Meet Suzette D. Harrison

We recently connected with Suzette D. Harrison and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Suzette D., so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?

I love massages and schedule them regularly. Sitting and writing can cause stiffness, cramps, etc. and I tend to develop tightness in my shoulders from being at the computer for long periods of time. Enter the massage! There are times when I skip or miss them but lately I’ve made a concerted effort to schedule a massage on a weekly basis.

I imagine someone may be thinking, “Oh she’s rich rich. I can’t do that.” Honey, please! I get my massages at my local holistic training institute, meaning students are the practitioners and the cost is less than half that of a regular salon.

I recently resumed getting facials as well. (Again, at a training institute, which means what? You got it! Half the cost). Additionally, I’m into manicures with just my natural nails. No tips or acrylics and all that lovely add-on business. I also work out 5 days a week, and (although I’ve let this slide a bit) I love walking in the morning.

For me self-care isn’t merely physical, but spiritual as well. I read passages in my Bible daily, and do affirmations and positive reflections. I’m still learning how to set intentions, and recently redecorated my home office space so that it exudes calm and beauty and provides an atmosphere conducive to creativity. That’s the purpose of my self-care: producing the best me I can be, surrounding myself with calm and peace, valuing my life and my creative productivity.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a hybrid author of 12 books, meaning I am both traditionally and self-published. I write African-American historical, contemporary, romance, and even children’s books; but my passion and purpose is African-American historical fiction. That’s when and where I walk with the ancestors and have the privilege of telling their stories, of going back in time and experiencing worlds before me. I love to, am honored to create lush, female-forward African American fiction that affirms, entertains, and uplifts my reading audience.

My author/brand tagline is “Decadent Fiction Past & Present” because I write both historical and contemporary fiction. Well, my last 3 novels embodied that literally. My Name is Ona Judge, The Dust Bowl Orphans, and The Girl at the Back of the Bus are dual timelines told through the eyes of 2 main heroines and their unique perspectives, one historical, the other current day.

I’m currently working on a collaborative series with a dear author friend that will reflect this past and present writing in a truly unique way that we hope readers will enjoy.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I elected Black Studies as my undergraduate major I remember saying, “When I’m a writer I want my stories to reflect not just my own, but Black people’s collective experiences.” That’s why I chose my major. At the time, I didn’t know I was going to be a writer. It was essentially prophetic, and that degree has served my historical fiction in ways I couldn’t imagine.

Determination, consistency, and being task-oriented have also aided my experience as an author. But being open to new concepts, ideas, and the flow of Spirit are immensely important for me as well.

To those in the early phases of their writing journeys, I’d say be consistent and gracious to yourself. Your consistency may be writing 10 minutes a day. Someone else’s may be 60. But your progress is your progress; and your journey is YOUR journey. Show up for yourself daily! Give yourself permission to be expansive, to not copy other authors. To be authentic! Surround yourself with support, hone your craft, and be willing to take risks!

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

The book that played the most important role in catapulting me into writing isn’t a writer’s trade book filled with how-to nuggets of wisdom. It was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Dr. Maya Angelou.

I’d read Caged Bird in my teens, but went back to it as an adult when experiencing what I now recognize as depression. Back then, depression wasn’t common knowledge or a well-known part of mental health discussions. All I knew was that I was suffering. Daily. It got to the point that I couldn’t even stand myself and needed a distraction. That’s when I re-read “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” I was the answered prayer, the divine deliverance. When I finished it the darkness that had become a part of my life instantly and immediately lifted. I remember being in awe that the written word could bring about such divine change and decided I wanted to be a healing word practitioner (a.k.a. an author) as well.

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