Shywanee L. Manson
ShyFox
Biography
Author and Playwright, Shywanee L. Manson, is originally from
Harvey, Illinois, a far South Chicago Suburb. The third oldest
of nine siblings, she has five brothers and three sisters. Shywanee
attended Thornton High School before attending Fox Business
College in Oak Lawn, where she graduated in 1993.
However, at the age of ten, she began writing poetry, and won
a contest while in 5th grade, for "All About God",
a poem she wrote and recited. The poem was a personal revelation
for the young Shywanee, because although her family were not
avid churchgoers at the time, she had always felt a personal
relationship with God, which she holds to this day.
She continued to write in school, mainly short stories. After
she graduated from Fox, she became a legal assistant. However
she continued to hone her natural writing abilities. In 2003,
after writing the poem, "Apology From One Sista To Another",
she noticed that the piece was recognized by women all over,
who would comment that they had experienced such dilemmas as
depicted in the prose.
As a result, she decided to turn the poem into a book, her first
novel, entitled "Apology From One Sista To Another"
which she decided to self-publish (www.shyfoxbooks.com) after
noting that the industry was not particularly kind to first
time authors. The book has since become very popular, with Shywanee
selling the product mainly through word of mouth.
Through encouragement from family and friends and with the increasing
knowledge that the topic of her book was one women across the
country could relate to, it was suggested that she turn the
book into a stage play. On May 25 thru May 28 and June 1 thru
June 4, 2006 the stage play "Apology From One Sista To
Another" debuted at The Duncan Theatre located at 1001
W. Roosevelt Road in Chicago. The stage play was designed also
to further promote the book.
Shywanee has also begun work on a Screenplay for her book.
In March of 2006, Shywanee was a panelist of the How To Forgive
and Let Go Seminar at the V103 Expo For Today's Black Woman.
She was also a special guest on Zelda Robinson's television
show, Zelda Speaks, and a special guest on The Other Winfrey
Show hosted by Earl Winfrey. Shywanee has also been chosen for
Chicago's 2007 Principal For A Day program arranged by Chicago's
Mayor Richard J. Daley and has been asked to bring Apology From
One Sista' To Another, the stage play, to the Chicago Public
High Schools.
The stage play has also been nominated for the 2006 Chicago
Truth Awards "Best Stage Play" category.
Shywanee was hired as Stage Manager for Agin Muhammed's stage
play, A Man's Gotta Do What A Man's Gotta Do, which debuted
at the DuSable Museum of African American History in March 2006.
She is a member of "Sisters n Thought" book club,
and is president of the Greater St. John MB Church Choir in
Markham, Illinois, of which she is a member.
Shywanee continues to write and recite poetry, and is a noted
spoken word artist who won a 106.3 (Call Letters) poetry contest
and performed live on the station. She has also performed poetry
at the UpNext! Show in Chicago, Prysmatic Dreams Poetry Show
/The New Word Order Net Slams 2004 in South Carolina (www.prysmaticdreams.com)
(www.thenewwordorder.com) , Spoken Word Café Poetry Live,
Secrets and other locations throughout the Chicagoland area.
Shywanee L. Manson is penning her second novel and is currently
seeking an agent.
She continues her thirteen year career as legal assistant.
