We had the good fortune of connecting with Harlow James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Harlow, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote was actually the one I put in my high school yearbook as a senior. It says, “People will forget what you say, and forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.”

These are words that I still try to live my life by, and something I remind myself in this author business. It’s easy to get caught up in what we need to do or accomplish, or to pursue accolades and ranks without remembering that it’s never a solo adventure. But I find that expressing gratitude is the key to any type of success. Without my readers, none of the other things are possible. So, I let these words guide me through my business and craft, and remember to always make my readers feel seen.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am actually a high school teacher by day, and my novels are the art that I create in my spare time. Reading romance became an influential pastime after my grandmother passed in 2018, and then I decided to try to write my own books almost a year later.

I had no idea what I was doing, but I researched self-publishing after I finished my first book, and just wrote and wrote more as the ideas came to me. After about two years did I really start to understand branding, social media presence, etc. and then the past two years have been more about building my business around my books. I’ve been publishing books for 5 years now and don’t have any plans on stopping soon. It truly is an outlet for me that is separate from my job, my title as a mother and wife, and I encourage other women to find something for themselves like it as well.

The biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout this journey is listening to my gut and avoiding comparison because it truly is the thief of joy. I’ve learned a lot about women supporting women and how utterly empowering it can be. I’ve learned lessons in gratitude, hard work, and work-life balance.

All in all, I want to put out stories that I love, that I hope readers find joy in as well, while remaining true to who I am. And if it ever feels void of joy, I hope I have the confidence to step away and shift my mindset so I can reignite the passion for it again.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that I want to thank for my success so far. First and foremost, my husband. When I decided to start writing, he was extremely supportive. Of course, we’ve had our tiffs about time and money dedicated to this business, but when it started to become a passion that brought me so much joy, he understood the importance of it and now is very involved in the process. This year I attended my first signing as an author and he insisted on going with me as his assistant. It was incredible to have him there.

Second to him would be my readers. I have very loyal readers that have been with me since the beginning, which I think is so special and amazing. My beta and ARC readers are some of the most amazing women on the planet. They dedicate so much of their free time to share about my books and support me in any way they can. I’m in awe of the community I have behind me. It’s truly inspiring.

Last, I have to thank my grandma, may she rest in peace. Her death is what lead me to reading and then writing. She was a very artistic and creative person herself, and I never felt that way about myself. But through my grief, I found a creative outlet that helped me heal and find this new side of myself, and I know that she had something to do with that. I miss her terribly, but I know that she’s proud of what I’ve accomplished thus far.

Website: harlowjamesauthor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harlowjamesauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarlowJamesAuthor/

Other: https://www.amazon.com/Harlow-James/e/B07RM5BKLB?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000 https://www.bookbub.com/authors/harlow-james https://www.tiktok.com/@harlowjamesauthor?lang=en

Image Credits
Kelly Brennan

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.