Book excerpt: Welcome to Shondaland: An Unauthorized Biography Shonda Rhimes is the reigning Queen of Network Television. On the strength of the hit television series Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder, she has turned the staid and repetitive halls of network television on its collective ear with shows that feature tough and realistic storylines, expertly drawn characters and, perhaps most importantly, have featured women in predominant lead roles. For Shonda, getting to the top has not been easy. She has met and conquered long held stereotypes of race and gender, has fought to singlehandedly raise the realistic and creative bar in media and has ultimately won over the viewing masses with her straight-forward middle-American attitude that has successfully cut through the B.S. and misconceptions like a knife through butter. In Welcome To Shondaland: The Unauthorized Biography of Shonda Rhimes, New York Times Bestselling Author Marc Shapiro follows the trail of a young idealistic girl who grew up on hopes, dreams and possibilities, would not take no for an answer, and found that success is the ultimate weapon in silencing doubters. Shonda Rhimes has proven a success story of classic proportions, a life that finally inspires and encourages, a life that tells the world to follow their passion. Welcome To Shondaland: The Unauthorized Biography Of Shonda Rhimes tells the reader that it is okay to meet life head on and to take a chance.