Today, we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Perry.
Hi Shannon, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
When I was six years old, I began singing in a children’s church choir. Singing was always a love, and I went on to perform in many plays. In college, I was invited to sing the lead in a commercial for a modeling school, and I was hooked.
I got paid $100 for that jingle, and it might as well have been a million dollars. I went on to earn my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Education but continued singing throughout college. I taught First and Fifth Grade and then became the School Counselor for an Elementary school, but I continued singing on the weekends. When I was in Nashville doing a recording, I met with a publicity agency that encouraged me to write my first book.
I quickly let them know, “I am not a writer; I am a singer.” Well, I began writing articles, and to my surprise, magazines began publishing my work. Next, I was asked to do a radio show. I quickly reminded them, “I am not a radio show host. I am a singer and a writer.” Before long, I had a nationally syndicated radio show when they asked me to write a book. “I’m not an author,” I confirmed. I am a “singer, writer, and radio host.” My fifth book hit number one on Amazon in two different categories, and my others have won awards.
Next, they said, “Since you like to talk, how about hosting a TV show? ” I quickly reminded them, ” I am not a TV Host. I am a singer, speaker, writer, radio host, and author. You guessed it. I hosted a TV show that went into over one hundred million homes each week. “The next thing I’m going to say is ‘I’m not a millionaire’ and see what happens.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In one year, my mom and my dad were diagnosed with cancer and were patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center. I am an only child, so I was their caregiver. In that same year, I had my first surgery because doctors believed I had cancer in my eye.
The day after my surgery, Hurricane Harvey hit and devastated our town. We lost things on our property, but our home was spared. In that same year, I lost part of my finger in a freak horse accident, and my only child was deployed to the Middle East. My mom also passed away.
Facing the challenges of that year made me feel like I was in a boxing ring, getting hit over and over again. I knew others who were feeling the same way, so I wrote my book “Grace and Guts.” The cover of the book is me looking over a pair of boxing gloves.
After asking over 5,000 women, “In what areas of life do you struggle the most,” I took the top 12 topics and combined strategies from my counseling experience and scripture to help readers learn how to throw the “knock-out punch” and win in this ring called life.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The “In Her Shoes” Mother/Teen Daughter tour is the most meaningful project I’ve spearheaded.
Before my mom passed away from cancer, she was my sounding board for this event. Not only was she my best friend, she was my secretary. Mom traveled with me and served in a support role at each “In Her Shoes” event. She even helped write the theme song. She was passionate about moms being equipped to successfully raise their girls.
After my mom passed away, I thought I might quit teaching “In Her Shoes” since it was hard without her being there. In March of 2021, however, I began to feel that I was being directed to do a tour of the event. I didn’t tell anyone because that seemed way bigger than anything I felt equipped to do. In April of 2021, I was approached by a stranger at one of my women’s conferences who asked if I had ever thought of doing a tour, and she said that she would love to help me. Imagine my surprise when she told me she had been George Strait’s tour manager for years!
I surrendered to doing the tour, and things began to fall into place. A dear family who owns an RV Rental sponsored our transportation for the tour and surprised me with the tour bus of my dreams! Shortly after that, another sponsor agreed to pay for our gas for a year. Now, my team and I travel the country on our beautiful tour bus, teaching moms and teenage girls how to strengthen their relationships in the areas that matter most.
There is nothing more meaningful to me than when I see moms and daughters laughing, crying, talking, growing, and embracing at “In Her Shoes.” We also have a ton of fun at each event! My years as a school teacher and counselor certainly helped to equip me to reach moms and their girls, and I am so very grateful to be teaching the “In Her Shoes” conference throughout the U.S.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I’ve been speaking at women’s conferences for years. I’m always incredibly grateful for groups who trust me enough to be their Keynote Speaker.
Our non-profit arm, Shannon Pery Ministries, has been so blessed by those who give to help sponsor a mom and daughter who may not otherwise be able to attend an “In Her Shoes’ conference. We offer scholarships to many moms and daughters throughout the year, thanks to our generous donors.
We welcome anyone with a passion for seeing moms and teen daughters connect on a deeper level to support us when they give a tax-deductible donation at inhershoestour.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: shannonperry.com; inhershoestour.com
- Instagram: @Shannonperryministries
- Facebook: @Shannonperryministries
- Youtube: Shannon Perry
Image Credits
Sarah Hall Photography and Studio Klank
