Hi Reader, When I was ten years old, I made my first solo trip to the United States. I flew to Florida from Jamaica to visit friends and eventually, my grandmother who lived in Jacksonville. That’s me in a handmade skirt and shirt made by my mom. Complete with a straw hat in hand and a box of gifts at my feet, I was the image of a Caribbean girl in a new world. That trip opened my appetite for travel; it was the first of many solo trips. It’s taken me almost a decade to compile, write and...
30 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, It's probably the worst kept secret at this point...my book is available on Amazon for purchase! Long story short, it was launched sooner than expected, and I would like to use these last few weeks before the official launch date to build up reviews on the site. Can I ask you to purchase a copy, read it over the next month and post a review? Reviews are critical to convince potential buyers to purchase a book! If you've never been an Amazon review type of person--this is your time...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, My old neighbor passed away in Jamaica last month. He was the kind of neighbor whose driveway was included in our bicycle loop; whose wife handed us bags of fruit across the fence; and whose voice bellowed harmonies as we sang together in church each Sunday. We have not lived in that neighborhood for years, but the memories we shared became alive as we thought of his family mourning his passing. In the Caribbean, as in many other parts of the world, elders such as my childhood...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, It is often said, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ Yet the cover is one of the first things we look at when we want to buy a book. If you happen to buy a book in person, you may take it off the shelf, look at the cover, and turn it over to read the blurb on the back. Both will either convince you to make the purchase or not. Walking through the final steps in preparation for printing, I was reminded that not only is the front cover of the book important, but the few words on the...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, In our home, the new year snuck in amidst a flurry of family, food and reunion. We are two weeks in, and I am finally getting a chance to reflect—This is the year my book finally comes out! This has been one of the most challenging things I have ever done but I am grateful I pushed through. We are two months out from the release date, and I wanted to share with you three things I valued in the process: It is okay to shed tears while looking back. There were many days I cried...
2 months ago • 1 min read