Even all the drama on Basketball Wives didn’t blow up as much as Shaunie Henderson’s author debut did. But in May 2024, Undefeated put Shaquille O’Neal’s personal life back in the spotlight in a way it never has been. Shaunie Henderson dove deep into their marriage and divorce in her memoir with candid confessions that caused a stir. Shaq admitted to not being a good enough husband while his fans criticized his ex-wife. Now Shaunie dropped hints of a brand new book in the works. But she’s playing it cautious this time around.

This week on The GrOOw Zone podcast, Shaunie and Keion Henderson opened by discussing the very productive week she had. Apart from getting through her weekly to-do list, she made progress on her newest writing project. “I don’t know if the viewers know, I’m in the middle of a book actually.” The viewers don’t, in fact, know, Shaunie. This is the first clue to it.

While it initially sounds like she’s talking about reading a book, she goes on to say, “I’m towards the end of accomplishing and finishing my book.” She’s not explained what the theme of this new book is but gave more insight into her writing process. She carries the draft in her iPad and has made so many alterations through it, that she’s speeding through the draft in a day. But she’s also trying to be accurate with details about her life mentioned in this book.

Her husband, Keion, chalks it up to her integrity as Shaunie is trying very hard to not hurt anyone’s feelings through this book. There was a lot of that last time. Especially when she wrote, “Looking back, I don’t know that I was ever really in love with the man,” about Shaquille O’Neal in her memoir. Shaq responded with an indirect post writing that he “Wouldn’t have been in love with me either.” After two of their sons consoled their dad too, there was a lot of uproar about Shaunie’s book.

So another tell-all could be concerning for Shaunie’s loved ones, even for all the backlash that could cause her. However, she’s trying to do it differently this time.

Shaunie Henderson is preserving a delicate balance with Shaq

While working on this book, Shaunie made it clear to her publisher, “No amount of money, no bestseller, none of that, is that important to me to ruin relationships that I’ve either worked hard to maintain or fix.” That’s a 180 from her previous writing experience. Her publisher initially rejected the first draft of her memoir because, “you’re not being honest enough,” as she revealed on Tamron Hall’s show.

At the publisher’s prodding, Shaunie went deeper into her relationship with Shaq. Despite the turmoil the book caused, the exes maintained their friendship and co-parenting relationship. Shaunie is intent on keeping it that way this time around.

She’s also sped through this book faster. She started writing Undefeated in 2018, a year before she met Keion Henderson. She wrote it on and off with breaks in between and found it difficult to stick to it unless Keion encouraged her to.

This time she’s nearly completed it but is making several changes through multiple reads. What the final result will be remains to be seen.