Shelby Wagner Firebird Book Award Winner and Author Interview

Shelby Wagner – MA, BMus and BAAuthor of Award-Winning, “Learning to Dance in the Rain II – Surviving Grief, Internet Dating and Romance Scams.Careers include: Elementary music teacher, church organist, choir director, entrepreneur and published, award-winning author.Shelby always thought she would write a book ‘someday’. Her writing career began in 4th grade when she wrote a play. Terribly shy as a youngster, she timidly told her teacher she had written a play and she almost fainted when the teacher asked her to read it to the class. Trembling, she began reading her play aloud and soon decided it needed more work. As she returned to her seat, she felt embarrassed, but knew she would not give up. One thing Shelby discovered from the experience was that, despite her nervousness, she liked being in front of the class.Shelby was a natural born leader and when the neighbor children gathered in her yard to play, she would organize talent shows and guess who would be director of the show? You are right if you said Shelby. Other activities such as playing school or store, and Shelby was always the teacher or store owner.Shelby loved to sing and began piano lessons at the age of eleven or twelve. She was accompanying the children’s choir at 15, and the adult choir at 16 as the new church organist. Shelby was to be church organist and/or choir director in numerous churches in Oakland County, as well as Tennessee and continues to this day in St. Joseph County, Michigan where she currently resides. She and a fellow retired music teacher play duets now for community events and local senior centers. St. Joseph and Branch Counties.Shelby first became a published author in December of 2018, revised and updated it and re-published it December 10, 2020.“Learning to Dance in the Rain II” recently was awarded the 2021 Living Now Book Awards’ Silver Medal in the “Relationships/Marriage” category, and recently was notified of a second win in the 2021 Firebird Book Awards in the “Grief” Category. She has been nominated for three other awards to be decided in the coming months. Congratulations, Shelby, on the “wins” and good luck with the other nominations.Shelby is listed in the 1990-1991 Edition of Marquis Who’s Who in the Midwest.While teaching, Shelby was a member of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Michigan and National Music Teachers Association, and the Michigan Piano Teachers Association.She is a current member of ISFP, International Society of Female Professionals and Sturgis Writers’ Mill, and plays piano duets with fellow retired music teacher, Linda Rehmeyer of Colon, MI.VISIT THE WEBSITELISTEN TO SHELBY'S INTERVIEW