With Her Baby on Her Back by Suzette D. Harrison
Will she ever see freedom for her babies?
Mississippi, 1848. It’s a bright spring morning when enslaved midwife Zinnie is forced to begin an unimaginable journey: two thousand miles on foot. Her newborn baby is strapped to her back, her two little girls holding her hands, as she walks behind the slavers’ wagons.
Every mile brings blistered feet, aching limbs and the constant terror of what might happen to her children. But Zinnie carries an unbreakable determination to protect them. When they cross state lines, could it be her chance to fight for their freedom?
Texas, present day. Elementary school teacher and single mom Lynette is exhausted, balancing work, motherhood and life-changing decisions about her future. Then, while sorting through her grandmother’s attic, she discovers a sapphire brooch hidden among long-forgotten treasures.
The brooch unlocks an extraordinary family story of courage, sacrifice and a woman who refused to give up. As Lynette uncovers the truth about her ancestors, will it have the power to change her life forever?
This utterly heart-wrenching and unforgettable novel is inspired by the true story of Biddy Mason, an African American woman and midwife who fought for her family’s freedom and saved countless lives. Perfect for fans of emotional historical fiction by Amy Harmon, Olivia Hawker and Marie Benedict.
With Her Baby on Her Back by Suzette D. Harrison
Book release date: July 13, 2026
Available now: https://geni.us/B0GX1RCJ6Scover
About the Author
Suzette D. Harrison writes like someone who was raised with books always within reach and no excuses to ignore them. As the middle of three daughters in a California home where reading was expected, she learned early that stories hold power and she planned to use it.
Her first taste of being published came in junior high, when her poetry made it onto the page and into the world. That early win stuck with her. She credits literary greats like Alex Haley, Gloria Naylor, Alice Walker, Langston Hughes, and Toni Morrison for shaping her love of storytelling. Still, it was Maya Angelou and her groundbreaking memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings that truly lit the fire. That book did not whisper. It spoke directly, and Harrison listened.
She writes with a soft spot for happy endings, though she refuses to make the road easy. Her characters come with flaws, layered lives, and choices that do not always sit pretty. That is where the tension lives. That is where readers lean in. Expect twists that sneak up on you and moments that land harder than expected.
As the award-winning author of Taffy, Harrison balances her writing life with family and a background in pastry and baking. She brings that same patience and precision into her storytelling. These days, she is back in the kitchen and at the keyboard, working on her next novel somewhere between mixing batter and pulling cupcakes out of the oven.
Visit her website at https://sdhbooks.com to explore all of her series of books.