Meet Deborah Harris

We recently connected with Deborah Harris and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Deborah, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

My optimism comes from my faith in believing that I have a purpose here on this earth and it keeps me extremely motivated about the future. I don’t care how dark a situation becomes or how many people turn their backs on me, it’s not enough to keep me from moving forward. There is a peace within me that derives from knowing that I am living out my gift from GOD and nothing can supersede that feeling. I go to the bed every night knowing that I have committed to leaving a legacy behind that tells a story of a woman who walked by faith and not by sight. I have been blessed to accomplish many things that had a huge impact on others’ lives, and I hope to continue making a difference in this world. When you love what you do and trust the process that allows doors to open that no man can close!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I wear a few hats and I’m sure people believe in the philosophy of focusing on one thing at a time, but that hasn’t been my story in exercising my gifts. I started my career as an author and then I branched into publishing to help first-time authors get a platform by benefitting from some of the tools that I acquired as a first-time author. At this time, I have four novels, and a personal memoir, of me and my son’s journey in living with autism. I encourage readers to check out the books on the website that are entertaining, motivating, and inspiring.

I always had a love for film and eventually I obtained the tools and training necessary to branch into script writing. That journey led me to write, direct and co-produce, along with Leonard Thomas, a short film in 2023 titled, ‘Checkmate for Life’, which did quite well in the film festival circuit by collecting fifteen awards. I have several feature scripts that have been selected in screenplay competitions, including an award-winner. My ultimate goal is to obtain funding to get these projects to the finish-line and at the same time build a brand of excellence when it comes to storytelling.

My most rewarding work comes from my autism advocacy because it’s personal and it’s something I experienced firsthand. We all know that experience is the best teacher, and I hope to continue spreading knowledge about a disorder that I have over 25 plus years’ experience. I created the Autism Screams Logo….love, patience, empathy, uniqueness, and compassion in hopes to magnify the beauty of the disorder instead of the disappointments that may come along with an autism diagnosis. In my mission to change the narrative, I’m also looking to raise revenue in underrepresented communities by selling Autism Screams Products to help bring awareness. I want parents of autistic children to know that the future can be as bright as you envision it, or it can be as dark as you create it. We all have our choices to make when it comes to an autism diagnosis, and I choose to magnify the wonderful characteristics of Autism!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities that were most impactful for me in my journey has been (1) discipline (2) dedication and (3) consistency.

My advice to anyone who wants to achieve a certain goal, is to make a commitment to what it will take to accomplish it and don’t deviate from it no matter how difficult or challenging it becomes. Also, to keep in mind that it’s not the destination, it’s always the journey that will define how dedicated you are into making your dreams become a reality. Last, being consistent allows you to sharpen your skill set and your work ethics.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am looking for individuals to collaborate or partner with that have a mind-set of achieving greatness. I believe that teamwork does indeed make the dream work because no one can reach heights of success alone. I look forward to avenues that will allow Brand N Stone to become a brand of excellence that can create opportunities for creators, writers, actors, etc., to have an impact on the entertainment industry. I am also diligently looking to grow the Autism Screams Brand and spread knowledge about a disorder that statistical affects 1 out of 36 children. I am open to discuss any opportunities from individuals with experience and knowledge that will be beneficial in creating a great working environment. For books and film funding, I can be reached at deborah@brandnstone.com and for autism advocacy, I can be reached at deborah@autism-screams.com

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brandnstone.com www.autism-screams.c0m

Image Credits

Amir Pink