“I came to understand that telling stories is a stupendously significant personal power.”

Shanaya, born in El Paso, TX, now resides in Phoenix, AZ.

She’s previously lived in Los Angeles, CA & Nashville, TN.

Shanaya is an eager travel enthusiast captivated by cultural diversity.

Shanaya Fastje

Writer || Public Motivational Speaker || WSET Level 2 Certified

Shanaya is an eloquent devotee of telling bold stories, writing with the same eccentrically poised spirit she carries herself with. Shanaya’s notable accomplishments and experiences as a galavant have metamorphosed her into an artist with a boundless nonconforming imagination. Being profoundly inspired by mythology, symbolism, and otherworldliness, Shanaya’s compositions are ambiguous, influenced by humanity’s complexities. Her fifth book Velvet Door Society, a fantasy novel, showcases an immersive narrative which evokes cognizance of common tribulations in a fashion that stirs a craving for deeper personal connections.

Shanaya yearns for constant insight and inimitable sources of stimulus, always seeking a new muse, persuaded by morning coffees and her cat Juliet. During the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, Shanaya found a companion in wine and intensified her intrigue by collecting bottles and autodidactically deepening her knowledge. In 2023, she earned the Level 2 Certification in Wine from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) with an ambitious goal of holding a diploma in the subject.

At thirteen years old, Fastje graduated high school. She was raised modestly by a stay-at-home Latinx mother and a hard-working German immigrant father, her upbringing humble yet unconventional. Shanaya’s awareness of the transient nature of existence was awakened by the swallows that nested in the porch of the house she grew up in, propelling her toward paving a path of creativity and expression.

Fastje’s broad range of talent surpasses the impression of average. At the age of twelve, Shanaya signed a traditional publishing contract for her impactful, multi-international award winning self-help book Bully in The Mirror, her fourth publication following three children’s books chronicling tales of a homeschooled student. Bully in The Mirror guides youths (and parents alike) to build a mental toolbox with the motive of encouraging stronger self-esteem while battling the effects of bullying.

Shanaya’s long list of extraordinary achievements has been highly praised and have distinguished her as an empowered young woman. She has been awarded by prominent figures including: President Barack Obama, Governor Rick Perry, Mayor John Cook (proclaiming Shanava Fastie day in El Paso, Texas), the city of Burbank, CA (honoring her with the Austin Cook Award), and many more.

Speaking

Shanaya began touring nationally as a public speaker at age ten, inspiring audiences of all ages & walks of life. She speaks with great ardor to deliver relatable message with erudition and purpose.

Shanaya has spoken at:

  • University of Southern California, USC
  • California State University: San Bernardino, CSUSB
  • University of La Verne, ULV
  • The Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA
  • Schools & libraries throughout the U.S.
  • Political & charity events

As an Intersectional Feminist and Egalitarian, Shanaya unrelentingly voices her desire to promote ideologies to cultivate a more desirable world for ourselves and each other; including anyone who experiences social inequality, oppression, & discrimination based on race, class, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity.

Social media

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