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Author Shywanee L. Manson Heats Up the Bookshelf and Stage With Debut, “Apology From One Sista’ to Another”

By Sandria M. Washington

When Delores Manson caught her 16-year-old boy crazy granddaughter being walked home by the neighborhood cutie she told her as only an ‘ol school grandmomma could, “If you keep your mind on these boys instead of in those books, then you are going to be nothing but another young lady with a bunch of kids living on public aid!” 

Shywanee L. Manson

Maybe her grandmother’s words stung a little too deep at the time, but looking back a now adult Shywanee L. Manson is thankful for her grandmother speaking the words that forever changed her life. “I didn’t want my grandmother to think that of me, and although I was still boy crazy, I put it in my mind, heart and soul to prove to my grandmother that I would do something with my life,” says Shywanee.  And do something she has. Today, Shywanee L. Manson is a successful self-published author, spoken word artist, public speaker and playwright. Her first novel, Apology From One Sista’ to Another (Shy Fox Books), has sold hundreds of copies mainly by word of mouth and in May 2006 the stage adaptation debuts in Chicago’s The Duncan Theatre.

Shywanee L. Manson, a native of Chicago’s south suburb of Harvey, began writing poetry at age 10. With the encouragement of her fifth grade teacher, Ms. Johnson, Shywanee entered a writing contest, and her poem “All About God” won. She recited this piece in front of the entire school, unbeknownst to a young Shywanee this performance was the beginning of her words changing the lives of others.  She continued writing throughout her school career and in 2003 Manson penned her signature poem, “Apology From One Sista’ to Another.” She’ll never forget the first time she recited this poem. “It was while I was at a friend’s house who had a discussion group party where folks would sit around and talk about everything—from life to love to world affairs.

After our discussions were over, I was asked to perform a piece. I performed “Apology From One Sista’ to Another” and the crowd was like, ‘Whoa, that was deep’ because it told a story.” The poem describes a woman’s sincere apology to another sista for the cold and callous way she treated her because her heart was hardened by traumatic experiences with a man they both loved.

With each performance of the poem Shywanee would meet more and more women who shared with her how much they could relate to the situations described in her prose. Out of the overwhelming responses came a book and now stage play bearing the poem’s title. The novel/play is the twisted tale of an ill-fated love triangle that brings to life some of the causes and repercussions of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

“There are many women today who suffer from low self-esteem, and to avoid loneliness in their lives, they tend to fall for the wrong man (i.e., the lazy, abusive and/or insecure men who have no goals for their lives). This is a growing problem in all communities, and this story will hopefully be a wake up call for women to take back their lives and have more faith in themselves by patiently waiting for the right man to come along, instead of settling for less.  

Women around the world connected with the story from Day 1 and when asked how men respond to it Shywanee says that, “Real brothers love it and are proud of it. They say it’s about time that someone speaks about women who only go for the good looks and not the heart.”

Shywanee recognizes that “life always imitates art,” confessing “a little bit of me is in my story” and likewise, theater goers are sure to see pieces of themselves or people they know in the play. The theater production of “Apology From One Sista’ to Another” directed by Lawrence Lee Wallace, runs May 25-May 28 2006 and June 1- June 4, 2006 at The Duncan Theatre, 1001 W. Roosevelt Rd.  WGCI-FM radio personality and author, Nikki Woods, will host the event. Ms. Woods calls Shywanee L. Manson, “a talented and powerful storyteller” and shares that she is “pleased to be a part of such an ambitious project.”

So what can we expect next from Shywanee L. Manson? “In the near future, I will be releasing another novel, working on the “Apology From One Sista’ to Another” movie, writing another stage play based on my second novel and becoming the female version of Tyler Perry. He is my role model and a true inspiration.”

 Visit www.shyfoxbooks.com to purchase your copy of Apology From One Sista’ to Another and tickets to the stage play.