Beaumont, Texas author Shelly Lee defies odds as a single parent, earns degree and writes two compelling books
Andre Johnson 
In case you don’t know her, Shelly Lee would like to introduce herself.
For starters, Lee was raised in the small, rural East Texas town of Bon Wier which, according to the latest U.S. census, is comprised of somewhere in the neighborhood of about 1,005 residents.
A proud alum of Newton (Texas) High School, where she had compiled a perfect attendance record from the time she enrolled as a freshman until she earned her diploma, this single mother of two eventually advanced her education, a trend that was culminated with her earning Associate and undergraduate degrees from Lamar Institute of Technology and Lamar University, respectively.
A woman of devout faith who is a proud product of the historic Church of God In Christ, Lee was raised with the proverbial “PK” label — or Preacher’s Kid — considering she is the daughter of a now deceased preacher.
“I have been a single parent since my children were conceived,” Lee told Making Headline News this week. “My daughter is 23 and attending college. My son is 21 and a high school graduate, seeking a better job.”
As if those notable accolades aren’t enough evidence to suggests, among other things, that Lee has gone to great lengths to defy arguably the toughest odds as a single parent, here’s yet another remarkably brilliant achievement she has assumed to complement that of a college graduate: Lee is an accomplished author and, to her distinctly unique credit, she has been nothing short of amazing since she began writing books.
For the record, it all started when she was a young Christian girl within the four walls of her neighborhood church.
“As an adult growing up in church and hearing messages from God, I kept tablets of sermons that I heard and of messages that God gave to me,” Lee explained.
As a result to such an intriguing strategy, Lee’s solid preparation had eventually clashed with her golden opportunity which, fortunately for Lee, had given way to her witnessing the release of her very first book entitled, “God Spoke and I Listened.”
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“In November 2015, God told me it was time to birth the book.” Lee said. So I began writing.”
Much to her delight, Lee needed less than a year to compose “God Spoke And I Listened,” which was officially released on August 2, 2016.
An awe-inspiring written document that is comprised of 130 pages, Lee’s “God Spoke And I Listened” is dedicated mostly to people who want God to speak to them, or for those who sense that God don’t merely converse with them.
“I am a firm believer that God speaks, and this book is my testimony that He does,” Lee explained in a detailed breakdown of her book at Amazon.com. “When I was growing up, preachers always said, ‘Pray and ask God…He will speak to you.’ I found it a bit scary to hear God speak, but I was always curious.”
As Lee specifically recalls, she was somewhere around the age of 23 or 25 when she initially heard God speak to her, “of all people,” she acknowledged with a straight face.
“He gave me my first inspirational message,” Lee explained. “So if you are still waiting on God to speak to you, I am a witness that He will. Just keep praying and waiting.”
Speaking of waiting, it wasn’t long after Lee had made her authorship debut that Book No. 2 had surfaced on the market.
Lee’s “The Sheldra Series: An Unknown Love (The Sheldra Series-Book One) (Volume 1) was released on August 2, 2017, a little more than a year after her first project went public.
In this book, Sheldra Griffing, the featured character, is described as a woman on a mission, as well as considers herself “an 8” when it comes to looks, education, and responsibility (on a 10-point scale, of course). Interestingly, she does her best at whatever task is given to her considering she is a businesswoman, not to mention a mother and daughter. “Sheldra loves the Lord and does her best to abide by His Word,” said a spokesperson for Lee’s second book in a description at Amazon.com. “So what is Sheldra’s problem?
“The only thing Sheldra has issues with is men,” the spokesperson said forthrightly. “Her first issue is that she desires to be married but has no prospects. She often wonders will it ever happen for her. Her second issue is that she grew up in a single parent home without a father. Sheldra could not understand why her dad did not have a relationship with her. Many nights she cried on her pillow because she did not know her dad. Follow Sheldra’s story, as she experiences a short lived relationship with a father she never knew in an unknown love.”
As expected, the feedback, Lee said, has been pretty much what she expected: favorable.
Moreover, she’s especially pleased that she’s finally walking in the purpose for which God created her, a purpose that includes advancing the Kingdom through her immeasurable gifts as a writer.
“I feel that writing is my God-given (talent),” Lee said. “His purpose is for me to encourage and inspire others through my writing.”
Lee would be remiss, she said, if she did not pay homage to her biggest supporters.
“I would like to thank all of my family and friends that believed in my dream and helped me to achieve it,” Lee said. “May God continue to bless each of you.”
Just as He has done time and again on her behalf.
Talk about a thorough and inspiring introduction of a devout woman of faith.
For more information about Author Shelly Lee, connect with her via social at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorShellyLee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyleebooks/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ladylee452018
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
