SJ Masiello is a self-published author and entrepreneur who graduated from Rhode Island College with a BA in Psychology. While attending RIC, she also studied Elementary Education and Fine Arts. Before graduation, she decided to focus on becoming an entrepreneur instead of an Elementary School teacher. Although risky, she knew she had to take the chance and follow the direction that her heart was leading her in.

    To The Pointe of Performing Arts Inc. opened its doors in 1999. Twenty-six years later, it is still going strong, offering dance classes to three communities in Rhode Island: Cranston, Coventry, and Smithfield.

     SJ uses her education and her dance studio business experiences to guide, mentor, and motivate individuals to be their best selves through hard work, perseverance, and positive self-concept. Her life's mission has been to build confidence in the individuals surrounding her.

      She truly believes that "female empowerment" is not a gift given to women. On the contrary, SJ thinks that it is a state of mind. The feeling of empowerment is the understanding that women can do anything. Women can push themselves to their best potential through hard work, dedication, purposeful intention, confidence, and perseverance.

     SJ has added a new platform to further the lessons of empowerment for others. Becoming an author was yet another dream that SJ worked hard to achieve. She became passionate about Turkish culture and history and chose that as the setting for her first novel. 

     Even within The Sultana Series, SJ explores the theme that women should not be limited by what others expect them to be. Furthermore, they are not restricted to only one dream. They are multifaceted and multitalented individuals who can do anything they put their minds to, and their options are limitless. 

     SJ creates a positive atmosphere in all her work. She strives to do her best and looks forward to expanding her writing career by exploring other genres. Most of all, she enjoys the journey and stays present in the moment while planning for her future.

     SJ writes heartwarming stories about love, loss, and empowerment. Her passion for writing has always existed but was catapulted into fruition when fate ignited her love for Turkish culture. 

  While living in the United States, SJ was introduced to Turkish culture through an ancestral and spiritual quest. As her curiosity sparked, so did her passion. Upon further exploration, SJ found herself immersed in something she had no choice but to write about. The diversity and uniqueness of Türkiye, along with its rich history and culture, created the perfect backdrop for The Sultana Series to blossom therein.

    SJ’s debut novel, The Sultana Series-Book One: Birth of the Bluebird, has been met with positive reviews. She continued the series with Book Two: Journey of the Blackbird, with the conclusion of Book Three: Rise of the Hummingbird, to be released in 2026. The Sultana Series is SJ’s tribute to Turkish culture and female empowerment. While on this journey, SJ has also dedicated much of her time to learning to read and speak Turkish.

    SJ lives in a beautiful seaside town in Rhode Island, U.S.A., with her husband, three sons, and a dog named Romeo. When she is not writing, she teaches dance, travels to Türkiye and other beautiful places, cooks, bakes, gardens, watches her favorite Turkish series, paints, and dreams about her next exciting life adventure.