After growing up with two older brothers, Shannon Valente reached adulthood with plenty of silly stories to tell. For years she thought about writing children’s books, but could never find the time to devote to it.

It was a life-shattering diagnosis that finally prompted Shannon to follow her dreams. In 2007, at the age of 27, Shannon found out she had breast cancer. During her sixteen-month treatment, she came to regard every day—and every minute—as precious gifts. She realized there was no time like the present to pursue her true ambitions.

Shannon finally finished the two books she had started nearly 12 years earlier (Why Baby Toes Aren’t Big! and The Puddle That Ate My Boot!) and, inspired by the birth of her nephew Cash Barrett, went on to complete a third (Trucks, Trains  and Worm Brains).

Today, Shannon is a 29-year-old breast cancer survivor of 2 years. She lives in Calgary with her husband Kevin, golden retriever Riley, and calico cat Nala.

For the past year, Shannon has served as a volunteer for Rethink Breast Cancer, a non-profit organization devoted to the education and support of young people who have been affected by the disease. During her diagnosis and treatment, Shannon’s books provided her with a much-needed diversion, and she hopes they will bring others the same sense of optimism. In Shannon’s own words: “The past two years has been a journey I did not choose—it chose me. But I can choose where to go from here, and I can choose to make a difference.”

Photo courtesy of Kristy Reimer Photography