If you’ve ever felt like giving up on a dream - even one you’ve loved for years - you are not alone. This episode will show you how one of the world’s most beloved authors nearly walked away from her biggest idea more than once… and how trusting her gut changed everything.
Shannon Messenger is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, a global fantasy phenomenon with over 7 million copies sold. But long before the fame, Shannon spent years chasing the wrong dream, then battling fear, loneliness, and self-doubt on her way to finding the right one.
Shannon sits with Mercedes and Anastasia and opens up about leaving her art career behind, rewriting her first book 20 times, and how she learned to listen to her own voice instead of the noise around her. We talk resilience, introversion, managing pressure, and how to protect your joy - even when the world is watching.
Get ready to learn:
- How to know when to quit… and when to dig deeper.
- The surprising story behind how Shannon actually wrote a bestselling series.
- Why being yourself wins over popularity (and tips for embracing your authentic personality).
- The life lessons Shannon hopes we all walk away with after reading the Keeper series.
- Shannon’s hacks for handling pressure, feedback, and feeling not good enough.
Whether you’re chasing a creative dream, pursuing a goal, or figuring out your next step, Shannon reminds us that happiness grows not from perfection, but from the courage to persist, the clarity of purpose, and the freedom to be fully yourself.
Shop Shannon's NEW graphic novel
Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with the bestselling mother & daughter duo behind the Dork Diaries book series, Rachel and Nikki Russell. In this episode, Rachel and Nikki share their story of working as a mother-daughter team, hacks for boosting family connection, and advice for embracing your authentic self: listen + watch now!
(00:00) Welcome, Shannon!
(00:44) How Did Shannon Get Started?
(02:36) Childhood Dream vs Current Career
(06:17) Knowing When To Give Up
(10:25) Keeper of the Lost Cities Took 20 Drafts Before Publication! What Kept Shannon Going?
(20:48) Spread Some Happiness
(21:28) How Can I Be More Perseverant?
(29:16) Feeling Isolated & Finding Your Tribe
(35:47) Holiday Gift Idea You Need!
(36:16) Your Blueprint To Becoming More Like Sophie Foster
(40:53) Hacks For Managing Pressure (+ navigating a growing fandom)
(47:03) Step Back And TRUST Your Story
(49:02) Personal Touches Within Keeper of the Lost Cities
(53:45) GAME! Keeper or Creeper
(57:10) Shannon To Her Teenage Self
(57:36) What Brings Shannon a Small Bit of Happiness?
(58:11) Shannon's Motivational Quote
(59:00) Find Shannon's NEW Graphic Novel!
(1:01:00) Check THIS Out