Meet Nathelie Zetrenne-Norman

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nathelie Zetrenne-Norman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nathelie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In 2017, I published my first book. I was young, in graduate school and people would be intrigues that I had a book out. I would often get asked about my experience publishing a book and to give tips. I never planned to write a book or have a publishing company but it happened. In 2023, I published my second book Dear Beautiful and began to see the gaps of accessibility to resources and information regarding publishing. I decided to birth Z House Publishing with the hopes to bring accessibility, education and resources to marginalized communities regarding publishing. History tells us and shows us that literary spaces aren’t meant for people of color. There were laws that made it illegal for brown and black people to read and write. Our stories and experiences are just as important, they are valid and we should have our stories out there for the world to read and experience. Z House Publishing aims to educated brown and black people about self publishing, educate them and provide them resources so we can see ourselves represented in literary spaces in the ways we see fit.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The art of writing has come easy however, the art of writing to be impactful has been a journey. In my professional life I have held many titles. From working in DEI, education and now Learning and Development I find that writing was my way to escape. My writing took it’s own journey similarly aligned to that of my professional career in that I went from writing because it was my way to be heard and to feel seen, to writing to bring about healing and change and equity.

I am most proud of three things, my journal Dear Beautiful: 365 day introspective mindfulness journal for black women. I am most proud of this journal because it has know reached over 100 black women and as a therapist approved journal it really does set the tone for healing, mindfulness and growth which society tells black women we shouldn’t access. The trope that black women are strong and resilient is nice in theory, but it perpetuates the idea that we must struggle to obtain our success, that life is to be hard and that we are to be hard as well. But that’s not our story. This book helps us utilize tools from mental health practitioners, to really pour back into ourselves, heal and restore who we are. With lack of access to mental health services, this was my attempt to bringing a resource to black women that allowed us to be all the things society tells us not to be. The out pouring of support I’ve gained from this book has been incredible and I am excited to be hosting a Women’s retreat base on this journal with a black female licensed therapist and mindfulness practitioner next year.

The second thing I am most proud of is my Summer Smarties: Academic Engagement Workbook Series. I am extremely proud of this series because it is providing disenfranchised communities with resources to better the gap in education. Those in education know that students who do not engage in academic activities during the summer lose 1/3 of what they have learned through the school year. With many public schools in marginalized communities lacking resources and parents sometimes unaware of how or what they can do to better prepare their children ,this resource is a pressure free teaching tool that parents can use at home with their kids. Based on the curriculum, parents and educators can be assured students will be on track and learning while having fun. Thus, mitigating the deficits many students face academically. This book has been purchased by an educational program in Alabama called Foundations and has been provided to their graduates. When I originally wrote this, I wrote it as a summer activity book for my own children, and to see how it has gained traction and is being and is valued by educational organizations is amazing.

The third thing I am most proud of is the book My Precious Girl, which was co written by my daughter and I. I always talk about how books are our legacy. The story we tell ourselves in important but the stories we leave behind are even more integral because they inform how we navigate the world. My daughter and I say affirmations every morning before school and after learning what her favorite affirmations were I decided to turn it into a book. Mindfulness, introspection and the way we see ourselves are extremely important. In the world we live in, the words we hear about ourselves, the words we say about ourselves both impact our performance and self-esteem. I wanted to put this book out there as a way to encourage young girls and really instill in them that what we say about ourselves matters. Now my daughter is an author at 4. Her book has been recognized in book fairs across the country and she will be able to make impact and leave her own legacy through this book.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a simple chick and I am a nature girly, so I would take them to Stone Mountain for a nice hike and do some meditation at the top of Stone Mountain amidst the city scape. Afterwards, we would go to GutBusters in Decatur for a quiet no pressure brunch in the car. Gut Busters is one of my favorite places to eat. Dinner would be at Ambiance Lakay which is a local Haitian restaurant in Stone Mountain. I am Haitian and will forever add a Haitian restaurant to the itinerary. Haitian food is the best food in the world! I may be biased .

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother Katy Zetrenne. She has always pushed me to take on the challenge and do the thing, whatever that thing may be. Coming from a Haitian family, she always said that if our ancestors could do what they did, so could I. Watching her navigate life, encouraged me to stay dedicated to my goals.

Website: https://www.authornatheliezetrennenorman.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattheauthor?igsh=cTN1OGwycDRxdTlw&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/JZ3RPBaQ8TS24kSu/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Image credit: Emily Green Creative