Shauna Marie (aka Shauna Coleman-Ewert) is a singer/songwriter from Oklahoma City. After years of working with indie artists via her company Legacy Artist Management, as well as doing regional radio and concert promotion, Shauna decided to send out a few of her own songs to see if she could generate any interest. She had no plans of singing and performing the songs herself, but rather was hoping to get the songs on another artist’s project. However, one particular producer, Grammy Award winning Pete Stewart, did take interest in her work and challenged her by asking, “Why don’t you sing your own songs?” “Sounds like a simple enough question, but for me, it was so much more. I considered myself a writer, not a professional singer. I love to sing, but to sing and perform in front of people? I couldn’t imagine anything more terrifying! I felt like I was going to have a panic attack just thinking about it!” she exclaims. She wasn’t kidding. “But, I couldn’t let go of the feeling God might be calling me to do something and if so, was I going to say no just because I was afraid?” So, Shauna started seeking counsel from her friends and family, as well as some of her contacts in the music business. “I wanted to be sure. Was this something God was calling me to do or just an opportunity? I think deep down I was actually looking for someone to talk me out of it!” she laughs. “But no one did.” On the advice of Stewart and some close friends, she pursued vocal lessons. “I went to see Brett Manning thinking if anyone was going to tell me it was a crazy idea and to give it up, he would. Instead, on our second day, he told me I lacked confidence. Suddenly, I had to face a fear I didn’t even realize I had. So what if I didn't want to sing in front of people? What was the big deal? Well, it's not a big deal, unless it’s keeping you from doing something God is calling you to do.” Rather than turn Shauna from the call to music, her vocal sessions with Brett actually gave her a newfound confidence. In fact, she returned to Nashville six times over the next year, to meet with and learn from veteran artists and producers like Mark Heimermann, who became a dear mentor and friend. She also continued vocal lessons with Nashville vocal coach, Sophie Shear. In one year Shauna recorded four songs with producer, Pete Stewart and returned to Oklahoma to record a fifth song with local musician and producer, Stephen Collins, to complete her debut EP. With everything going so smoothly you would think this would be the end of the story, but there was just one other thing standing in her way. For years Shauna lived with lupus, a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of a person’s body. For her, the norm had become monthly if not weekly doctor’s appointments at The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, as well as with numerous other specialists. Her medications weakened her immune system, leading to severe infections and frequent emergency room visits. She couldn’t imagine a life of singing and performing while also battling such a condition. “For years I allowed my diagnosis of lupus and inflammatory bowel disease (not to mention debilitating migraines) keep me from pursuing my dreams. I stayed in the same job year after year for fear of losing my medical insurance. I was thankful to have the job and the insurance, but wanted to be able to do so much more. When you have a chronic disease you are often told all the things you can’t do or shouldn’t do. Over time, you don’t realize how much of your life begins to revolve around your disease activity, but our God is not limited by anything in this world, including our diseases, our sin, or even death.” At that time she simply remembers praying, “Lord, if this is what you are calling me to do, you will have to do a miracle or something, because there is no way I can do this without you!” (Psalm 30:2) A month or two later, Shauna went to her primary care doctor for blood work thinking she may be having another flare. However, when she received the results, all her blood tests came back negative. In fact, all her tests came back showing no indication of disease activity at all! She was shocked! She couldn’t even remember the last time her test results came back perfect, showing not even one number out of the normal range. Thinking the lab must have made a mistake, she went to at least two other doctors for further testing. However, each time the results came back the same. She did this several times over the next year, only to have her rheumatologist finally tell her he didn’t think she had lupus at all. Call it healing, call it a perfectly timed remission, whatever happened, Shauna has no doubt it was God’s perfectly timed intervention. “Through His power, I have been able to do things I would not have been able to do otherwise. He answered my prayer and gave me the confidence and strength to push forward and overcome my fear. Now, my life, my voice, everything He has given me, I will use it all for His glory.” Shauna is planning to release her debut EP in January 2014 and couldn’t be more excited. “This is honestly something that I never would have planned or imagined, and I think that is what makes it even more amazing. When God does something, He goes all the way!” “God will not call us to do something we cannot do through Him. There are so many people in the Bible that said, ‘I can’t’ but God said, ‘With Me, you can.’ He promised Moses He would be with him, and He was. The same is true for us today. We can have peace knowing that whatever God calls us to do, He will provide everything we need to follow thru.” And if the disease comes back? “God has given me this time for a reason, and I’m going to make the most of it, for however long it lasts. We are all going to die of something, someday. But, as long as we are alive, we have a purpose and can make a difference.” And that is exactly what she plans to do, by designating a certain portion of her future music and merchandise sales to various causes, one cause being the Lupus Foundation. “I know how devastating it can feel at times to have a chronic disease. I want to encourage those out there struggling with a chronic disease or those who have a loved one with a chronic disease to not give up. While you have life, you have purpose and there is always hope.” If she could say one final thing to her fans and to those out there who hear her music? "My prayer is that somehow my journey will inspire you to overcome the fears that have been holding you back so that you can reach the full potential God has planned for your life. It’s never too late."