Author Q&A With LaShawn McCrary
LaShawn McCrary is a multi-talented woman whose passion for empowerment shines through her diverse pursuits. From her self-reflective books, I Am Not an Option: A Woman’s Guide to Self-Love and Relationships, and Before We Go Any Further: Pre-Engagement Workbook for Couples, to her roles as a Conscious Relationship Coach, speaker, and energy healer. LaShawn is dedicated to uplifting others and helping them realize their full potential. Her love for travel, fitness, literature, and gourmet cuisine enriches her life, while her commitment to teaching and learning fuels her endeavors. Currently based in Metro Atlanta, LaShawn’s mission is to encourage individuals to harness their strength and live a truly divine life. Meet LaShawn:
You are an author, but is it your day job? Being an author does not fill my days. I also serve as a conscious relationship coach, intuitive, and energy healer.
Did you always want to be an author?I loved writing in high school, but I abandoned the idea by the time I graduated. I don’t remember why, I just did. Years later, when I started writing my first book, memories of my initial desire to be a writer returned. It wasn’t easy at first, and it took me years to find my rhythm. It wasn’t until I wrote the second book that I truly settled into and owned up to myself as an author.
What is your most recent book, and what inspired you to write it?
My most recent book, Before We Go Any Further: Pre-Engagement Workbook for Couples, was written after being married for a couple of years and realizing that I, the couples around me, and those I was coaching were not aligned. It seemed like everyone was on different pages, or in a different book—Yikes!
With this in mind, I set out to help couples do a better job of getting clear on what they want and of sharing that information with their partner before they get engaged, married, or move in together. I want couples to become more conscious of their relationship, make more sound decisions, and get help from a professional if necessary.
How do you hope your book will uplift readers? I’m hoping it will help them become clear about who they are, what they want, and why, so they can share their truth with their partner and decide whether to take their relationship to the next level
What are you most excited about with this book? I’m excited about helping people get clear, develop the courage to have tough conversations, and become conscious communicators in the process. And I’m excited about the possibility of assisting couples to build longer, happier, and deeper connections with one another.
What advice would you give someone wanting to succeed in your professional industry? Always be yourself and remember you can’t help “everyone” even if you’d like to. Find your people and serve them to the best of your ability.
How do you handle setbacks and criticism? I handle setbacks by reminding myself that everything happens in divine timing and to stay focused on the goal. When dealing with criticism, if it’s coming from a negative space, I handle it by remembering that I’m not for everyone and that I only want to work with and be surrounded by my tribe. If it’s coming from a space of love, concern, or a genuine desire to help, I see it as feedback and welcome their perspective. If someone knows something that can make me better, I accept it as a blessing.
Being an author today is like running a business. How do you manage your publicity and social media and maintain engagement with readers? This is a work in progress. I’m still learning and growing in this area. I’m a little camera-shy, and I’m not naturally drawn to social media—it could literally disappear, and I wouldn’t notice until someone told me. LOL! However, I do see its value, so I’m stepping outside my comfort zone and engaging more and more.
How do you structure your day and make time for writing? I don’t write daily; I only write when inspiration hits me. When it does, I go with the flow, and it’s easy. I write in the empty spaces of my life. Whenever there’s a window of time, I seize the moment. Whether it’s 20 minutes, an hour, in the evenings, or on the weekend. I like to say my books are finished before I start them. Once I sit down and begin writing, there’s a draw, an energy within me that guides me to my laptop so I can release what’s inside me.
What do you find most fulfilling in the career that you’ve chosen? Helping people dig deep within themselves so they can reveal who they really are and, as a result, have better relationships with the Divine, themselves, and their partners.
What book uplifts you? The book that uplifts me is The Bible. My favorite scriptures are the ones that remind me who we are and the power that lies within us.
Anything else you’d like to share with your readers? Fun facts about me: I’d rather watch Formula 1, football, or tennis than go shopping. I love to color with Crayola Crayons and old school coloring books like Peanuts and The Flintstones. I love comedy and listen to comedians from all walks of life. In addition to the fun and laughter, comedy grounds me, and I use it to uplift and heal myself.
Connect with LawShawn and learn more about her through her website.
