Shelly Snow Pordea:
Defying the Gatekeepers
When Shelly was falsely accused of stealing intellectual property, she found herself up against powerful figures in the publishing world. What followed was a defining moment of self-advocacy, resilience, and a deep reckoning with her own worth.
Bio
Shelly Snow Pordea is a storyteller at heart. Whether through novels, nonfiction, or children’s books, she weaves words that connect, heal, and inspire. Her journey began with Tracing Time, a beloved time travel romance that continues to captivate readers, consistently ranking among the top in its category on Amazon Kindle.
A passionate advocate for recovery and resilience, Shelly speaks openly about her experience as a cult survivor, helping others find their own path to healing. Her personal story is also at the core of an upcoming dramatic series, which she is co-writing with her brother, actor Jon Snow. Together, they are bringing their lived experiences to life in a way that is both deeply personal and universally compelling.
Beyond fiction, Shelly’s heartwarming children’s book, The Hug Who Had No Arms, quickly became a favorite, debuting as a bestseller on Amazon. Through this charming story, she celebrates the beauty of differences and the many ways we can express love.
Her latest novel, The Cheating Wife, takes a raw and honest look at the emotional aftermath of toxic manipulation and control. Drawing from her own journey of breaking free from a cult, Shelly crafts a powerful story of resilience, self-discovery, and the strength it takes to reclaim one’s life.
Shelly is excited to debut the first book of her new Flight Risk Spy series, The Night We Met, in March of 2025, with three other books following within the year.
Follow along on social media @shellysnowpordea for updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and more stories that touch the heart.
Topics
- How to stand up for yourself in a high-stakes professional situation
- Overcoming self-doubt after a career setback
- The hidden power dynamics in creative industries
- The importance of intellectual property ownership for creatives
- Transitioning from dependency on gatekeepers to independent success
- The emotional toll of false accusations—and how to rebuild
- Investing in yourself when the odds feel stacked against you
- How to recognize and break free from undervaluing your own work
- Finding resilience after professional betrayal
- How creatives can protect their work and avoid exploitation
Guiding Questions
- Can you take us back to the moment you first learned about the accusation against you?
- How did you initially react, and what emotions did you experience during that time?
- What gave you the courage to stand up for yourself in such a difficult situation?
- Looking back, how do you think this experience changed your perception of your own value?
- What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in the aftermath of the situation?
- You mentioned going through a period of self-doubt—how did you pull yourself out of it?
- What steps did you take to regain control of your career and financial stability?
- What advice would you give to other creatives about protecting their intellectual property?
- How did this experience shape your approach to working with clients today?
- If you could go back and talk to yourself at the start of this ordeal, what would you say?