Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Carpenter.
Hi Shannon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started as an at-home dad 15 years ago. Well, now it’s closer to 16 years. I worked for Adult Protective Services as an elder abuse investigator for almost a decade before my daughter was born. A few months before my son was born, my wife and I decided that I should be the one to stay home. And for years, that is what I did, adding one more to our family. Vivi, Wyatt, Ollie, and I had grand adventures, like seeing the world’s largest pair of underwear. I joined a dads group, and for the last 16 years, we have raised 16 kids together. But as time went on, I became discouraged by the type of advice that was out there for fathers. It was primarily condescending or just plain wrong. So I decided to do something about that. Before my youngest went to school, I wrote the book The Ultimate Stay-At-Home Dad. It’s meant as a practical and actionable book that gives fathers the support they deserve. I got my agent and then signed with Penguin Books. I had always written, but not at this national level. From there, things exploded. I have a weekly column on The Good Men Project and have written for national publications such as CNN and The Atlantic. I’ve given interviews about parenting from a father’s perspective to Good Morning America, Forbes, The Washington Post, and many others. All I wanted to do was give fathers the support they deserve. Then it snowballed, and here we are. I’m still a stay-at-home dad, but nowadays, I deal with college admissions with my oldest daughter, algebra with my son, and volleyball with my youngest. There is still plenty to do!
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A writer’s life is about rejection, from obtaining an agent, a publishing house, and even your book making its way into Hollywood. It’s more likely that you’ll get more “no” than “yes.” But all you need is that one, yes. So, my philosophy with writing has always been to keep showing up to see what happens. My book is currently in front of producers, TV writers, and production companies. Then, the writer’s strike happened. So, who knows what will happen on that end? And that’s fine, I keep showing up. And finding time to write as a full-time parent is difficult. I’ve written half my stuff in the stands of a volleyball practice or soccer field. As my kids are older now, it’s gotten easier, but there are days when I have to put the writing away and focus only on being a father. Which is fine, because I love being a dad.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Primarily, I write about modern parenting through the eyes of a father. From there, I’ve been able to join in the national conversation about parenting, and I am grateful for that. The best way to reach dads and begin to change how we are perceived is through humor. I graduated from Second City to help hone my writing. Dads aren’t openly sentimental, and many of us are also practical. We want specific advice we can act on—everything from which stroller we need to buy to how I help my kid get into college. I’ve done a lot to be proud of, but what gets me, what makes me humble, is when dads reach out to me to let me know that I’ve made a difference in their lives. They cite an article I’ve written about male loneliness published at CNN or a chapter of my book. Hearing that, and what it means to them, is overwhelming in the best way. Writers are typically solitary, and we rarely know how our words affect the world. Seeing it happen is worth more than any publication or publishing house I’ve signed with. As for what sets me apart, it’s my voice. I have a unique take on parenting that focuses on the failures rather than the successes. But with that, I use humor to make a point. The Good Morning America host called me “A real dude.” I have no idea what that really means, to be honest, lol. But it means I’m authentic in my writing, and I hope that comes through to my parents.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
The amount of hidden adventures and treasures here in Kansas City is unbelievable. You can hold a 200-year-old book about the Lewis and Clark expedition at the Missouri Valley Room. You can pet and feed buffalo at the hoofed animal enclosure. We have some of the best chocolatiers in the world right here in KC. You would only realize There is so much to explore if you spent time looking for them. What I like least is some of the politics, of course. I hate that we don’t have local control of our police force. That needs to change. But we have people fighting for that change, and I’m happy to support them if I can.
Pricing:
- You can you copy of the Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad for about 17 bucks!
Contact Info:
- Website: ShannonCarpenterAuthor.com
- Instagram: @Hossmanathome53
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hossman53/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-carpenter-8012661b7/
- Twitter: @HossmanAtHome
- TikTok: ShannonCarpenterAuthor
