Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz

We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book!

  • Home
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Member Login
    • About
    • Support
    • Legal Information
  • Resources
    • Free Stuff!
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • Read Our Books
    • Who to hire
  • Sign Up Today!

40 Things You Don’t Know About Me

April 1, 2015 By Shelley Hitz 2 Comments Click here for FREE training for Christian writers

ShareTweet

about shelley hitz

This month, on April 29, 2015, I will turn 40.  Yep, the BIG 4-0.  And to celebrate, I have decided to write a few posts about the number 40.  This is the first one…40 things you don’t know (or might not know) about me. You can read my official about page here, but I had more fun writing this one.

They are in no particular order of importance….enjoy!

  1. I have stood at the equator in two different places – Ecuador and Uganda.
  2. I was born in Miami, Florida and my sister was born in Denver, Colorado.  We lived in both of those cities for a short time; therefore, I spent most of my growing up years living in small towns.
  3. I lived in a small Toyota RV for 3.5 months.  I measured it once and it was only 125 square feet of living space.  I learned a lot about what you can live without.
  4. I was a finisher in the 2014 Pikes Peak Ascent and part of the PikesPeakSports.our team.  Yes…I was actually a sponsored runner!  It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done and one of my greatest accomplishments
  5. My favorite dessert is cheesecake.
  6. I was runner-up in Miss Flag City USA pageant my senior year of high school.
  7. I grew up as a PK (pastor’s kid).
  8. I won a writing contest in 5th grade. It was the first time I was paid for my writing as I won several Susan B. Anthony coins.  Little did my teacher, Mr. Oliver, know the seed he was planting into my life.
  9. I practiced as a licensed Physical Therapist for 12 years and quit my job as a Physical Therapist at the end of August 2011 to work full-time in our business and ministry.
  10. I traveled to Haiti after the earthquake to give medical care as a volunteer Physical Therapist.  Commercial flights were not entering the country yet and so they flew us in on a private plane.  I saw so much emotional and physical pain as a result of the earthquake and yet so much joy in the lives of my patients.  Such an amazing experience.
  11. I lived in Belize, Central America for two years as a volunteer/missionary.  I worked with a nonprofit organization, CARE Belize, and helped children with disabilities.  It was definitely some of the most rewarding work I’ve ever done.
  12. I have a white birthmark.  Yep…on my stomach where most people will never see it.  Trust me.
  13. I love to laugh and have fun, but I don’t like sarcasm. I believe there is always some truth to sarcasm and prefer to encourage those around me instead.
  14. My personality type via the Myers Briggs test is INFJ.  What is yours?
  15. My favorite food is Mexican.  I think I could eat it everyday if needed.
  16. My favorite color is teal. It used to be red. Maybe that’s why the Christian Book Academy logo is teal and red.
  17. I learned to drive on a stick shift car, a Chevy Sprint.  My dad said if he ever needed to go to the hospital and I was the only one to take him, I needed to know how to drive a stick.  Glad I learned.  However, I failed my first drivers test.  I was looking ahead to where I was supposed to turn and ran a stop sign.  Oops!  I still say there was a tree covering the stop sign.
  18. I played the flute in band and piccalo in marching band.  Unfortunately, I was bullied about being in the band and quit after my freshman year even though I had natural talent.  I was first chair in the band as a freshman!
  19. My favorite candy bar is Reese’s Cup.
  20. I twirled baton for a year when I was young.  Then, I played basketball throughout high school and ran track my senior year.  However, I wasn’t a great athlete.  I participated in sports more for the social interaction.
  21. I love to travel and have been to over ten countries.  We traveled to St. Maarten for my honeymoon.
  22. I attended the same high school as Ben Roethlisberger.
  23. My first kiss was during a play my 8th grade year. I had the lead role in Lumberjacks and Weddingbells and had to kiss my real-life “boyfriend” at the time in front of a live audience.  My classmates never let me live that one down!
  24. CJ and I have paid off over $150,000 of debt (not including a mortgage).  This includes school loans, but also debt we acquired from poor financial decisions.  We’ve learned a lot from our mistakes and no longer use credit cards as a result.
  25. I met my husband in prison…prison ministry that is.
  26. I love to sing and grew up performing in choirs, show choir, musicals, etc.
  27. I love getting a good bargain and am a recovering shopaholic.
  28. I’ve finished three half marathons but have no desire to do a marathon.
  29. I’ve been married for 16 years. Our friends joked that we were the greatest “Hitz” of 1998.
  30. Both of my parents have a doctorate degree and always valued education. My stepdad also has a doctorate degree and graduated from MIT.
  31. I was a speaker before I was an author.
  32. I committed my life to Christ my junior year of high school.
  33. I am a tea drinker. Love coffee but coffee doesn’t love me.
  34. My favorite Girl Scout cookies are Samoas.
  35. I love adventure and have been white water rafting, snorkeling, and repelling.
  36. CJ and I drove a 1989 Suburban from Ohio to Belize…over 3000 miles.  Oh, the stories we could tell from that trip!
  37. I have the gift of sleep. Once I slept through a fire happening across the street with multiple fire trucks, police sirens, our dog barking, etc.  Actually a bit scary, if you ask me.
  38. I used to sleepwalk when I was growing up. One morning my mom found me sound asleep under the baby grand piano.
  39. I grew up reading and collecting the books in the Nancy Drew series.
  40. I actually enjoyed gross anatomy when I was studying physical therapy during college and I was the one to open the body bag and make the first cut in our group. It fascinated me to study the human body in 3D (not just on paper) and actually see how everything fits together.

BONUS:  I’ve summited five 14ers in Colorado and plan to do more in the near future.  I love hiking in the mountains.  The picture below is from my FIRST 14er I summited.  What an amazing feeling!

What a fun post to write!  Did you learn anything new about me?  If so, share it in the comments below.

And if you’re interested, you can read my “official” about page here.

Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on LinkedIn

Related Posts

  • How Do You Streamline the Writing Process?
  • I Didn’t Even Brush My Teeth
  • How to Create a Link on Amazon for Book Reviewers
  • Repurposing Your Content to Reach More People
  • Why You Need to Know Your Numbers
  • Refreshed
  • 9 Black Friday Book Marketing Ideas
  • One of Our Biggest Obstacles as Writers

Filed Under: General

About Shelley Hitz

Join Our FREE Facebook Group: Kingdom Writers Community Group

Together, CJ and Shelley Hitz are passionate about equipping and empowering Christian writers of all genres to share their unique gifts with the world. This website is filled with spiritual encouragement as well as prayers to help you overcome the resistance you face as a writer. Your story matters! Our online community, Christian Book Academy, is where we help you write, self-publish and market your books. We invite you to join our community of Kingdom Writers! 

  
Get our FREE training for writers here and shop our tools and templates here.
 

Comments

  1. Lori Miller says

    March 28, 2023 at 9:57 pm

    I enjoy your writing Shelley. It’s fun and informative. I like how you share You with us, your reader.

    This piece was particularly fun and informative. What a beautiful life the Lord has created with you, for you.

    You enjoy life. Hallelujah

    Blessings

    Reply
    • Shelley Hitz says

      March 29, 2023 at 5:58 am

      Thank you, Lori! Life hasn’t always been easy but God has been good to me.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!


Meet CJ and Shelley Hitz

We understand the struggle of wanting to write your book while also wondering if it will be good enough.

Since 2010, we have helped over 1,000 writers overcome self-doubt and become published authors.

Join our community of Kingdom writers.

Finish Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day! Join the Free 5-Day Challenge


You don’t need more time. You need a proven plan. In just 5 days, get 5 quick tips to finally finish your book.

Save My Spot — I’m Ready to Write

50+ Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024


Are you looking for a list of the must-have resources for Christian writers in 2024? If so, we’ve got a list we curated from nominations from writers like you. Enjoy!
Check out the list now.

Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Onto Paper


Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90-minutes! Finally feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get Started Now.

Move Forward in God’s Call to Write


Want to see God move in even greater ways through your writing?If so, get your copy of our book, Kingdom Writers here.

Subscribe to Our Podcast

author audience podcast
Subscribe to the Podcast:
 Apple Podcasts |    RSS

Connect With Us Online!

Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel



Get Email Updates from the Blog

 Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe by Email

Take a Step of Faith and Finally Publish Your Book!



Join Christian Book Academy www.christianbookacademy.com

Contact Us | Legal Information | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms of Service



Copyright © 2025 Training Authors, a division of Body and Soul Publishing LLC - All Rights Reserved. Log in


Disclosure: Some of the links in the page above may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."