Meet Shawn Pryor | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shawn Pryor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shawn, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” -Langston Hughes

What I like about the quote is that it reminds us that even though this world tries its hardest to work us to death just to survive, we must allow ourselves to dream. Our dreams give us life, and when we work towards them, it not only helps us feel a form of freedom, but it may also inspire or invigorate others.

What it means to me is that for a very long time, I put the possibility of a writing career on hold because I thought it was just a pipe dream or something that some people thought was foolish. But once I decided to take time out for myself and begin telling stories, a lot changed; the more I wrote, the more I learned about myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a writer, my professional career started to pick up around 2018. I had been writing independently for 11 years before 2018, but I wondered if my words and stories made a difference and if anyone was reading them or even noticed them.

Then, in the fall of 2018, I received an email from an editor at Capstone Publishing asking me if I was interested in writing kids’ prose, and they requested some samples of my work. After sending some samples, they told me they had a sports prose novella that needed a writer and wanted me to write it. So, of course, I said yes, and a year later, that book I wrote for them became a hit for the publisher. They were pleased with my work ethic and subsequently offered me to write kids’ books, graphic novels, historical books, and more.

Because of my work with Capstone, I was later able to acquire a literary agent and was then able to pitch and sell an original graphic novel that will be coming out in the fall of 2023. Now I can reach larger audiences, and kids get to see themselves in the stories I write.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Seeing that I live in the Bluegrass state, I would take them on a Bourbon tour so they could check out all the great distilleries (Buffalo Trace, Makers Mark, etc.). Then over the week, we could check out all the fantastic local breweries in the Lexington, Ky, area (over 11 breweries to choose from). There’s a local concert venue called The Burl which also has an old-school arcade and pinball gallery, which is nice. Lexington has all kinds of local eateries, so you’ll never go hungry here. And if you like donuts, coffee, and pastries, I would take them to North Lime Coffee & Donuts and Futile Bakery. You will eat, drink, and be happy here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shout out Kentucky Humanities and the Carnegie Center, located in Lexington, KY. As an author of graphic novels, children’s books, and prose, these organizations have allowed me numerous times to talk to school kids about the power of writing and creativity. In addition, it gives me a chance to show these kids that there are so many creative careers and paths that they can find and choose when they are older. Kentucky Humanities and the Carnegie Center have immensely supported my writing career, and I am incredibly thankful.

Website: shawnpryor.com

Instagram: theshawnpshow

Twitter: @shawnrpryor

Image Credits
Nat Turner’s Rebellion – Cover Artwork by Silvio DB Kids’ Sports Stories: Soccer Dreams – Cover Artwork by Genevieve Kote Ignition – Cover Artwork by George Kambadais WCMX Daredevil – Cover Artwork by Tiziana Musmeci The Gamer – Cover Artworks by Francesa Ficorilli The Deadliest Race – Cover Artwork by Alan Brown