Won’t You Join Me?

Now that the dust has settled a bit, I’ve had a minute or two to reflect and process the events of this past weekend and I’m still blown away – and for so many different reasons.  First off…I’ve PUBLISHED MY FIRST BOOK.  What?!?  Who in the world do I think I am??  What in the world do I think I’m doing??  My goodness.  I think perhaps I’ve surprised myself with this one.  This was not in the plans.  It was never a goal of mine.  Even still, a manuscript was written and Still Standing is the result.  Wow.  Note to all reading this post:  believe you me…ANYTHING is possible.  Even those things that you haven’t completely thought out yet – even those things are possible.  Even the things that you keep getting ready to get ready to do.  Yep.  Even those things are possible – if you’re willing to work.  Make no mistake about it, none of it comes easily and every bit of it is the result of focus, determination, dedication, and boatloads of drive.  But that’s not what I wanted to write about today so let’s just stick a pin in that for the moment.

Not only have I published my first book, I had my official book release in a Manhattan bookstore and the house was packed.  Ok, those are all good things, but what I’m most excited about is the reception.  Still Standing was received with open arms, hearts, and minds.  After the show I was greeted with far more warmth, kindness, and adoration that I ever expected.  An extremely humbling experience, indeed.  It really was.  And to take it a step further than that…I had family drive up from North Carolina to attend the event.  I had a cousin drive in from DC to attend the event.  And I had a North Carolina Facebook friend attend so that we could finally put faces to names.  It was super incredible and a totally jaw-dropping experience for me.  I had supporters come that I’d only met and seen one time before, and then there were many dear friends who wouldn’t miss it for the world.  For sure it’s one of those things that I will never forget.  That – I’m certain of.

I’ll close with this:  that will not be my last book reading/signing event and Still Standing will not be my last book.  This is just the beginning.  I have no idea where this ride will take me, but I am strapped in and ready to go, because I’ve got a feeling that this one is gonna’ be good.  I hope you come with me.

My name is Jasmynne Shaye, and this is me STEPPING ON A FEW TOES. 

I Won't Stop Pedaling

Hello, gang.  My posts are few and far between these days.  Perhaps you can now understand that I went MIA in the blogosphere in order to work on STILL STANDING.  Can you believe it??  Yours truly can officially call herself a published author?  What in the world, right?  Who would have ever thunk such a thing to be possible??  Certainly not I.  Certainly not the chica that couldn’t seem to write a paper to save her life whilst in college.  Certainly not me.  Well how the hell did this happen??  It’s funny…I can now think back on the sequence of events and it unfolds just like any story told on the big screen.  Lord knows I had no clue, but God knew what He was doing.  I was always meant to write STEPPING ON A FEW TOES, and I was also destined to write STILL STANDING – all the while professing to others, “I’m really not a writer.”  Hahahaa…  Well let me tell you; I stand corrected.  With all the pride, assurance, and confidence in the world I can boldly tell you:

Jasmynne Shaye is an actor, a writer, a public speaker, a nutritionist, a child’s rights activist, a life coach, and a girl that refuses to quit.  That’s me.  And I’m damned proud of it.

Tonight at 7pm, will be the official unveiling of STILL STANDING, and I could not be more excited.  I landed in New York City December 4, 2012 and on December 18, 2013 STILL STANDING was officially published.  Boy oh boy…God is such a trickster.  What a magician this fella’ is…and all I can do is smile.

I’m so grateful, ya’ll, I really am.  I just a girl that came from absolutely nothing.  I don’t have famous parents.  We were dirt poor when I was a kid, and I saw and experienced things that no child should ever have to go through – even still I stand (well I’m sitting at the moment) before you seemingly put-together, and not falling apart at the seams.  Hear me when I say that when shit was hitting the fan (and everything else) it was my dreams that held me together.  I refused to believe that God would allow any of those things to be the ending to my story – I just refused.  And because I’m so dog’on hard-headed and stubborn, I pushed through, and kept on pushing until…well until I found myself here.  And I’m not done pushing.  I have no idea where my road will take me from here, but I thought I’d take a moment to hop off my bike and let you know how everything is going.  I honestly could not be happier.  Thank you to all those out there that have continued to support me through the years, it truly means so much – seriously, it does.

Now, I’m gonna climb back on my bike and get to pedaling because I’ve got places to go.  My first stop???  You already know…

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!!

The Official Premiere of STILL STANDING

Bluestockings Bookstore

172 Allen Street

New York, NY

7pm (sharp)

My name is Jasmynne Shaye, and this is me STEPPING ON A FEW TOES.