In the Beginning
Creative Passion From the Story of Light
It was a light from above that first beckoned my creative spirit. A light that broke the silence of a darkened sky just beyond a foggy window pane and invited a curious child with a scrap of paper and a worn-down pencil to capture something magnificent and true. Within the middle of my night, I was compelled to describe what I saw, driven by a deep urgency to grasp every detail.
As the flicker of light faded away, I scoured over the messy smears of graphite which held my only proof of the light I had found, somehow knowing this was only part of the chapter. The rest would arrive with the dawn which now held the opportunity to tell someone else the incredible story.
So began my journey of words and light. I would say things have not changed much over the years. My days still consist of finding ways to capture the story of the light, and I am evermore exploring creative paths that can carry its weight to those who need it.
And yes, it was a satellite.
A New Creation in Spirit and Story
That fourth grade impulse to write down the things I saw stemmed from somewhere deep, blooming like a seed that had been waiting to burst forth through my years of alphabet and crayon.
And as I watched the faces of my school friends shift toward curiosity and joy upon hearing the tale of my light in the night sky, I instantly understood the power that telling my story could hold.
I continued my creative adventures over the years through many different avenues, but the desire to tell the story never changed. Even though I had little understanding of religion, somehow I knew the ache planted in me to grab hold of the story, treasure it in my heart, and go to tell someone else came from something greater than myself.
Then I became a new creation in Christ, and my creativity found its reason. I now understood it wasn't just about the power of my story, but about what the power of His story created in me.
One Creator Many Creations
Our gifts and resources are just waiting to be a blessing to someone. When those gifts are given a chance to shine, they become the opportunities that allow us to to tell the best story ever. What can you use to tell your story? Here is how I tell mine.
Author Media Kit
Published Stories
-
Chicken Soup for the Soul Books
Change Your Habits, Change Your Life
Lessons Learned from My Dog
Lessons Learned from My Cat
Just Say Yes
Angels and the Miraculous
101 Ways to Think Positive
-
Guideposts Books
God's Constant Presence: Wrapped in His Protection
God's Constant Prescence: Transformed by His Grace
-
Guideposts Devotions
Coming soon!
-
Southern Christian Writers
The House That Built Me
A Memoir of Mothers
Author Bio - Full Version
Shannon Leach is a creativity coach and freelance author who chases words and light across the pages of multiple genres, pursuing encouragement and hope within the most vulnerable of stories. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a life degree in being a messy human. Her transformational stories have been frequently featured in both Guideposts and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Shannon also is the owner of ARH Inspirations and cofounder of the nonprofit The Fostered Gift.
Whether she is coaching creatives, encouraging the encouragers, or helping a foster child in crisis, her mission is to use her gifts to reach the hearts living in lonely roles so they may know they are not alone. She loves historical fiction, poetry, musicals, documentaries, spy movies, and is in a committed forever relationship with Jesus, her family, and words.
Author Bio - Short
Shannon Leach is a creativity coach and freelance writer whose work has been featured in Guideposts books and devotions as well as multiple Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. With a background in social work and a lifelong fascination with how each chapter shapes us, Shannon writes transformational stories that explore the rocky path from regret to redemption.
Choose to use your gifts for the one who chose you.
Mission Minded Ministry
SL Creative
I will confidently tell His story so others may see His light through me.
- 1 of 5
ARH Inspirations
I will help inspirational creators get their message out into the world.
- 2 of 5
A Repurposed Heart
I will use the lens of my faith to search for light hidden in the stories of life and share to remind others they are not alone.
- 3 of 5
Sunlight Scribes
I will create a space of encouragement where creative leaders can explore both the struggles and joys of their calling.
- 4 of 5
Lightpoint Publishing
I will publish inspirational stories that reflect triumph over trouble and point to the light of God’s unconditional love.
- 5 of 5