Conversations with the Inspiring DeAnna ‘mzDeeVa’ Shields

Today we’d like to introduce you to DeAnna ‘mzDeeVa’ Shields.

DeAnna, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story, multifaceted as it can be, is fair to begin on what motivated the brand of #askDeeVa.
When my three children were younger, my husband was killed in the Iraq war (2004). It took until the year of 2007 before I went to a therapist to sort out my grief as to how confused and lost it had left me.

After a few years of therapy and entering Psychology courses, I took a brave step to begin a podcast on Blog Talk Radio. Near 60,000 listeners later, I felt I had found my niche, as relationships, healing and heartbreak were often the topics of many episodes.

That is where #askDeeVa was born. I shared an email on social media platforms and women and men would ask relationship questions that would air or I would create a blog or vlog to share tips on how to overcome the obstacles they were facing.

I moved the podcast over to multiple streaming platforms as I took a break from Blog Talk Radio and the audience was able to expand with listeners as far away as London, India, and Africa.

The writing of my books would start at this beginning of the brand, as my thoughts would often explore podcast topics long after the episodes would end. So far, I’ve self-published 6 books since 2010.

What begins as a step to move through my grieving process has branched out into a growing brand that I work hard with only my fiancé as a team member assisting with technology year-round.

The addition to the #askDeeVa brand is my online book club. ‘DeeVas Book Club’, which is run by volunteer and President Sonia Atkins out of Mobile, Alabama.

My children are now adults and we have seen a lot of change in our grief process, from my daughters, one nurse, one Dental Assistant, and their marriages to their soldiers, becoming Army wives and Moms, to my son as he walks his new journey as a Police Officer recruit with his beautiful girlfriend on her journey towards Teaching Special Needs students… as well as getting to know my Personal Trainer and fiancé and planning this new life ahead… all of this motivates my passion for the #askDeeVa brand as there are many stories to tell, a word of advice to share and a mission I stay on daily, ‘to change lives, one reader, one listener at a time’.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A ‘Smooth road’ description would water down every inch of the years I’ve experienced even before 2004! Grief took me through a lot, yet life as an abused wife in my first marriage had already shown me near the worst the world could bring. There are just so many stages of grief from loss and tragedy, and as you conquer a few stages, you end up falling into another. Quiet and meditation are a mandatory lifestyle towards healing after what I’ve experienced over the years.

I took a lot of the obstacles and challenges to pen as I wrote my first memoir…writing first as a letter to my daughters and then begin to share with small numbers of women around the world. I learned there was healing while writing, so it became a necessity for me.

A term I would tell my children often when facing obstacles is to ‘exercise patience’ as we never knew what would come after that tragic knock on our door in 2004, and it takes patience to expect the unexpected!

For young women beginning their journey, I want you to embrace the fact that not one thing ever stays the same, and if you can understand this in its full capacity of meaning, you will weather the storms if they come blowing down life as you know it.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of. What sets you apart from the competition?
In my work, I am a Relationship Coach who hosts the #askDeeVa podcast that talks about relationships and in my spare time, I write books, yes you guessed it… about relationships! It’s my niche, it’s my passion, it is the legacy I desire to leave with my children, grandchildren, and people across the globe.

My unique story, my passion for sharing my story, grief, and heartbreaks with others, as many times as requested, is likely the only thing I would be able to pinpoint from my perspective as what may set me apart from others. However, we all have a story that matters, so mine is not more important than any other beautiful person who steps outside to share what they have gone through in life.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Social media is filled with mentors on nearly any subject you can imagine. Filter your pages to keep the negative content away if you can and allow yourself the opportunity to reach out to others across the globe and outside of your norm by way of social media. It has inspired me for years to use this method and I have several mentors in several categories since joining and networking on social media platforms.

Pricing:

• Books range from $1 – $25 (Amazon, online, in-person)
• Relationship Coaching Sessions (price varies)

Contact Info:

• Address: Contact via email: mividanow@gmail.com or DM via social media @mzDeeVa4you
• Email: mividanow@gmail.com
• Instagram: MzDeeVa4you
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/DeeVaBlogs/?ref=bookmarks
• Twitter: www.Twitter.com/MzDeeVa4you

Image Credit:
#askDeeVa podcast photo. Brent ‘Reborn’ Nero

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