Loving Myself: Reese’s Story by Suzetta Perkins
Fourteen-year-old Reese Russell, the niece of Black Lives Matter activist, Gypsy Kinard, is pregnant and wants the baby’s father to be involved in the life of her unborn child. Zuri rejects the idea that the baby is his, and Reese decides to have an abortion. Reese’s parents do not give their consent for her to have the abortion, and her only recourse is to have the baby. All is well until life spins out of control and Reese suffers through a traumatic event that sends her life into a tailspin.
While experiencing detours on her life’s journey, Reese realizes that she must reclaim her life by deleting negative and outside influences. Doing so, she’s open to seeing a future for herself and does the work to lay the foundation. Reese recognizes that she can accomplish her goals, but it must begin by loving herself first.
LOVING MYSELF is the exciting third installment in the Fallen Leaves and Black Diamond series.
| Soignée Intimate Conversation with Suzetta Perkins |
| Suzetta Perkins is the author of nineteen suspense novels and one children’s book. She is a native of Oakland, California, and now lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Her first published work appeared in her 1970 high school yearbook, where she served as its first Black co-editor. She later contributed to My Soul to His Spirit, an anthology featured in the June 2006 issue of Ebony magazine, which won the Fresh Voices Award. Her novels include Behind the Veil, A Love So Deep, Ex-Terminator: Life After Marriage, Déjà Vu, Nothing Stays the Same, Betrayed, At the End of the Day, In My Rearview Mirror, Silver Bullets, Hollywood Skye, Two Down: The Inconvenient Truth, Free to Love, What’s Love Got to Do With It, Stormy, The Magic of Christmas, Dirty Bones, Fallen Leaves, Black Diamond, and her newest release, Loving Myself. Writing has always been part of her life. She filled her early years with short stories that were never published, saying that writing gave her the freedom to stretch her imagination beyond the four walls of her room, creating characters, places, and vivid snapshots of life she captured on paper. Suzetta holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Fayetteville State University. After retiring from the university, she became a mentor for aspiring authors through the Literary Ink Life Group sponsored by Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville. She also serves as president of the Sistahs Book Club. In December 2024, she received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award during the Literary and Lifetime Achievement Gala in Fayetteville. In May 2025, she won Best Author in the Women’s Fiction category, sponsored by Black Authors Matter TV. SLM: How did you begin your writing career? When were you first published?Having parents who valued reading and subscribed to the Book of the Month Club broadened my horizons and prepared me for a literary life. I loved reading as a child, and writing became an obsession, though I didn’t realize it at the time. I constantly wrote short stories based on my dreams. In high school, I chose the yearbook staff over the school newspaper, and my first published work appeared in my 1970 yearbook, where I was co-editor. After writing countless short stories, I finally completed my first novel, Behind the Veil, in 2000. It was published in 2006 by Strebor Books/Simon & Schuster. SLM: How did your upbringing or personal experiences influence your storytelling style? I wouldn’t say my upbringing directly shaped my writing style, but it did inspire me to address current events and social issues, which feature prominently in my last three novels. Growing up in the 1950s, I was deeply affected by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, whom I saw speak at UC Berkeley, followed by the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and Robert Kennedy. Those tragedies left a lasting impact, and I remember writing about how they made me feel. I was also fascinated by the space program and often wrote about it, especially after witnessing the Challenger explosion on my birthday, January 28, 1986. SLM: What part of the publishing process taught you the most about your own strength? Marketing taught me to stand tall. While I’ve never been shy, I didn’t fully grasp the amount of investment it would take to get my work into the world. Finding an agent, securing a publisher, arranging book events, and creating promotional materials like bookmarks and postcards was overwhelming at first. I was nervous speaking to book clubs and at events, but once I realized how important it was to connect with readers about something I loved, everything clicked. I’m grateful to Zane and Simon & Schuster for giving me the tools to sustain a career I truly love. SLM: What does writing give you that nothing else does? Writing gives me freedom. I call myself the master manipulator of my stories, though my characters often steer me in directions I didn’t expect. I constantly explore new ideas, sometimes outside my comfort zone, and I’m grateful to have the ability to create and express them, whether they’re published or not. Some writing is for me alone. SLM: Introduce your latest work, Loving Myself, and the main characters. Why did this story need to be told now? Loving Myself is the third installment in the Fallen Leaves series. It follows 14-year-old Reese Russell, niece of Black Lives Matter activist Reese “Gypsy” Shackelford-Kinard, who was introduced in the first two books. Reese’s mother was murdered by a police officer months after George Floyd’s death. Her father, Christopher Russell, later remarried a woman he met at her mother’s funeral. Struggling with grief and rejection, Reese longs to live with her aunt Gypsy in Los Angeles. After a summer visit, Gypsy sends her back home, and Reese runs away. While staying with a friend, she becomes pregnant and eventually returns home. She tries to tell Zuri, the baby’s father, but he denies responsibility. Angry and desperate, Reese seeks an abortion but cannot get one without parental consent. Forced to continue the pregnancy, her life spirals after a traumatic event that sends her reeling. Reese’s story reflects the struggles of many young women who face challenges beyond their years, often leading to depression and despair. Through this book, I wanted to show that even in the darkest circumstances, healing and growth are possible with the right support and belief in oneself. SLM: What’s something about the book that readers won’t find in the description or blurb? Readers won’t see the traumatic event that drives Reese to make a pivotal decision that changes the course of her life. SLM: What conversations are you hoping this book starts? I hope it sparks dialogue about the importance of support systems in families and communities, especially when dealing with teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, mental illness, or elder care. Too many children fall through the cracks, unseen and unsupported. We all have a responsibility to protect our children and our elders, no matter the circumstances. That requires us to be less selfish and more attentive to the needs of others. SLM: Describe your relationship with feedback, and how you process it without losing your voice. Feedback is invaluable. I love interacting with readers who become invested in my characters and even tell me what I should write next. I’ve received requests that filled two typed pages. Constructive criticism helps me improve and stay aware of what strengthens or weakens a story. Readers have told me they researched information I included, which shows me my research matters. In my twenty-five years of writing, I’ve been blessed with readers who have supported me through every book. Their praise and critique both fuel me. SLM: How can readers connect with you, and what’s the best way to support your work beyond buying a book? Hearing from readers is the best part of this work. My stories come from a place of connection, healing, and sometimes chaos. If something in my books made you feel seen, understood, or even simply entertained, I’d love to know. The easiest way to reach me is through my newsletter or social media. On Instagram, I share behind-the-scenes writing moments, character confessions, and bookish fun. If you’d like to support me beyond buying books, leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Even a sentence makes a difference. Tell a friend who enjoys character-driven stories. Bring one of my books to your book club and let the discussions unfold. Stories grow when they’re shared, and every bit of support helps them find new readers. Readers can connect with me through my website: www.suzettaperkins.com; Amazon – https://a.co/d/5VnJsQz; Meta @Suzetta Perkins; IG @suzettaperkins, X @authorsue Explore books written by Suzetta Perkins https://www.amazon.com/stores/Suzetta-Perkins/author/B001JP4FYW |