Today we’d like to introduce you to Shina Reynolds.
Shina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was young, I relished riding a horse through a wide-open Nebraskan field, my imagination leading the way. Now that I no longer have a horse and I live in the city, I create flying horses in my mind and write about them.
I wrote my first two books in my sixth-grade English class, the second of which went on to win a Nebraska Young Author’s award. I’ve always enjoyed writing, whether it was by writing poems, song lyrics, or screenplays. But I only decided to write a full-length novel, my debut, A Light in the Sky, in the fall of 2015.
Although I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Houston, graduating with honors in art history and with a minor in anthropology, I couldn’t fight the urge to create art myself. Before writing my first novel, I worked in: acting, filmmaking (hey, to my local Houston filmmakers!), singing and songwriting, modeling, and photography. My love for film continues to inspire my writing.
I decided early on to go the independent route when it came to publishing. I only queried literary agents for a short time before starting my publishing company, Wink Road Press. I realized I was suited for independent publishing, given my love for entrepreneurship and maintaining more creative freedom. That, and my husband (also an entrepreneur) encouraged and supported my endeavor to publish on my own.
I now live in Spring Branch with my husband, Ben Reynolds (owner of Sure Dividend), and our cat, where I spend the majority of the year trying to stay cool and imagining how great it would be if I could occasionally teleport to Ireland.
My debut novel, A Light in the Sky, a young adult fantasy, has won eleven awards to date, including six gold medals, including the Gold Medal for Teen Fiction in the 2022 IPBA Benjamin Franklin Awards.
I’m currently drafting book II in the Clashing Skies Series.
Alright, 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?
Thankfully, ideas come to me all the time. I have many lists of ideas piling up, ready to be written. Alas, I can’t write fast enough.
When it comes to writing, I’m often inspired by my dreams. My first book, A Light in the Sky, was inspired by two dreams I had. Both of which ended up becoming scenes in my finished book. Coming from a background in film and acting, I am also inspired by movies and tv shows.
One of my greatest dreams/goals is to see my debut novel (and the rest of the Clashing Skies series) be adapted into a film or tv series. Hello Ireland and flying horses!
However, even though ideas may come to me without much effort, I have faced other struggles throughout my publishing journey. Self-doubt + perfectionist tendencies + ADD + procrastination don’t always result in ideas coming to fruition as quickly as I’d like.
I started writing A Light in the Sky in the fall of 2015. However, I didn’t end up publishing it until November 9th, 2021. Mainly due to the fact that I kept thinking I could make it “better.” That, and I also had to learn about publishing since I started my own publishing company, Wink Road Press. When I decided to publish A Light in the Sky myself, I also had to handle all of the business aspects, as well as promotion and balancing being a business with being a writer. Hiring freelancers to design my cover and the interior design, editors to edit my book, etc., takes time and energy that would otherwise be spent on writing.
That being said, I’m very thankful I was able to publish my book myself. I love having the creative freedom. And I’m an entrepreneur/artist at heart.
But being your own boss also comes with the caveat that you have to make your own schedule–and abide by said schedule if you want to get things done. And that is where I struggle the most. Discipline and focus is something I’m always working on.
I’m currently working on drafting book II and trying to stay focused.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the award-winning author of young adult fantasy novel, A Light in the Sky. It is the first book of the Clashing Skies Series.
I write imaginative stories with a passion for writing fantasy and sci-fi with resilient characters who are still figuring out who they are and what they’re doing. Characters who face challenges but also rise to them. I write books about freedom and what it means to be free. In my list of future story ideas, freedom is often a theme. The tagline on my debut novel, A Light in the Sky, is, “How far would you fly for freedom?” I also love to combine genres, which can be seen in A Light in the Sky, which has fantasy and sci-fi elements.
And I write books that are ready to be translated to the screen (waves at film/tv producers). Coming from an acting and film background (and from writing screenplays), everything I write plays out in my head before/as it hits the page (in my case, the computer screen).
I love writing. I love world-building and creating places for readers to explore and/or escape to. I love hearing from readers and knowing that a story I wrote brought them joy.
One of the things I’m most proud of, other than publishing A Light in the Sky, was writing and directing the book trailer for my debut novel. It was so much fun to use my film background to make a live-action book trailer for ALITS (you can check it out on my website).
Also, since publishing in November of 2021, A Light in the Sky has won eleven awards. And ALITS is currently a finalist for yet another award. I am beyond grateful for these awards.
I hope if and when you read A Light in the Sky, it plays out in your head like an amazing movie or a tv show and that you enjoy the ride! And I hope that it brings you some happiness.
If you’d like to keep up with when my next book is coming out, please visit my website and subscribe to my newsletter. I also offer signed copies of A Light in the Sky on my website, or you can buy a copy wherever books are sold.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Houston is the only place that’s ever felt like home to me.
I love being close to Memorial Park. My husband and I enjoy walking at the Eastern Glades, the Arboretum, and the newly opened land bridge. I’m so thankful to have such a great park so close to home.
One of my favorite things about Houston is the food. I know, I know. But seriously, you can try pretty much any type of cuisine.
The diversity in Houston is also something I love. It’s so nice to meet people from all walks of life.
I also enjoy our theaters, museums (especially as an art history major) and that there’s always something to do.
Some things I don’t like: traffic in general, 610 west loop traffic, & traffic in other areas. And the pollution, bad air days, and pollen. I do wish we had more nature–and that the ocean was a lot closer and bluer.
But overall, Houston is a wonderful city, and I’m thankful to live here. Shout out to Spring Branch!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shinareynolds.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shinareynolds/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorshinareynolds
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shinareynolds/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shinareynolds
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn5882dzcSC7om-gK14pBaA
- Other: https://www.winkroadpress.com
