My fiction and nonfiction have appeared in the The Coachella Review, bioStories, Bending Genres, Cream City Review, Oatmeal Magazine, Literary Juice, Bartleby Snopes (Winner, story of the month), and The Chaffey Review (creative nonfiction), among others. My poetry has appeared in several journals including The 2012 Best of Anthology: Storm Cycle. I have completed 2 novels. Murmurs (YA paranormal) was completed in 2016 and The November Molecule (Thriller) was completed in 2018. I am currently seeking representation.
ABOUT SHELLIE
I come from a family of great storytellers and writers. My father majored in journalism and has written and published creative work. My grandmother was a poet who taught creative writing at the Tennessee State Prison. My grandfather worked for the Tennessean newspaper and published several books of his own. My grandmother’s life story has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul, Reader’s Digest and Parade Magazine. My aunt’s story was told in Marie: A True Story and was also adapted for screen. For me, growing up was all about story.
As a writer, I have one foot in the creative world and one foot in the technical world. I spend my days at Vanderbilt University where I edit scientific manuscripts and teach technical writing. During my years as an editor, I have edited nearly 200 scientific manuscripts and documents, 120 grant applications and two textbooks. Currently, I am working with colleagues and students to launch The SciLit Review (coming spring 2020), a journal that will feature science-themed poetry, fiction and nonfiction.
When I’m not at work, I write fiction, creative nonfiction and the occasional lyrical essay. I have also completed two novels. My work has appeared in the Cream City Review, Oatmeal Magazine, Bending Genres, Bartleby Snopes (Winner, story of the month), and The Chaffey Review (creative nonfiction), among others. I have an M.A. in English (writing emphasis, Belmont University) and will complete my MFA in 2020. I live in Nashville, TN with my husband, kids and three scruffy dogs.
Welcome to my site!
— Shellie

MY WRITING
Fiction
Quick and Painless, Bartleby Snopes (Winner, Story of the month)
The Price of Doubt, The Belmont Literary Journal
World Without End, Literary Juice
Lunatic Fringe, The Oatmeal Magazine
No Good Place to Die, The Coachella Review
Sole Mate, published Winter 2022 in The Penmen review
In the Seven Years Before She Knew, published Winter 2022
Creative Nonfiction
Skin, Bending Genres
Click Here to Chat with an Online Therapist, bioStories
The Strike, The Cream City Review
Primetime, The Chaffey Review
Poetry
Errands, The 2012 Best of Anthology: Storm Cycle
South Carolina in July, The Belmont Literary Journal
On the Way to Gautreau’s, Pyrokinection
One Horse Town Life, Errands, Academia Unraveled, Mindless Muse
Dusk, The Hundred Year Flood, Jellyfish Whispers
Pass the Abuse, The Belmont Literary Journal
SHELLIE’S BLOG
The End [4-minute read]
The End. [749 words, 4-minute read] We’ve all said it. Maybe we threw the book or shouted at the television screen. What? Why? That’s it? Noooo! When it comes to storytelling, the ending gets the shaft. If it’s not perfect, if it doesn’t take all of our questions and...
read moreWriter’s Block Prescription: Lift 2 dumbbells and call me in the morning [3 minute read]
I see a lot of posts on social media about writer’s block {audible groan}. If you google “what to do about writer’s block” you get a hearty list of blog posts, charts, Pinterest ideas, memes and articles—some boasting as many as 25 ways to snap out of it and another...
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