About Me

I am Shelby Wagner, author of the award-winning memoir/self-help book, "Learning to Dance in the Rain - Surviving Grief, Internet Dating and Romance Scams" and "SCAMS: A Resource Guide". Both books were written to help readers struggling with life’s difficult times such as relationship issues, love, loss, grief, self-improvement, and late-in-life dating issues including internet dating and scams.

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If you have recently lost a love partner, you need to read my books! If you are single and lonely, then you need to read my books! If you get phone calls or emails trying to get you to buy something, you need to read my books! You must learn how to avoid becoming the victim of scammers. That is one of the issues covered in my books.

Who am I, you may ask. I come from a humble background, born of a young farm couple, just after the beginning of World War II. I had the unique experience of being born in my grandparents’ old farmhouse, which was the same one in which my mother and her siblings were born. My dad was drafted into the Marines and Mom and I lived with my grandparents until he returned from the war. Dad first tried planting cotton in Arkansas, but when I was eight we relocated to Michigan because …he had obtained a job there as a carpenter. He was a hard worker and eventually owned his own construction business. My mother was a stay-at-home mom who worked in retail and when my brother, sister and I were grown, she started her own antique business.

I became a teacher when I grew up. I earned three college degrees, an MA in education from MSU, a BA and BMusic from OU, Rochester, MI. I retired from teaching elementary music for the Oxford School District in 2000 and I have been a church organist and/or choir director for over 65 years.

In 1966 I married Robert John Wagner, a mechanical Engineer at GMC Truck and Bus, and together, we raised two children.

We relocated to Tennessee when I retired from teaching in 2000. There we built a house with seventeen sides on the side of a big hill. We had lots of windows and a beautiful view of the Smoky Mountains from each window.

Robert passed away in 2016 and I moved back to Michigan to be close to my daughter. Adventures during my grieving journey led me to share some stories which I had hoped would save people from broken hearts, and empty bank accounts. I did become an award-winning author, but financial losses due to scammers continue to escalate.

I have had the honor of being listed in the 2023-2024 Edition of the distinguished Marquis Who’s Who.in America, and the 1990-1991 Edition of Marquis Who’s Who in the Midwest.

When I am not at my computer writing, I enjoy line dancing, reading, movies, live theater, concerts, karaoke, kayaking, playing card games with my only grandson and being with my family and friends. I am currently fulfilling a lifetime dream by taking ballroom dancing lessons with my new partner, Rick. In my spare time I also enjoy Meet-the-Author and Book-Signing Events where I can connect with fans.