Experience a 'day in the life' as Shannon kicks off her spring 2008 season, traveling around the country sharing her messages & music of hope!

SEE where she'll be appearing next!

First Presbyterian Church, Ft. Worth, TX - July 29, 2008: Well, for once, this was a road trip instead of a plane trip....and a nice break for me from the hectic schedule of getting my book ready for release in February 2009! My great friend Tammy tagged along, and when we got to the venue we were greeted with warm sunshine and even warmer hostesses. This version of Whole Woman Beauty was billed as a "summer treat" for attendees - a chance to enjoy great food (including a huge pile of chocolate brownies), great friends and a great message about developing a sense of beauty that progresses from the inside out....and that is exactly what we did! Afterwards, Tammy and I ventured out into downtown Ft. Worth for, of all things, authentic Chicago-style pizza...proving once again that you can take the travels out of the calendar, but you can't take the traveler out of the girl. ;) Stay tuned for even more traveling adventures as we prepare for my fall tour season!

Central Christian College, McPherson, KS - April 15, 2008: My first visit to McPherson, KS, was memorable before I even left Houston! The flights were all on time. There was no fog, rain, sleet, ice or snow. My guitar fit snugly in the overhead compartments and the flight attendants welcomed both it and me aboard with courtesy and warmth. It just got better when I arrived on campus. The weather was sunny and warm. My hosts welcomed me like a long-lost friend, and I had many friendly chats with students and staff after the morning Beauty Undressed and evening Concerts for Life events. Oh, and my returning flights were just as prompt and uneventful-making this trip a truly memorable occasion in my spring tour schedule. All in all, just say the word and I'll be back!

Tiffin College, Tiffin, OH - March 28, 2008: As we approached Tiffin, OH, two notable events occurred. The first was that I suddenly lost all cell phone signal. The second was an ominous dakening in the sky overhead. But then, just as we entered the township, the sky suddenly cleared (no such luck with the cell phone however) and the sun broke through. My brother had told me how beautiful Ohio is in the spring, and I could begin to see glimpses of this in the surrounding countryside. We kicked off the evening with a lively group dinner and then headed over to the college, where I presented Beauty Undressed to a small but enthusiastic crowd. I found even the airport security personnel to be warm & friendly, and one TSA employee finally explained to mystery of why my guitar gets searched EVERY time I run it through the scanner! That alone made the trip worthwhile, but there was so much more as well!

Malone College, Canton, OH - March 25-27, 2008: I kicked off my weeklong tour of ohio with a three day stop in northern Canton, at small, picturesque Malone College. I have to say, I didn't expect Ohio to be so COLD! But the warm and loving people I met more than made up the difference. Right from the start, I felt welcomed with such genuine enthusiasm-even right down to arriving back at my guesthouse to find a note on the door from a student neighbor 'we're glad you're here!' I gave presentations all three days, and in between held private meetings with students and staff. I also met a very talented yong jewelry designer named Jillian who you will hear more about in coming months! Stay tuned...

Rhodes College, Memphis, TN - March 18, 2008: It was quite clear from the very start that this would be no ordinary excursion. Memphis itself holds strong memories for me. My freshman year of college I attended Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) - at least for the first two and a half months of the semester, until my eating disorder and a related performance injury sent me packing for good. It took over a decade to rebuild my life, so returning to share a Beauty Undressed event felt like a personal triumph! Continental Airlines pitched in to make my return even more memorable by cancelling my flights both to and from, requiring me to draw on reserves of patience and perseverance that impressed even me! ;) I finally arrived at Rhodes scarcely 1/2 hour before the event was scheduled to start. The entire evening was student-run, and I was incredibly impressed with the resourcefulness of the student leaders. I wish I had been that organized and efficient at their age! We had a wonderful, intimate event, followed by a night in historic downtown Memphis, where we traded stories and got to know one another a bit better. Thank you, Rhodes, for your beauty, grace and warm welcome - hope to see you again very soon!

Trent University, Petersborough, ON, Canada - March 11, 2008: After an online weather report of -14C, I quickly concluded that Canada was no place for a thin-blooded Southerner like myself to be visiting. But I have to say, fifteen whole minutes in Canada had completely changed my mind! Petersborough (pronounced with a silent 's') is stunning. That pretty much sums it up. Blinding sunshine, piles of white snow, REAL Canadian geese (although what they were doing so far north this time of year we never figured out!), great food, and the friendliest people I've met outside the midwest....what's not to love? My hotel room looked out over a pristine deep blue lake with duck families navigating between the small ice 'islands' bobbing in the currents. The Beauty Undressed event took place in a huge but homey historic theatre in the township centre, and we all stayed around for over an hour afterwards talking and sharing ideas and thoughts. The Trent University students are bright, ambitious and highly intuitive - some of their thesis topics gave me such hope for our future! Thank you, Trent, for such a warm welcome to a first-timer. I hope to see you again soon!

Baylor University, Waco, TX - March 5, 2008: I arrived at Baylor on a suuny, breezy afternoon pretty enough to rival my first visit a few weeks prior. After a joyous reunion with Van, my hostess and the powerhouse coordinator of Baylor's campus ED awareness committee, Body IQ, we headed off to get all set up for that evening. This time I was there to share music and personal stories with the staff and students through a KTL event called Concerts For Life. In addition to a unique and powerful interactive display called 'The Progression of an Eating Disorder', Van had literally papered the campus with posters and flyers promoting the concert, and as the time drew near the audience poured in. The Panhellenic Council had encouraged Greek groups to attend, and it seemed like they were all represented that night. We laughed and shared together what it means to be human, both frail and incredibly strong. Another wonderful visit-thank you, Baylor, for your heart for all who are hurting. you ARE making a difference!

Hudson County Community College, Jersey City, NJ - March 3, 2008: I knew this would be no ordinary trip from the beginning. For starters, all the flights were on time. There was no snow, no fog, no rain, no air traffic control mismanageement. I was elated - who ever said air travel was a chore! Then I got into Jersey City and checked into my hotel, and the rosy picture started to fade a bit. It appeared I had arrived in the middle of a gang war as the elevator let me off at the 'quiet' floor I had requested. My room keys locked me OUT, not in. The whole phone system was down. The vending machines didn't have m&m's. Oh the hardships! But then I got to the college and the students started to trickle in. For the first time ever, I presented Beauty Undressed to a crowd of mostly young men. And they were the liveliest, most intelligent, inquisitive, intuitive bunch! They had so many great questions, so many tough issues that they tackled without the slightest hesitation in a group setting. Their courage was unmistakeable. And utterly inspiring. I felt honored and humbled to have shared time with such proactive, progressive students, and left inspired that our future rests in good hands!

Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO - Feb. 28, 2008: I arrived at the Colorado Springs airport around 11pm to see the smiling face of my hostess for the next two days, Latoya. She whisked me away through the crisp, (refreshingly) snow-free night and 20 minutes later we arrived at the utterly charming hall where my event would take place the next evening. I was lodged literally next door to the event hall-talk about a short commute! Latoya & I breakfasted the next morning at a local student hotspot, where we had the best coffee & meal i'd had my whole trip. It was so good I persuaded her to take me back again that night for dinner! The Beauty Undressed event itself faced fierce competition from a 'War on Terror' lecture and student jazz recital, but we had a small, friendly group gathered to discuss the impact eating disorders have had on our lives. At the end, we challenged participants to take a fresh look in the mirror beside the literature table and begin to connect to the unique beauty they have to enjoy and share. Then I trotted off to the unwind with some excellent student jazz! The next morning I departed-on time-and in the full light of sunbeams pouring down on us from a cloudless, blue sky. Colorado, I love you, but I'm in LOVE with your weather! Hope to see you again very soon.

Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA - Feb. 27, 2008: Yes, what was I saying about a perfectly timed day...at least, that was, until I got back to the MO airport and encountered another four hour delay before boarding my flight to Philadelphia. Airline attendants joked with me that their nickname for the Philly airport is 'phila-DELAY-phia'. Har har har. :) But hey, what else were we supposed to do to pass the time? After a harrowing midnite cab ride, I was SO happy to see my hosts, Natalie & Ivan. We became good friends last year when I visited their college for a Beauty Undressed NEDAW event. I was back this year to be greeted by a host of friendly faces-including students who had attended the year before, as well as Good News ezine subscribers I had only met over email. How fun! We had such a good time and the Q&A afterwards was so lively that we were hard-pressed to eat and get me back to the airport for my flight out to Colorado. Thanks, BCCC, for another year of great memories!

Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH - Feb. 26, 2008: If I thought my stay at Cottey was brief, it was only because I hadn't been to CSCC yet! A tight travel schedule had me flying in and out of MO the same day-with just enough time for a quick Beauty Undressed event sandwiched in between. My event coordinators had planned the day down to the tiniest detail, with exhibitors, healthy snacks, and even sign language interpreters on hand! I presented Beauty Undressed in a lovely theatre setting and stayed around for over an hour talking with participants before rushing back to the airport. All in all, it was a perfectly timed day...

Cottey College, Nevada, MO - Feb. 25, 2018: Houston was warm & wonderful when I returned home from my icey travels the previous week. So the last thing I expected was a five hour delay the next morning departing from houston-due to fog! But fog was nothing next to the rollercoaster ride I took a few hours later, ricocheting from one side of the snowy interstate taking me from kansas city airport to nevada, MO, home of the small all-women Cottey College. I found both staff & students as warm as their weather was cold. The program took place in an intimate setting, with a friendly crowd of pj's & sweats-clad students clustered together around large round tables. Participation was lively and we laughed together even as we journeyed through an exploration of the hard real-life issues facing women-and men today. I felt so at home at Cottey and was sad my stay was so brief! P.S. I am told Nevada is NOT pronounced like the state. Think "Ne-VAY'dah".

Blackburn College, Carlinville, IL - Feb. 20, 2008: Blackburn....whenever I think of Blackburn College in the future, my first memory will be of snow. My first inkling that this would be no ordinary trip occurred as my student chauffeur expertly navigated me along the highway towards our destination. 'What is that stuff flying at us?', I asked him. 'Is that bugs?' 'No, Shannon,' he laughed, 'that's snow!' I was charmed. The next morning, with nothing much scheduled until my event that evening, I decided to venture out for a snowy walk. Spying a large, round, flat area, I thought, 'That looks nice - I'll go walk there.' I almost walked onto an iced-over pond! After that I decided to confine myself indoors until after the event. Given the zero degree temperates, continuing snowfall and freezing winds, I was impressed by the number of students who braved the elements to attend. Each student stayed until the very last, lining up one by one to sign the I Have A Dream of a World FREE from Eating Disorders Petition of Hope. Thank you, Blackburn! I ended my trip with a two-day stay at the St. Louis airport, somewhat less charmed by the snowfall than I had been initially. But I am home now, safe and sound, warmed by my memories of the wonderful people I met in TX, IL and MO, and preparing to head out to the East Coast tomorrow. Wish me luck!!

Collin County College, Plano, TX - Feb. 19, 2008: My first impression of the Collin County College was a huge, warm, enveloping hug by my event coordinator, Donna. Seldom have I presented at a campus with such extensive literature on eating disorders. The counseling center staff had mobilized for the day, providing not only the literature, but their personal participation and healthy lunches for all the attendees (including not one but two gourmet lunches for yours truly - yum!) I presented Beauty Undressed to a packed house, and they actually had to bring in extra chairs to accommodate all the students who wanted to be a part. I stayed on for over an hour afterward talking with students and staff, listening to their stories and offering ideas for how to approach loved ones who might be suffering. My visit ended (much too soon) as it had begun, with warm hugs from students and staff, and promises to keep in touch. Collin County, I miss you already!

Baylor University, Waco, TX - Feb 18, 2008: I kicked off my spring tour yesterday in sunny Waco, TX. I had no idea that Waco was so pretty - the Baylor campus shone in the sunlight! And the sun seemed to have taken up residence in my campus guides as well - they spoiled me rotten! From roses, fruit and my own Baylor ballcap waiting when I walked into my hotel room, to gourmet meals attended by the friendliest staff and students I've met yet, my heart was won over from the moment I rolled into town. I told my manager I might become a diva yet! I spoke to almost 2,000 freshman students, and once again my heart was moved as both male and female students of all backgrounds and nationalities approached me afterwards to share their private stories and struggles. One trio of young women in particular has stayed with me in my heart - the young woman in the center of the trio expressed severe anguish over her weight from the pressure of family and friends, and her two friends could hardly let her get a word in edgewise, so eager were they to let her know she was beautiful just the way she is and they love her. I continued on my way inspired and moved by the Baylor staff & students' beauty and courage!