Shakara Cannon, a licensed realtor who has worked as Betty-Jo Tilley’s assistant at Sotheby’s International since 2006, has published her debut novel, ‘This Can’t Be Life’ (Infinite Source Publishing, $14.95). What happens when you repress memories as a child and they return in a recurring nightmare uncovering family secrets that threaten everything you thought to be true? Cannon, 33, answers this question and many more in her contemporary novel. Through her skillful storytelling and her ability to bring characters to life, she captures readers from the very first page while delving into topics such as friendship, love, domestic abuse, atheism, alcoholism, depression and the cultural biases related to seeking out psychiatric care in the African-American community. Cannon’s hope is to touch readers in a positive way and encourage open dialogue for those apprehensive about seeking help, whether it is for addiction or mental health. ’This Can’t Be Life’ opens with what seems to be a suicide or suicide attempt, reflecting one of Cannon’s goals in the novel. ’The suicide rate in the African-American community has grown exponentially over the last 10 years,’ she says. ‘African-Americans are susceptible to mental illness just as every other race is and possibly more so because of the hardships we as a people have faced. Although this is the case, we tend to shy away from receiving help by mental health professionals. Depression is real and widespread. It affects us all at some point in our lives; therefore, it is something that should be discussed more. The more we talk about it the less taboo it will become. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeing someone who can help you iron out your problems and help you talk through it without any bias or judgment.’ Cannon developed her love for writing during her childhood years in Los Angeles, writing stories to read to her family at bedtime. She honed her skills at Birmingham High, writing stories that surprised her teachers, and continued to develop this passion at Cal State Northridge, where she double majored in English and business with a minor in psychology. Later, writing fiction grew from hobby to therapy after the loss of her daughter’s father. Makhye Cannon was just 10 months old when her father died. Raised by her single mom, the tall and beautiful 13-year-old graduated from St. Matthew’s School in June and is now a freshman at Buckley School. Cannon, who lives in Valley Village (north of Studio City), has been a licensed agent for more than five years. ‘I work for Betty-Jo and I do some sells on my own as well.’ She creates time for her writing in the morning and evening. ’I do most of my writing early mornings before I have to wake my daughter for school,’ Cannon says. ‘Those quiet times are the best, because not only is she still sleeping, most other people are too.’ What does she love most about writing? ’I love creating characters and developing them into people we can all relate to on some level. Writing fiction is like forming one huge make-believe story in your head. Nothing is off limits or taboo. You can take a story wherever your mind and creativity will allow you to take it. I become so engrossed in my characters and the lives that I create for them, that I cry when they cry, I feel happiness when they do. There is a euphoric feeling that I’ve never experienced before, that I get when I am writing.’ Cannon is currently working on two novels. ‘One is the sequel to ‘This Can’t Be Life’ and the other is an experimental general fiction novel that will cross all racial barriers. I’m also working on a self-help book titled ‘How Your Thoughts Can Ruin Your Life,’ with hopes of teaching our youth the positive-thinking concept. I truly believe that anything we want to accomplish is possible if we first monitor and control how we think. A lot of people don’t realize how detrimental negativity can be, especially in regard to our inner dialogue.’ Cannon decided to self-publish her first novel after having a hard time finding an agent. ’I wrote query letter after query letter, which was harder than writing the actual novel! But in the back of my head I always knew that I’d self-publish. The politics involved in being with a major publishing house and the control you lose is a bit alarming to me. Also, what people don’t realize is that even when you are published by a big publishing house, you still have to do as much work as if you were self-published, yet you make less. You have to market and promote tirelessly whether you are with one of the big boys or not. ’Yes, it takes some up-front money to do it on your own, but the control you have is priceless,’ Cannon continues. ‘Distribution on a large scale is possible when you self-publish, you just have to do the research. My book didn’t sit for a year or until a publisher was ready to release it. It won’t go out of print unless I decide to take it out of print. I have the final say on the overall look and content of my book, and what is best of all, I’ve created a business for myself that will live on if I do things right.’ Visit the author’s Web site at www.shakaracannon.com. Her e-mail is shakara@shakaracannon.com.
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