A local woman who – while driving drunk – sustained permanent injury in a crash in 2006 has published a book as part of her mission to be an advocate against impaired driving.
Texas County resident Shawna Buchanan’s journey to producing the book, “The Wrong Path,” began at about 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2006, when she was driving in impaired condition and crashed off of Highway 137 near Dixon Road south of Licking. Her car tore up 100-feet of fence, rolled and smashed into a telephone pole.
At that moment, Buchanan’s life changed forever. She was no longer a carefree party girl with little or no regard for the potential ramifications of her lifestyle, but a C5 quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down.
“I took too many shots, drank too many beers and then tried to drive home,” Buchanan said. “I didn’t think anything bad would ever happen to me. I thought I was too cool for that, so I lived my life like that.”
Since that life-changing event, Buchanan has worked to inform people about the risks of impaired driving. She does speaking engagements every eight weeks with troubled teens at Pathways Community Health in Rolla, and occasionally talks with students at Cabool and other nearby schools.
Now, her book addresses the matter in print form.
“My motivation to write a book stems from my motivational speaking,” Buchanan said. “It’s an autobiography that tells my story starting as a young girl. I talk about hard things I’ve been through throughout my lifetime. I just tell my story in hopes of helping people that have gone through hard times. I want to show them they can make it through tough stuff.
“Perseverance is key. You can go through battles and come out a survivor!” 
Buchanan said her future plans could include a Facebook page dedicated to the book, and perhaps a second book.
“I don’t hold anything back,” she said. “There are experiences that I hope to use as learning experiences and help others who have been through similar situations. You can go through tough times but still not let it define you.
“You’re worth something and you can overcome any situation.”
Copies of “The Wrong Path” are available at D&L Florist and Drake’s Downtown Barbershop in Houston. They can also be ordered online at Amazon.com or directly from Buchanan by contacting her on Facebook or emailing her at shawzfun@hotmail.com.