New Author Alert | S.J. MacKenzie
New Author Alert | S.J. MacKenzie
Meet the Author
The Heart Behind the Words
S.J. MacKenzie writes from the sacred intersection of trauma and transformation. A survivor of profound adversity and life-changing brain surgery, she knows firsthand that the same life that "touches" you with pain can also touch you for a radical transformation.
As a mother of two and a dedicated "mother figure" to countless youth in her community, she has spent decades lighting the way for others. Her lifelong commitment to service and her profound impact on the lives of those around her were recently honored with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award—a distinction that reflects her heart for humanity and her unwavering belief in the power of giving.
S.J. believes that our scars are not signs of what we lost, but proof of how much we can overcome. Through her writing, she aims to be a lighthouse for those still navigating the dark, proving that your story isn't over—it’s simply being rewritten by grace.
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A Letter from My Heart to Yours
Dear Friend,
If you’ve ever felt like your story was defined by what was taken from you, I want you to know: you aren't alone. I’ve sat in those quiet spaces, too. I wrote this book not just to share my own scars—from the heavy silence of the operating room to the messy, beautiful noise of recovery—but to show you that those scars are proof of life.
I am a mother, a survivor, a community servant, and a believer in the grace that catches us when we fall. People often ask how I kept going, and the truth is, I found strength in the very places I thought I was broken. My hope is that as you read these pages, you find the courage to believe that your story is still unfolding. You are not a victim of your past; you are the hero of your healing.
The light is coming. Let’s walk toward it together.
With love and hope,
S.J. MacKenzie
Inquiries & Bookings
For media inquiries, speaking engagements, or general questions, please contact:
Email:sjmackenziewrites@gmail.com
Phone: 1 (206) 752-2451
“S.J. MacKenzie has a rare gift for finding light in the darkest of places. Her storytelling is raw, visual, and deeply cinematic—the kind of work that stays with you long after the final page."
-April Patrick, Film Producer
The Journey: The Debut Memoir
Through every chapter, you’ll find the raw honesty of a soul finding its way back to the light. This is more than a memoir—it is a testament to the power of grace to heal what we thought was lost forever.
Trauma doesn’t get the last word. Somebody Touched Me is your roadmap to healing, but you won’t have to walk it alone. S.J. MacKenzie takes you by the hand, sharing a journey that spans from the sterile quiet of a hospital room to the vibrant noise of a life reclaimed. Her scars aren't just reminders of what happened—they are proof that you can overcome.
Discover a story of transformation that lights the path from brokenness to wholeness. Whether you are searching for hope in the middle of a storm or the courage to start over, these pages are for you. It is time to turn the page on the past, lean into the grace that waits for you, and find the strength to reclaim your story.
Your healing is just beginning.
"S.J. MacKenzie’s work will be is a vital addition to our collection. Her story captures a unique and necessary perspective on resilience that resonates deeply with the mission of the Schomburg. It will be an honor to preserve such a transformative narrative for future generations."
— AJ Muhammad, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
“There were fifteen people in the room—an entire team gathered just for me—yet as I lay under those bright, sterile lights, I had never felt more alone in my own skin. As the mask lowered, the rhythmic, hollow hiss of oxygen filled my ears, drowning out the frantic, thudding beat of my heart against the thin hospital gown. The plastic felt heavy—a cold weight pressing against my skin—echoing the invisible mask I’d worn for decades just to survive. A hand touched my shoulder, a brief human anchor, as a voice told me to count back from ten. By eight, the vision of the anesthesiologist began to dissolve into the steady, rhythmic beep of the monitors. I could no longer see, but I could faintly hear the muffled stir of the room. Life had been so chaotic for so long, and as the darkness pulled at me, I realized I wasn't just fading out—I was finally finding a place to rest for abit. I was drifting into a deep, quiet dark where the surgeons would soon be privy to my skull, my nerves, and the grey matter of my brain—the physical map of me. But they weren't privy to the hidden landscape: the jagged hurt, the ancestral pain, and the secrets I’d kept locked away. As the world faded, I knew this was the threshold. I wasn't just going under for a procedure; I was surrendering so the healing could finally take place.
— S.J. MacKenzie, Somebody Touch Me
