A novel about memory, love, and second chances
If I Could Go Back
to the 80's
If I Could Go Back to the 80's invites readers on a personal journey shaped by music, family, memories, and the passage of time.
A glimpse into the story
Step Back Into the 80s
Some memories stay with us longer than we ever expected. Watch a quiet neighborhood road lead back to 1980 and into the question at the heart of Stephanie's story.
Select play to begin the short video.
A 30 second experience
If you could return to one moment in the ’80s, what would you change?
Choose the moment that speaks to you. No registration and nothing to write.
The story
A heartfelt story about memories, family, and the moments we wish we could revisit.
A simple online question opens the door to a much deeper journey. What begins with memories of music, cassette tapes, arcades, and familiar faces becomes a reckoning with the people, conversations, and moments that time cannot return.
The book asks a question many of us have quietly considered: if you could revisit the past knowing everything you know now, would you change it, or would you fear changing everything that followed?
What readers are saying
“This is an easy read that warms the heart as you are lead to reminisce and find joy in past life occurances that were some, sad, and others happy. But they gave you the option to clear your mind and move on with the assurance that there will always be good, and bad days, we just have to move on and enjoy each day and the new blessings they bring.”
M. M. Rice
“I thought that in this book the author would have the chance to change negative future outcomes or experiences, leading to better or positive outcomes. This was about learning to be more present in our present: listen more, emphasize more, learn more, and even love more.”
Sheila B. Jernigan
“This book was very well written. The book cataloged the love for her father. I admire the author for that.”
Bessie Elder
“Read your book with tears in my eyes. Thank you for taking "me" back to the 1980's. You are amazing, Stephanie!”
A. Jordan
Find the Book on Amazon
A note from Stephanie
Why I Wrote This Book
I wrote If I Could Go Back to the 80's because memories have a way of returning when we least expect them. A song, a familiar voice, or an ordinary moment can remind us of the people we loved and the conversations we wish we could have again.
This book began with a simple question about going back in time, but it became something more personal. It gave me space to reflect on family, friendship, loss, silence, and the choices that stay with us. I hope readers will recognize pieces of their own lives in these pages and think about the memories they still carry.
Stephanie Harris
Stories Behind the Book
My First Record Player
Some stories begin before you even know they will matter.
One Christmas when I was a little girl, I received my first record player. This actual childhood photograph shows it sitting beside my dad's JBL Hartsfield speakers.
I had no idea then how much music would shape my memories of him and eventually become part of If I Could Go Back to the 80's.
What was your first record player, radio, or music memory?
A Childhood Friendship
The Friendship That Began With Spitballs
Donald and I did not exactly have the sweetest beginning to our friendship. He threw spitballs in my hair in first grade.
And somehow, that boy became one of my best friends. Over the years, our friendship grew into something that felt more like family.
That is what makes some childhood friendships so hard to explain. You can remember the teasing, the laughter, the bikes, the music, and all the ordinary moments without realizing at the time how important that person will become in your life.
Years later, when I looked back on Donald's story, I realized there were things I understood as an adult that I never could have understood as a child.
His story became one of the most meaningful parts of If I Could Go Back to the 80's.
Do you still remember the person who became your first real childhood friend?
A Memory of My Father
The Ride We Never Took
In this chapter, I imagine having one more ride with my dad in his Porsche 911.
As a child, I loved the sound of the engine, the way he shifted through each gear, and the pride I felt when people noticed a Black man driving a car that was uncommon to see him behind the wheel of at that time.
But this chapter is not really about the Porsche.
During our imagined ride, I begin to understand that the cars, music, speakers, records, and stories my father left behind were never the true gifts. They were simply the ways he shared pieces of himself with me.
Looking back, I realized I did not need another lifetime with my dad. I just needed one more drive.
If you could take one more ride with someone you love, what would you talk about?
From Chapter 13 of If I Could Go Back to the 80's
Memories Behind the Book
Chapter 1
The Question
It began as a harmless question about returning to the 1980s. But while others remembered music, fashion, and cheaper prices, Stephanie began thinking about the people she had lost, the calls she ignored, and the conversations she wished she could change. Then came the frightening realization: What if changing one thing changed everything?
“The real danger was never returning to the decade. It was deciding what to change once I got there.”
A question for readers
If you could return to one moment in your past, would you change it, or would you be afraid of what else might change?
Your memories matter
Begin Preserving Your Story
Do you have a personal story you want to write but are not sure how to begin?
You may wonder how to organize your memories, make your story meaningful to others, or write honestly about moments that happened many years ago. Difficult memories can be especially hard to put into words. You may also worry about what to do when someone else remembers the same experience differently.
Those questions do not have to stop you. Stephanie shares lessons from writing and publishing her own book and helps people explore thoughtful ways to begin preserving their memories and personal stories. She also explains how artificial intelligence can assist with organizing, proofreading, and suggestions while the author remains in control of the story and its meaning.
Ask about a life story workshopSpeaking engagements and workshops
Invite Stephanie to speak with your community.
Stephanie is available for author talks about her book, workshops that help people preserve and share their life stories, and select educational community programs through Working Concepts, Inc.
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