Today we’d like to introduce you to Sylvia Hubbard.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My mother knew I was a writer before I knew it. (according to her) I used to lie to her when I was six or seven, and she used to punish me and then make me write the lie down. Afterward, I had to read it to her again, and I was given another punishment. I learned three things. One is that lies hurt. Two: the bigger the lie, the better the story. Three is that it’s the lie that hurts, it’s the effort (quantity) of the lie that affects us. At twelve, I saw a Fabio cover in the library and needed to know what was inside. The librarian wouldn’t let me borrow the book (as she shouldn’t have), so I did what any Detroiter would do and stole it from the library. That weekend, I finally took it out of my bag, not afraid of repercussions, and read it from cover to cover. After finishing it in a day, I decided I wanted to make Happily Ever Afters for the rest of my life. Living in Detroit, you can’t help but become affected by the drama, thriller, and horror on a day-to-day basis. Those aspects are all incorporated into my stories. Life got in the way, and my dreams of writing were forgotten, but my heart was always searching for happiness and contentment. It wasn’t until I had my first child at 24 that I decided I couldn’t tell my daughter to follow her dreams and goals if I wasn’t doing the same. Five years later, in 2020, I published my first book, Dreams of Reality. Since then, I’ve published over 65 books with so much more to come. I thank the people in my life for seeing me, pushing me, and helping me to be the muse to make my dreams come true.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is never a smooth road. As a child growing up in Detroit, I learned so many hardships and losses with friends and family. Journaling kept my emotions and mind in check. In my 20s, I lost myself in everything going on in life, but it took a major life event (having a baby) to remind me that writing will always bring me back. After my divorce and stepping back into single motherhood, writing was a way not only to make a living but also to help me remember what was lost and found, and, most importantly, loved. In 2013, I suffered the worst, while going through the bankruptcy of Detroit, getting laid off, the federal government being shut down, and then my house burning down to the ground in eight minutes, my children and I suffered homelessness. We had to squat in an abandoned house in the worst winter in the Midwest. Throughout it all, I continued to write, publish, and market my books. Not because we needed food on the table and bills needed to be paid, but because it was the only thing that kept me sane as a woman, mother, and head of household. I think I can look at all my 65 books and tell what point in my life I was at because, in each story, I was telling of my suffering, my wants, desires, and hopes for myself. It wasn’t a smooth road to get to this point, but I wouldn’t change the journey for one moment.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an independently published author of over 65 romance and suspense novels, but I am also the founder of Motown Writers Network & CEO of HubBooks. At Motown Writers, we help writers reach their literary goals and connect readers with Michigan authors. At HubBooks, we used to help authors publish their work, but now we focus on consulting and helping authors understand 21st Marketing. For over 26 years, I’ve worked as a digital strategist and literary doula for over 10,000 authors. I’m most proud that I have helped the Detroit literacy community, being a 3-time awardee of the Detroit City Council’s Spirit of Detroit Award, and that the State of Michigan granted me the Governor’s Certificate of Tribute Emerging Minority Business Leader Award. I’ve also been a best-selling author eight times. I’m proud of the legacy and the love I have created for myself and my children in this city. My books showcase my love for my city and the struggles that come with it, but also that it’s the strength that comes from within once you overcome that makes it possible to find the love that was always meant to be. That’s what sets me and my stories apart from others.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe in luck, but I do believe in blessings. I know it is my faith in God that has given me the favors and grace that have moved me in the right direction. I know that since I decided to develop a personal relationship with my father in heaven, the blessings that have rained down upon me are because of the infinite faith I have in my soul.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sylviahubbard.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sylviahubbard1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sylviahubbard
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviahubbard/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sylviahubbard1
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sylviahubbard1
