Former Michigan judge releases debut novel 

When former Michigan administrative law judge Renée Ozburn began writing personal essays for various media outlets, a number of them addressed the unwanted significance of race in her life. 

That topic went on to inspire her debut novel, “Unwanted Significance” (Black Rose Writing, $19.95), which releases Thursday (Aug. 13).

“I’m fascinated by the eternal phenomenon of people who are academically and professionally successful yet frequently failing in personal relationships,” said Ozburn, who splits her time between Williamston and Paris, France.

The novel occurs in 1995. Psychology professor Tyler Carson and musician/linguist Alana Adler, both 38, meet on a train. He is white, and she is Black. Neither of them has made time for serious relationships in the past, but this trip changes that.

However, their growing passion — which plays out in atmospheric settings from Cape Cod to San Francisco — is no match for the intergenerational forces working to tear them apart. In addition to Tyler’s doting, manipulative mother and his long-lost father who reappears with a new identity, deeply buried secrets in Alana’s family begin to emerge. Ultimately, the unwanted significance of race and a past they had nothing to do with tests the limits of their love, creating unexpected outcomes for both.

“I wanted to tell this story through characters with a little maturity and skills to intentionally grapple with the dilemmas of communicating and miscommunicating in personal relationships,” Ozburn said. “Tyler Carson is a man who might be described, in some writing circles, as a ‘book boyfriend’ — the kind of man many real women complain can only be found in the pages of books. I don’t believe this, but I understand why the belief is widespread. Alana Adler is a woman who wants a relationship with deep intimacy but can’t get past elements of her upbringing that get in the way of that happening. I think that describes a lot of women.”

It took Ozburn four or five years to finish the book’s manuscript, then another three to four years to revise and rewrite it while trying to find an agent and publisher. 

“By far, breaking into the world of being traditionally published and all the things I’ve had to learn about marketing and publishing has been the hardest part of this journey,” she said. 

Born in Detroit, Ozburn is a graduate of Henry Ford High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Michigan State University and a juris doctor degree from Cooley Law School. 

“I grew up in Detroit and came to East Lansing in 1969 to attend MSU, thinking, ‘Four years and then I’ll be living on one of the coasts.’ Fifty-six years later, I’m still living in the Lansing area,” she said. “I majored in elementary education at MSU and graduated in 1973, knowing I was not meant to teach. I looked, at most, about one to two years older than the fifth graders I was assigned to during my student teaching!”

She admitted to not having a master plan. She became an attorney to escape her dead-end job. 

“I loved school, and I knew a law degree would open doors. A few years after I graduated from MSU, Cooley opened in Lansing, which made it possible to work full time and go to law school full time in mid-Michigan. I graduated and passed the bar in 1980,” she said.

She was a judge for 35 years, during which she took part in several creative communities. 

“When I retired, I started taking English-language writing classes during my annual visits to Paris,” she said. “I got hooked on writing through the encouragement of other writers and writing mentors.” 

In 2016, she completed the Paris American Academy’s monthlong writing program and was invited back as a fellow for its 2017 program. In 2021, she was accepted into Stanford University’s two-year novel-writing certificate program, graduating in 2023. She’s also participated in numerous writing workshops in the United States, France and online.

Her essay “A Redbone’s Reality” won the Los Angeles Review’s literary award for creative nonfiction. A few of her travel articles have been featured in International Living magazine. 

Currently, Ozburn is at work on her second novel, called “The Price We Pay.”

She spoke about what makes “Unwanted Significance” stand out from other books. 

“I’ve tried to tell a good story that will engage readers, compel them to keep turning the pages and make them want to pass it on to other readers who get engaged and compelled,” she said. “The best part of writing this novel has been sharing the story and making the characters come alive. I love being a part of different writing communities and listening when others describe my characters like they’re real. Sometimes I talk with friends about Tyler and Alana like they’re people we both know.”  

Keep up with Ozburn at reneeozburn.com.