ABOUT THE BOOK
I was the girl who did everything right.
I loved Jesus, saved myself for marriage, and stood by my convictions when millions were watching on national television. From the outside, my story appeared to be marked by faith, obedience, and success. But beneath the image, cracks were forming.
Years of striving, disappointment, anxiety, unmet expectations, and performance-based faith slowly led me somewhere I never thought I would go—and into choices I never imagined I would make.
Then the image I had tried so hard to keep intact shattered.
I was faced with a question I had spent most of my life trying to avoid: Who am I when everything falls apart?
Out of Focus is my raw and redemptive story of discovering that God’s grace is not reserved for people who get it right. It is for prodigals and wanderers, for people carrying secrets, regrets, and shame, and for anyone who has ever wondered if they have gone too far, failed too badly, or wasted too much of their life for God to still use them.
With honesty, vulnerability, and hope, I share the untold story behind the image—the rise, the fall, the consequences, and the God who never stopped pursuing me through it all. I learned that you cannot outrun the love of God, outsin the grace of God, or disqualify yourself from His mercy.
When the life you built falls apart, the person in the mirror feels unrecognizable, and shame whispers that your story is over, the Anchor still holds.
Even when everything feels out of focus.
And if God can redeem my story, He can redeem yours too.
Foreword by Joyelle Lee
Founder, Barn45 Ministries
Advance Praise for Out of Focus
Shannon may be beautiful on the outside, but her inner beauty is by far her greatest feature.
Her rock-solid faith in her Savior, forged through trials that came with life in the spotlight, comes alive in these pages. And she doesn't hold back or sugarcoat her failures! But the overriding theme of Out of Focus is Shannon's hope-filled message that you can't earn or out-sin God's relentless grace. Read and be encouraged!
—Michael W. and Debbie Smith
This is a beautiful reminder that God’s grace is always greater than our greatest failures. Shannon’s courage to tell the truth points readers to the One who restores what shame tries to destroy. Her honesty, humility, and unwavering focus on Jesus make this a powerful testimony of redemption that will leave readers with greater hope in God’s unfailing grace.
—Danny & Leyicet Gokey
In a world that constantly tells us to earn our worth through achievement, appearance, and approval, Shannon Stewart offers a refreshing reminder that our identity was never meant to be found in what we do, but in whose we are. Out of Focus is a vulnerable and powerful journey of discovering what happens when we stop striving for the applause of people and start resting in the love of Christ. Shannon's honesty, wisdom, and faith will encourage readers to release the pressure to perform and embrace the freedom that comes from being fully known and deeply loved by God.
— Lauren Burns, Author of Stolen: True Story Kidnapped, Rescued, Redeemed and Host of The Redeemed Podcast
Shannon’s story is a powerful reminder that our identity was never meant to be built on being the 'good girl,' getting it right, or maintaining appearances, but on the unshakable grace of God. If you’ve ever felt disqualified by your mistakes, exhausted by striving, or desperate for a fresh encounter with Jesus, this book will remind you that redemption is never out of reach and that God still makes beauty from ashes.
— Christy Osborne, Author of Love Life Sober
When I met Shannon, she was the human embodiment of innocence. Today, she is a seasoned veteran of life, ready to share her story with those willing to understand and accept that we are all hopelessly human behind our sparkling smiles. Shannon has walked through the trials and tribulations that shape a person’s character, and she lays them bare in these pages. But to me, she will always be that sweet, doe-eyed kid.
— Adrianne Curry, winner of America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 1
Coming February 23, 2027
Out of Focus is currently in the publishing process and will be released on February 23, 2027.
Be sure to check back for:
• Cover reveal
• Behind-the-scenes updates
• Preorder information
• Launch events and appearances
The journey isn’t over yet—and I’d love for you to be part of it.