wonder “what if”; that’s why I made the leap a year later and released my first book, In Love With My Best Friend. It was through the publishing company Outskirts Press and it was a short story about falling in love with your best friend. Although I did receive less than stellar reviews on the book, I was so proud of my accomplishment, especially since I decided to do something that I never imagined doing.
After releasing In Love With My Best Friend, I went on to do some amazing things. I published several more stories, joined a publisher, went back to self-publishing, started my own publishing company, and collaborated with other authors. I never thought I would be in the position that I’m in right now. Growing up, I never thought about being an author, but throughout my six-year journey, it has been more than amazing. It has been a blessing. Not only do I get to do something that I enjoy every day, but I get to interact with wonderful readers who actually like my stories. That in itself is wonderful.
Although I have a lot more to accomplish, I’m truly grateful for the opportunity that I have right now. I’m excited and ready for what the future holds.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been a lot of bumps throughout my journey, but that never stopped me from living my dream. Yes, there has been times when I almost threw in the towel with my career, but I came too far to stop. Sometimes, a person have to go through a lot to appreciate where he or she is in his or her life, that’s why I don’t regret the negative aspect of my journey because it helped me grow into the person that I am today.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an author that writes romance stories. I have written over 40 books in six years, which I still can’t believe. The genres that I write include contemporary, interracial, and new adult. I have even written a few urban fiction books, which was a different element for me, but it definitely kept me on my toes with story ideas.
What I’m most proud of is the continued growth that I have acquired throughout the years. When I first started, I was very green with the business aspect of writing. I didn’t know much about finding the right editor, acquiring the best promotion, etc. Now, I’m able to do all of that as well as find new ways to attract readers to my writing. I love that I’m able to continue learning about the business because something different occurs everyday in the writing business; that’s why it’s important to learn new and fresh gimmicks to stay in the game.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment of my career is attending book events and being able to interact with readers. I’m still surprised that there are readers who actually read my books! Being able to talk to readers and say they have a connection with my stories and the characters behind them is truly an amazing feeling. There have even been readers who left me in tears by their testimonies, so that’s something that I will always be humbled and grateful for.
Contact Info:
- Website: sheenabinkley.com
- Email: sheenabinkley@live.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/Chevon30
- Facebook: https://b-m.facebook.com/sheenabinkleyauthor/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/chevronink
- Other: Amazon:https://amzn.to/30BFIA1
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.