Write On! interviews author Shannon Curtis
Writing under a pen name, Shannon J Curtis is a transformative writer, mental health advocate, life and business coach and creator of the acclaimed Life Coach In A Book series—five empowering titles designed to help individuals navigate life, relationships and business with clarity, purpose and self-belief.
Their leading works include Finding You: Mental Health Exposed (published March 2022), a candid exploration into emotional resilience, and Building Your Success: Mind Wealth Exposed (published May 2025), a modern roadmap for personal growth and professional fulfilment.
With over a decade of experience working in the NHS, including key roles within mental health services, their writing is grounded in real-world insight and compassionate support. Blending systematic methodologies with accessible guidance, these books offer practical solutions for those without financial access to traditional coaching or mentorship.
Shannon has been featured in wellness and leadership forums and is passionate about making mind-set coaching available to all. Future projects include art-integrated wellbeing tools and a visual guide for high performance.
WO: How would you describe your writing to someone new to it?
SC: My writing is a guided, simplified approach to self-development, where evidence-based techniques meet real-world/life application. It’s crafted for individuals who may lack financial access to personal mentoring, but still deserve powerful tools to shape their life. Think of it as a life coach in book form: practical, supportive and designed to spark meaningful personal wins. It is a means to reduce isolation, chaos and confusion: a 24/7 interactive book, helping you find possible solutions.
WO: Can you tell us a bit about your latest book, Building Your Success?
SC: Building Your Success is the lead in my five-book series, The Life Coach In A Book, created to offer mentorship through accessible and empowering writing. Structured in 12 transformational phases, the book guides readers to ask the right questions and engage in a person-centred, reflective journey toward emotional clarity and resilience. It’s especially designed for those navigating life without traditional support, offering a grounded blueprint to reconnect, rebuild and move forward with purpose.
WO: What inspired you to write in the first place and what inspires you now?
SC: I started writing for people like me: those who’ve needed support but didn’t always have someone or something to turn to. Inspiration still comes from that place of service, making coaching accessible through reading and reflection. My readers’ transformations continue to fuel my purpose.
WO: Recently Write On! explored the theme of ‘Reflections.’ Do you look back at your earlier work to see how your writing has changed, or is it a case of once written, forget and move on?
SC: I revisit my previous work not just as an author, but as a guide, checking how my tools and messages are landing. Reflection helps me refine how I speak to people’s evolving needs. Each book captures a moment in my growth and in the collective healing journey.
WO: What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring writer?
SC: Write with the clarity you wish someone had given you. Don’t wait for perfection: just focus on being useful, honest and human. Your words have power, especially when they help someone move forward.
WO: Question from Instagram user: @madeleinefwhite How important do you think personal reflective writing is for individual mental health?
SC: It’s one of the most accessible forms of emotional support, available to anyone with a pen and honesty. Reflective writing helps people process, prioritise and plan from a place of self-awareness. It’s the cornerstone of building the kind of mental wealth that lasts.
WO: Can you tell us anything about future projects?
SC: I’m currently working on two new books as part of The Life Coach In A Book series. One will incorporate my own artwork, exploring how creativity and visual expression can positively impact wellbeing. The other will be a more visual, streamlined guide to high performance: a condensed, charted summary of my previous work, designed especially for readers who prefer fast, results-driven formats over long text.
WO: Lastly, if you could choose one fictional animal/creature to be a pet or companion, who would it be and why?
SC: My chosen creature would be the eagle, not entirely fictional, but symbolic in a sense. Its confidence, freedom and graceful flight remind me of the heights we’re all capable of reaching when we commit to the climb. What touches me most is how eagle parents nurture that strength early – showing that development is shaped through love, patience and exposure to risk.
You can connect with Shannon J Curtis here on Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn: @shannonjcurtis
Building Your Success: Mind Wealth Exposed is available to buy from Amazon.
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Issue 27 of Write On! is out now and you can read it online here. Find it in libraries and other outlets. You can find previous editions of our magazines here.
You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo, or find us on Podcasters.Spotify.com.
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