The Reality of the “Birthing Process” For many authors, the release of a book is viewed as a finish line. However, Shamayne Olivia Kotfas describes the final stages of publishing as a “hard birthing process”. After months of delays that felt like they “took forever,” her book and workbook, Shoes That Fit Her Soul, finally hit the shelves in early 2024. But rather than immediate confetti and bells, Shamayne was met with a surprising wave of vulnerability.

“I was terrified,” she admits, describing the overwhelming fear of what people would think and whether the book was “horrible”. She eventually found relief by “crying it out” and accepting that it was finally her time to shine. This emotional honesty is a vital reminder for authors: the first few weeks of a launch are often a rollercoaster of “complicated emotions,” and it can take over a month to truly feel comfortable with your words being out in the world.

The Power of Impact The turning point for Shamayne came through the feedback of her readers. While she wrote the book with midlife women in mind, she was touched to receive a tearful voice message from a woman in her 30s who said, “I needed to hear this”. This confirmed Shamayne’s belief that her message—helping women “find their shoes for their journey”—is a universal calling. From seeing her children’s pride at her launch party to being invited to speak at the Girls’ Empowerment Network, Shamayne is now stepping into the light she waited so long to reach.

A Framework for the Soul At the heart of Shamayne’s work is a brilliant metaphor that came to her in a dream: the anatomy of a shoe. She explains that many women lose track of who they are because they are too busy playing roles—daughter, mother, wife. Her framework helps women rebuild their foundation through eight components:

• The Sole: Your soul, values, and beliefs.
• The Arch: Your support system and the boundaries you set.
• The Toe: Your intuition, pointing you in the right direction.
• The Tongue: Your voice and your identity.
• The Eyelets: Your vision and the small goals you set “one step at a time”.
• The Laces: The deep connection you have with yourself and others.
• The Stitching: Your journey and the reminder that your past shapes you but doesn’t define you.

By building these layers, women can feel “secure” in their own identity, ready to go out for the “walk” of their lives.

Better Together Shamayne credits her momentum to surrounding herself with other authors. Attending the Women in Publishing Summit—both online and in person—reminded her that authors are “better together”. By learning from those who have “been there, done it,” she was able to transition into a marketing mindset and find new ways to share her action-based workbook with the world.

A Message for the Reluctant Author Shamayne’s final encouragement to women “on the fence” is to recognize that their journey is one-of-a-kind. “Our journeys are unique,” she notes, arguing that even similar stories will resonate with different people in different ways. She encourages women to start by simply telling their stories to others or journaling. Eventually, those heart-pressed words will turn into a legacy that leaves a lasting impact on loved ones.