Official Site of Author
Shawn Léon Nowotnik
Shawn Léon Nowotnik makes the argument to his readers that everything in this world is a narrative. And that everybody has a narrative—a narrative, if willing, they can change. Whether you suffer from mental health, addiction, family, spiritual, financial, or other issues his books can help you. Sometimes, all you need are the right words at the right time to change how you see the world… including yourself.
Books
AVAILABLE MARCH 2026
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The Space Between Heaven & Healing
When grief shattered his world, therapist, and author Shawn Léon Nowotnik stepped into the deepest spiritual questions of his life. In the wake of his son’s death, he found himself wrestling with God, revisiting childhood trauma, confronting guilt, and discovering the
unexpected tenderness hidden in silence.
The Space Between Heaven & Healing is a deeply human story of loss, faith, doubt, and redemption.
Shawn writes with vulnerability and clarity, guiding readers through the emotional terrain of grief while exploring the spiritual truths that slowly emerge when everything else falls apart. From Aquinas to C.S. Lewis, from prayer to forgiveness, from anger to grace, his journey becomes an invitation for readers to explore their own.
This book is for anyone who has loved and lost, questioned their faith, struggled with forgiveness, or wondered how to keep living when life no longer makes sense. Here, Shawn shows that healing doesn’t come all at once, it comes quietly, as we learn to breathe again, trust again, and believe that God meets us gently in the space between sorrow and hope.
AMAZON
$14.95 +S&H
F*ck Happiness
In a society inundated with messages exalting the pursuit of happiness as life's ultimate goal, Shawn Léon Nowotnik's F*ck Happiness emerges as a bold antidote—a rallying cry against the shallow promises of a happiness-obsessed world. Within the provocative title lies a profound revelation: happiness, as we've come to understand it, is but a mirage, a fleeting illusion that dissipates upon closer inspection.
Nowotnik fearlessly challenges the prevailing cultural narrative that equates happiness with success and fulfillment. Through insightful prose and unfiltered truths, he invites readers on a journey beyond the confines of societal expectations, urging them to question the very foundations of happiness as a destination. Instead, he advocates for a paradigm shift—a reorientation towards authenticity, depth, and the pursuit of meaning.
The book dismantles the facade of happiness perpetuated by media, self-help gurus, and social norms, exposing the detrimental effects of its commercialization on mental well-being. By dissecting the transient nature of happiness and its reliance on external validation, Nowotnik encourages readers to liberate themselves from the happiness trap and embrace the richness of the human experience in all its complexity.
Central to F*ck Happiness is the exploration of authenticity as a cornerstone of personal fulfillment. Nowotnik illuminates the societal pressures that stifle individuality, urging readers to reclaim their true selves amidst a landscape of conformity. Through candid anecdotes and incisive analysis, he underscores the transformative power of embracing one's authenticity, despite the fear of judgment or societal backlash.
More than a mere critique of happiness culture, F*ck Happiness serves as a manifesto for self-discovery and liberation. It challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths, question entrenched beliefs, and chart a course toward genuine contentment rooted in authenticity and purpose.
With humor, wit, and an unapologetic voice, Nowotnik delivers a rallying call to arms—a call to transcend the superficial pursuit of happiness and embrace the messy, imperfect beauty of the human experience. F*ck Happiness is not a rejection of joy, but rather an affirmation of the depth and richness that lie beyond its fleeting facade—a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in its search for meaning.
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$14.95 +S&H
Habits of Successful People illustrates how habits are powerful and completely in your control. Learn the empowering beliefs and transformative habits that will help you achieve whatever you desire in life. Discover how to make your dreams come true by learning how to think, plan, and take action like the most successful people in the world.
Through research and one-on-one conversations with many of the most successful actors, athletes, authors, business leaders, creators, doctors, directors, musicians, producers, researchers, and titans of industry Shawn has compiled this amazing book of habits.
Habits of Successful People will show you that there is nothing stopping you from succeeding, no matter who you are, where you come from or how much education you have. The only question is what are you waiting for?
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$10.95 +S&H
Mighty Words From Mighty Women is an incredible collection of motivating, inspiring, and self-affirming quotes that will challenge you to change your narrative. Discover a quote a day for inspiration or read it from cover to cover all at once. Through your journey, you will gain insights into becoming the person you were meant to be.
Mighty Words From Mighty Women places women in the spotlight where they belong, shining a light on those who may be struggling in life. Sometimes, all you need are the right words at the right time to change how you see the world… including yourself.
Mighty Words From Mighty Women is a collection of powerful, meaningful, and inspirational quotes from adventurers, artists, authors, civil rights activists, doctors, educators, humanitarians, inventors, orators, philosophers, poets, politicians, revolutionaries, scientists, and titans of industry. Everyone from Audrey Hepburn to Zendaya shares their words of hope, wisdom, and empowerment.
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Louder Than Bombs is an incredible collection of motivating, inspiring, and self-affirming quotes that will challenge you to change your narrative. Read a quote a day for inspiration or read it from cover to cover all at once. Through your journey, you will gain insights into becoming the person you were meant to be.
Artist, author, and therapist Shawn Léon Nowotnik presents a collection of powerful, meaningful, and inspirational quotes from adventurers, artists, authors, civil rights activists, doctors, economists, educators, humanitarians, inventors, orators, philosophers, poets, politicians, psychologists, revolutionaries, scientists, and titans of industry. Everyone from Albert Einstein to Helen Keller to Walt Disney and Malala, share their words of hope, wisdom, and empowerment.
Bio
Shawn Léon Nowotnik, MSW, LCSW, is a Chicago-based author, mental health therapist, artist, and filmmaker. He understands firsthand how loss, mental health, and addiction can affect every aspect of a person’s life, including their narrative. Shawn was forced to reevaluate his own narrative when he lost his oldest son to suicide.
Today, Shawn focuses his energy on empowering others as an author and therapist, developing holistic treatment programs, advocating to improve how mental health and addiction disorders are treated, and researching and writing about social issues.
Shawn is available for public and private speaking engagements, keynote speeches, and panel discussions. A passionate and engaging presenter, Shawn speaks to topics focused in the areas of addiction, community, mental health, narrative, and social issues, and he offers personal insight into the greatest issues that face us as a society.
Events
F*ck Happiness Book Tour
Book Signing Events:
Book Launch for F*CK HAPPINESS - Friday, November 8, 2024 - 6:30-8:30 PM
K. Hollis Jewelers, Boutique & Wine Bar, 2030 Main St., Batavia, IL 60510
Click here to inquire about specific locations/times
NEW BOOK & TOUR
COMING MARCH 2026!
Contact
For any media inquiries, please contact Shawn at Nowotnik@aol.com