GETTING THERE!

Now 34,000 words, but won't get to write much more of my novel DEADLY DECEIT (formerly Oleanders End) now until we get back from our Florida trip after Christmas. I'm only taking my phone as I like to travel light and I don't write on that, although some authors do. I'm most comfortable writing on my desktop. However, I've saved a pdf of my work in progress on my phone. That way while travelling I'll be able to read over the novel and make notes of any changes needed. And it's an extra backup too. You can never have enough backups!

In case I don’t get a chance again - Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad!

BESTSELLING BAHAMIAN AUTHOR TANYA R. TAYLOR'S SILVER MEDAL INT'L BOOK AWARD!

Bestselling Bahamian author Tanya R. Taylor was in Miami recently to receive a Silver Medal in the Readers’ Favorite 2019 International Book Award, Young Adult – Paranormal division for her popular, spine-tingling tale “Cornelius” (Book One in the gripping Cornelius Saga Series). Read all about it!

WORD COUNT CLIMBING!

28,000 words! Getting there! - DEADLY DECEIT (formerly Oleanders End): Book Two in my Buchanan Mystery Romance Series. 

WORK IN PROGRESS!

24,000 words! Work in progress - DEADLY DECEIT (formerly "Oleanders End"): Book Two in my Buchanan Mystery Romance Series.

Getting there!

NEW NOVEL - WORD COUNT CLIMBING!

“DEADLY DECEIT” (formerly "Oleanders End" -

21,000 words so far!

FAY KNOWLES IN A NUTSHELL!

Isn’t this lovely? Author Camilla Downs of Meeting the Authors gleaned all this from my interview with her and put it in a nutshell. Thank you, Camilla!

MEETING THE AUTHORS INTERVIEW!

BOOKS BY CAMILLA DOWNS & HER CHILDREN

I am over the moon about being interviewed by Author Camilla Downs, the founder and host of Meeting the Authors! It was a real honour. Camilla featured my new collection of short stories, Moonbeams from the Soul, at the top of her list. Thank you Camilla! Check out my interview HERE

Camilla says: “I’m a mom to two, 13 year old Thomas and 17 year old Lillian, an author, poet, writer and nature photographer.” You can learn more about Camilla at her website CAMILLADOWNS.COM

LAST DAY!

LAST DAY FOR FREE NOVEL! LOVE AT SUNSET: A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - The Buchanan Mystery Romance Series Book One (a stand alone novel) is available for FREE download on Amazon  HERE 

Set in The Bahamas and Scotland, with scenes in Fort Lauderdale, New York, London and Devon.

Note (February 13, 2021): "Love at Sunset" is now called "Dangerous Devotion"

TWO DAYS LEFT!

TWO DAYS LEFT FOR FREE NOVEL! LOVE AT SUNSET: A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - The Buchanan Mystery Romance Series Book One (a stand alone novel) is available for FREE download on Amazon HERE   

Set in The Bahamas and Scotland, with scenes in Fort Lauderdale, New York, London and Devon.

OFFER RUNS THROUGH NOVEMBER 11^TH

AND Join my Mailing List to be notified when the Buchanan Mystery Romance Series Book Two “Oleanders End” (also a stand alone read) has been released: -    

FAY'S NEWSLETTER

With Oleanders End, as usual there will be lots of romance but also some mysterious deaths!

THREE DAYS LEFT!

THREE DAYS LEFT FOR FREE NOVEL! LOVE AT SUNSET: A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - The Buchanan Mystery Romance Series Book One (a stand alone novel) is available for FREE download  HERE  

Set in The Bahamas and Scotland, with scenes in Fort Lauderdale, New York, London and Devon.

OFFER RUNS THROUGH NOVEMBER 11^TH

AND Join my Mailing List to be notified when the Buchanan Mystery Romance Series Book Two “Oleanders End” (also a stand alone read) has been released - FAY'S MAILING LIST. With Oleanders End, as usual there will be lots of romance but also some mysterious deaths!

THANK YOU NATIVE STEW!

So kind of Derek Catalano of Native Stew to pick up my newsletter and share it on his interesting website!

CLICK HERE

Native Stew, owned and operated by Derek Catalano, is a great website, all about People, Places and Things of The Bahamas! It’s regularly updated with lots of news, events and features.

Browse the site and explore all Derek’s links to fabulous information about The Bahamas! And sign up for the Native Stew newsletter at nativestew.com   

FOUR DAYS LEFT!

FOUR DAYS LEFT FOR FREE NOVEL! LOVE AT SUNSET: A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - The Buchanan Mystery Romance Series Book One (a stand alone novel) is available for FREE download HERE 

OFFER RUNS THROUGH NOVEMBER 11^TH

BOOKS BY TOP BAHAMIAN AUTHORS!

FALL SPECIALS – FREE NOVELS AND OTHER OFFERS!

In this newsletter, check out books by not only yours truly, but also by top Bahamian authors. You might be surprised!

CLICK HERE FOR NEWSLETTER

If you like this newsletter, you can sign up for my future newsletters HERE

LOVE AT SUNSET FREE FOR FIVE!

FREE FOR FIVE DAYS NOVEMBER 7^TH THROUGH 11^TH! My novel LOVE AT SUNSET: A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - The Buchanan Mystery Romance Series Book One (a stand alone novel) is available for FREE download! -

CLICK HERE!

AND Join my Mailing List to be notified when the Buchanan Mystery Romance Series Book Two “Oleanders End” (also a stand alone read) has been released:

CLICK HERE

With Oleanders End, as usual there will be lots of romance but also some mysterious deaths!

THE STIRLING OBSERVER FEATURES MOONBEAMS FROM THE SOUL!

I was delighted to be sent a pdf of this article by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Senior Reporter at The Stirling Observer. This not only informs their readers about Moonbeams from the Soul, my new book of short stories, but also lets them know a little about the terrible effects of Hurricane Dorian on Abaco and Grand Bahama islands and a link to where interested persons can go to help with the hurricane relief. I think Kaiya did a fabulous job with this article! Stirling is where I was born and brought up.

TOPSHAM ESTUARY MAGAZINE ROCKS!

How kind of the editors of the Estuary Magazine, a monthly publication in Topsham, Devon, England, to feature my press release “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” on page 47 of their November 2019 issue.

This article features my book “Moonbeams from the Soul: A Collection of Fourteen Provocative Short Stories”. And there is also a link for those who wish to help with Hurricane Dorian Relief.

Topsham is a lovely little town on the river estuary, where my mother lived for thirty-seven years of her life. And my family and I visited this beautiful spot over and over again throughout the years. Estuary Editors Diana Trout and José Northey have done a fabulous job with this latest bumper issue. It makes me feel quite nostalgic for Topsham!

BOOK REVIEWS WELCOME!

How often do you purchase something on Amazon and then after a decent amount of time you get an email from them asking if you would like to post what you think of the product?

I get these emails all the time and usually try to respond by doing a short review, as it helps other customers with their decision whether or not to buy the product.

Authors are especially grateful for any comments that their readers find time to make. Actually, it only takes a moment and you don’t need to give a long in depth review.

If the word “review” puts you off, don’t worry. You don’t have to be an expert at reviews. Your grammar doesn’t even have to be perfect! All you need to post are your honest comments about the product. This can be as short or as long as you wish.

Do bear in mind though with book reviews that there is a human being at the other end of the review. As my old mentor Jan Valpy used to tell her writer’s group, when doing a critique remember to be kind to the soul of the writer!

BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR WEDDINGS!

The Baha Mar wedding chapel, Nassau, Bahamas, is located in pristine grounds - a delightful setting where newly-weds and their guests can step out of the chapel right into a highly organized reception on a beautiful lawn! 

It's a bit different from the mad drive from St. Anne's church to the old Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre catered reception that Erskine and I had 53 years ago!

THE EXETER DAILY, ENGLAND, PICKS UP MOONBEAMS STORY

THE EXETER DAILY, DEVON, ENGLAND
OCTOBER 7, 2019

This article about the release of “Moonbeams from the Soul”, my fifth book at age 75, appeared in The Exeter Daily, England, on October 7th. 

I really appreciate The Exeter Daily giving this such a spread. I hope that the article in some small way might help bring more donations and assistance internationally for Hurricane Dorian victims. 

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

MOONBEAMS ONLINE AT NASSAU GUARDIAN!

Wow! The Nassau Guardian has also picked up the story featuring “Moonbeams from the Soul”! And they put it online too! It's really cool how the images on their website are rotating.

Thank you Nassau Guardian!

CLICK HERE FOR NASSAU GUARDIAN ARTICLE

MOONBEAMS IN THE NEWS!

Many thanks to The Punch and The Tribune for picking up this story featuring my second book of short stories “Moonbeams from the Soul: A Collection of Fourteen Provocative Short Stories”! 

Moonbeams from the Soul can be purchased on Amazon as an e-book and in paperback HERE and my first book of short stories “Sunbeams from the Heart: A Collection of Twelve Romantic Short Stories” HERE or order the paperbacks through your favourite local bookstore. These books would make great Christmas gifts!

CLICK HERE FOR TRIBUNE ARTICLE

MOONBEAMS FROM THE SOUL - FOURTEEN PROVOCATIVE SHORT STORIES!

I am delighted to announce the release of my second book of short stories - “Moonbeams from the Soul: A Collection of Fourteen Provocative Short Stories”!

From wild temptations to dangerous decisions, this is an eclectic assortment of thought-provoking short stories. Many thanks to Bestselling Bahamian Author Tanya R. Taylor for designing the beautiful cover and interior of the book for me.

BUY HERE

WRITING & READING INSPIRATION!

Photo Credit: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

In an article on Crossway.org, Michael Reeves writes about famous preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon who passed away January 31, 1892, in the southeast of France after 24 years of ill health. He was just 57 years old. Reeves says Spurgeon used to retreat to Menton near Nice in the winter months for health reasons.

Reeves relates how Spurgeon published some eighteen million words in his lifetime, selling over fifty-six million copies of his sermons in nearly forty languages. Spurgeon also read six books a week!

If Charles Spurgeon could do all that in his short lifetime, surely we can attempt if only a tiny minuscule of what Spurgeon achieved!

CLICK HERE FOR CROSSWAY ARTICLE

REALTOR’S PREDICTION OF HURRICANE DEVASTATED ISLANDS BOUNCING BACK

An excellent article by Realtor Mike Lightbourn of Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty in The Tribune's Home Buyers' Guide yesterday about the hurricane history of Abaco and Grand Bahama, with his optimism that these islands will come back.

BAHAMIAN AUTHOR WINS INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD

My article in the Tribune “Weekend” about bestselling Bahamian author Tanya R. Taylor, who is the Silver Medal Winner of The Readers’Favorite 2019 International Book Award - their “biggest ever!”

https://issuu.com/thetribune242/docs/09132019_weekend/11

CAYMAN ISLANDS HELP WITH HURRICANE DORIAN RELIEF IN THE BAHAMAS

The Cayman Islands have also been doing a fantastic job, assisting with hurricane relief for Abaco and Grand Bahama. The Cayman Compass reported that British High Commissioner to the Bahamas Sarah Dickson said: “Within hours of Hurricane Dorian passing, the Cayman Islands government offered the RCIPS helicopter to the people of the Bahamas, and they have been such a valuable resource.”

Read Cayman Compass article HERE

In addition, the Cayman Red Cross is collecting funds and several banks and other organisations there are collecting donations.

And Cayman hospitals have sent medical supplies to The Bahamas:

Read about it HERE

WE WILL OVERCOME - #BahamasStrong

What an amazing sight on a rooftop here in Nassau, Bahamas, this morning - 13 Ibis on Friday, September 13th! Some might say this was a “sign”. I like to think it was an indication that Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands will bounce back even stronger from the deadly Cat 5 Hurricane Dorian that devastated those islands last week.

Although we didn’t get Hurricane Dorian in Nassau/New Providence we still felt the effects of beta bands from Hurricane Dorian with torrential rain and thunderstorms and flooding in low lying areas. But that was nothing compared to what the hurricane inflicted on the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama. So many on those islands have lost everything.

We have heard tragic first hand reports from evacuees of the hurricane ravaged islands as people escaped to New Providence. It is heart wrenching. There has been much activity on land, air and sea on and around New Providence with relief efforts for the devastated islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama and incoming evacuation of traumatized victims of Hurricane Dorian. Many have died and hundreds are still missing.

Bahamian and International communities and organizations are pulling together to help the victims of Hurricane Dorian. The UK and Denmark sent aid ships to help with relief. The U.S. sent search and rescue crews and helicopters to help with evacuations. The list of international help is too long to mention here, but there are international and local organizations that continue to feed thousands of evacuees on New Providence. They work in conjunction with NEMA (The Bahamas’ National Emergency Management Agency), which gives daily press conferences.

Last Sunday New Providence Community Church's service was held in the Andros Ballroom of the Baha Mar Convention Centre, as the church is being used for their Hurricane Dorian Relief Initiative. Many evacuees from Grand Bahama and Abaco were present at the moving service. The New Providence Community Centre on Blake Road, Nassau, is receiving donations from 7.30 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily. They also have a Call Centre set up to report missing persons in Abaco or Grand Bahama or to receive emergency relief - Tel. 698-CARE (2273). NPCC updates can be found on their Facebook page. Many other local churches and organizations have undertaken similar relief initiatives.

As power, water and communications begin to be reconnected to the afflicted islands, The Bahamas is determined to move on #BahamasStrong.

FREE WRITER'S GUIDE E-BOOK!

FOLLOW me on INSTAGRAM @thebahamaswriter and Get A FREE E-Book of “How To Be The Best Writer Ever!”

●Learn how to overcome writer’s block and rejections.

●Delve into lists of helpful writers’ resources.

●Be shown how to submit your work, with clear graphs that you can use to keep track of queries and submissions.

●Find out where ideas come from and how to handle your writing time.

●See how to get paid for your writing.

●Receive the encouragement you need to be a successful writer, no matter your age.

●Be led and inspired to reach your highest writing potential!

If this sounds interesting, FOLLOW me on INSTAGRAM @thebahamaswriter and I will send you the Link to Download Your FREE E-Book!

NEW COVER FOR SWEET "SUNBEAMS FROM THE HEART"!

Lovely new cover for my Sunbeams book of short stories! - SUNBEAMS FROM THE HEART: A COLLECTION OF TWELVE ROMANTIC SHORT STORIES
●Heart-warming
●Nostalgic
●Bright new beginnings
●Homecoming
●Second chances
●The unexpected
●Most stories also published in The Lady magazine, London
●Cover & book design by bestselling author Tanya R. Taylor
●Available on Amazon as an e-book & in paperback:-

CLICK HERE TO BUY ON AMAZON.COM

CLICK HERE TO BUY ON AMAZON.CO.UK

YOUNG BAHAMIAN ENTREPRENEUR SPREADS HER WINGS!

 

I was delighted to have had the opportunity to write a feature story about an amazing young woman, Mercedes Taylor, daughter of bestselling Bahamian author Tanya R. Taylor. 

I wish I had been more like Mercedes when I was eighteen years old! I know there's a hugely successful future out there for Mercedes. She really has what it takes!

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE YOUNG BAHAMIAN ENTREPRENEUR SPREADS HER WINGS

COMING SOON - A NEW COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES!

Coming soon! My new book of short stories - Moonbeams from The Soul: A Collection of Fourteen Provocative Short Stories. 

Cover and book design by my very good friend, bestselling Bahamian author Tanya R. Taylor​, who despite her busy schedule churning out her bestsellers all the time, still manages to set aside some time for my books! Thanks a million, Tanya! 

NEW BUCHANAN MYSTERY ROMANCE SERIES!

Announcing my new BUCHANAN MYSTERY ROMANCE SERIES! My novel LOVE AT SUNSET – A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE, which can be purchased on Amazon and other major online retailers, has now become Book One in this new Series!

OLEANDERS END – A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE, which I am hard at work writing, will be Book Two! Violet and Gordon will feature again in Book Two, along with several other characters, both good and bad! You can expect some mysterious deaths, lots of suspense, and romance galore in Oleanders End!

If you haven’t read it yet, here are links where you can buy LOVE AT SUNSET, described by one reader as “Gripping, alluring and so wonderfully romantic on many different levels.” (Love at Sunset paperback covers will be updated shortly on the Amazon product page to reflect the new series).

CLICK HERE TO BUY ON AMAZON.COM

CLICK HERE TO BUY ON AMAZON.CO.UK

Join my Mailing List to be notified when the Buchanan Mystery Romance Series Book Two “Oleanders End” has been released:

CLICK HERE FOR FAY'S MAILING LIST  

Please feel free to share this news with your family and friends, who may love mystery and romance! 

EXCITING NEW RELEASES BY BESTSELLING BAHAMIAN AUTHOR TANYA R. TAYLOR!

Bestselling Bahamian author Tanya R. Taylor​'s recent release BLIND SIGHT, the first book in her new Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series, immediately became a number one new release and a number one bestseller upon its release! I'm not surprised, as it's a captivating read! I really enjoyed it.

I have already pre-ordered BLIND ESCAPE, which is the second book in Tanya's Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series! Tanya says she is working on getting BLIND ESCAPE ready for its September 5th release. And now she has announced the October 31st release date for 'TIL DEATH DO US PART, the 13th book in the CORNELIUS SAGA SERIES, in time for Halloween!

CLICK HERE TO BUY BLIND SIGHT

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER BLIND ESCAPE

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER 'TIL DEATH DO US PART

NOSTALGIC SCOTTISH MEMORIES

“A little way out of Aberfoyle we found the lodge on the Craigenveoch estate where my mother and family had lived. On warm, summer evenings she, Jack and Ray leaned out of their bedroom windows, watching their parents sing along with friends to gramophone music as they rowed across Loch Ard. The loch was described by Sir Walter Scott as a ‘beautiful sheet of water … a spacious mirror’. The main house at Craigenveoch, where my grandfather had worked as gardener, still stood proud and well cared for. My mother told us that the house, land, lodge, and two staff apartments over the garage, sold for a little over £3,000 in 1939.” [Excerpt from The Scottish Connection: A Journey Back – Mini-memoir]

In this nostalgic, illustrated mini-memoir I share memories of my 1978 journey back to Scotland with my mother and young sons, to revisit our Scottish roots. “The Scottish Connection” contains a wealth of information - Scottish ancestry, historical facts, genealogy, comparable 1978 prices, geographical descriptions, personal anecdotes, nostalgia and precious old photos. Available to download from Amazon as an e-book for only $2.99 and also in paperback:

BUY SCOTTISH CONNECTION ON AMAZON.COM

BUY SCOTTISH CONNECTION ON AMAZON.CO.UK

SOLUTIONS TO SWIMMING POOL PROBLEMS!

This is an article I wrote about son Gavin’s new pool consultancy business, Pool Solutions, which he is running in addition to his existing business, Saline Pools.

I love to write articles for special people in my life!

WHAT TO DO WITH OLD MANUSCRIPTS!

MANUSCRIPT FOR ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVEL
"LOVE AT SUNSET" BY FAY KNOWLES

INSIDE MANUSCRIPT FOR "LOVE AT SUNSET"

What do YOU do with your old manuscripts after your work has been published?! I’ve been doing a lot of purging and was going to throw away my manuscript for my romantic suspense novel “Love at Sunset”, because after all, it’s published and I have hard copies of the actual book! However, son Gavin said: “Oh no, you should keep it, as you never know, a movie producer might contact you about the book and want you to send them the original manuscript!” Here it is above, all 325 double-spaced typed pages of it, showing a bit of the content! This converted to 360 pages in the regular print published book.

And here’s a short description: “Facing imminent danger and fierce opposition to love a second time around, Violet and Gordon seek a new life in Scotland, thousands of miles away from where they live in Nassau, Bahamas, but trouble soon catches up with them. The couple finds themselves in and out of one adventure after another! In the meantime, an unscrupulous attorney appears on the scene back home, along with a crooked realtor. What they do and the extent they would go to leads to a shocking ending. Greed, jealousy, family secrets and bitter grudges worm their way throughout this story!”

“Love at Sunset: A Romantic Suspense” set in The Bahamas and Scotland, with scenes in Fort Lauderdale, New York, London and Devon, is available on Amazon as an e-book and in paperback (regular and large print):

CLICK HERE TO BUY LOVE AT SUNSET ON AMAZON.COM

CLICK HERE TO BUY LOVE AT SUNSET ON AMAZON.CO.UK

EXCITING NEW LUCILLE PFIFFER MYSTERY SERIES!

Check out page 10 of this past weekend’s Tribune Weekend supplement and read my article about bestselling Bahamian author Tanya R. Taylor's exciting new Lucille Pfiffer mystery series - “A New Cosy Mystery with a Four-legged Heroine”!

“Lucille Pfiffer sees, but not with her eyes. She lives with her beloved dog Vanilla (‘Nilla’ for short) in a cozy neighborhood that is quite ‘active’ due to what occurred in the distant past. Though totally blind, she plays an integral role in helping to solve pressing and puzzling mysteries, one right after the other, which, without her, might remain unsolved. The question is: How can she do any of that with such a handicap?”

CLICK HERE FOR TRIBUNE ARTICLE ONLINE

BLIND SIGHT, the first book in the series, will be released July 28th and is available now on Amazon for pre-order at a special price. The count down is on! Only FOUR days left to pre-order at a special pre-order price.

ORDER BLIND SIGHT HERE

BLIND ESCAPE by Tanya R. Taylor (Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series Book 2) will be released September 5th and is also available now for pre-order.

ORDER BLIND ESCAPE HERE

“In Blind Escape the town of Chadsworth has a new headache on its hand - a puzzling murder for blind Lucille Pfiffer to solve. Will the mystery be unravelled in record time or will the stealthy killer or killers find their way to Lucille's doorstep? Lucille’s dog, Vanilla, once again claims her role as ‘protector’. But Lucille is majorly concerned - not just for her own safety, but for that of her cherished pet.”

I’m excited about this fabulous new mystery series by Tanya R. Taylor and have already pre-ordered Books 1 and 2!

Tanya R. Taylor writes in various genres including Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Thrillers, Science-fiction, Mystery and Suspense. She is the author of several #1 bestsellers across the various Amazon Stores. All of her books have made Amazon Kindle’s Top 100 Paid Bestsellers’ List in several categories. Tanya’s book “10 Minutes Before Sleeping” was recently #34, sharing the top 100 paid Best Sellers list in African American Mystery Thriller and Suspense Fiction with several of James Patterson’s books.

BAHAMAS WRITER'S PUBLISHING PORTFOLIO!

My published books! Available on Amazon as e-books and in paperback:-

“SUNBEAMS FROM THE HEART - A COLLECTION OF TWELVE ROMANTIC SHORT STORIES” -
SUNBEAMS ON AMAZON

“LOVE AT SUNSET”, a Romantic Suspense novel set in Scotland and The Bahamas, with scenes in London, Devon, Fort Lauderdale and New York -
LOVE AT SUNSET ON AMAZON

“THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION: A JOURNEY BACK - MINI-MEMOIR”-
THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION ON AMAZON

“HOW TO BE THE BEST WRITER EVER!” – An Informal Guide and Source of Inspiration for New and Not So New Writers Worldwide
BEST WRITER ON AMAZON

Coming soon – another book of short stories!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY BAHAMAS!

RAWSON SQUARE, DOWNTOWN NASSAU. STATUE OF
QUEEN VICTORIA IN THE FOREGROUND. BAHAMAS
INDEPENDENCE DAY JULY 10, 2019

Today is The Bahamas’ 46^th Anniversary of Independence. Before 1973 this archipelago of around 700 islands was a British Colony. Since Independence The Bahamas has been a British Commonwealth country.

MORE SHORT STORIES!

I’m so excited! I’ve just finished writing my next book of short stories! More information coming soon.

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN THE BAHAMAS

St. Mary The Virgin Anglican Church,
Nassau, Bahamas

St. Mary The Virgin Anglican Church is one of the many Christian churches in The Bahamas. It is located on Virginia Street on the edge of downtown Nassau and was founded in 1844.

St. Mary’s Facebook page declares: “To be a welcoming church that proclaims and teaches the gospel, fosters a spiritual growth and encourages its members to offer their services, time and talents in missions and ministry for the building up of God’s kingdom.”

The church is also adjacent to the old Greek section of Nassau. When our sons were small, I used to take them with me to a little old wooden house near there when I visited an elderly bedridden lady called Mrs. Clarke. She enjoyed being read to and I would read children’s stories to her that she liked as much as our sons! I was referred to her by Christ Church Cathedral, which my family and I attended at the time. Visiting someone in need was a good lesson for our boys in humility.

INTO BAHAMAS BLUE!

Our son Gavin diving in the beautiful waters of The Bahamas near Rose Island! He’s always loved nature. My upcoming children’s adventure book was inspired by our two sons’ many visits to Long Island, an unspoiled island in the southern Bahamas, where my husband Erskine was born and brought up.

POETRY ON PARLIAMENT!

OBEDIAH MICHAEL SMITH

ADRIAN D'AGUILAR ON BASS,
ERIC BOXERMAN ON KEYBOARD
AND EVA ZARUCKI ON SAXOPHONE

I had a real treat on my birthday last Saturday afternoon! Erskine took me to “Tea Talk” – A Special Poetry Reading by internationally recognized Bahamian poet Obediah Michael Smith at Gypsy Books and Tea on Parliament Street, downtown Nassau.  

When we arrived we were met by the soothing tones of a jazz trio – Adrian D’Aguilar on bass, Eric Boxerman on keyboard and Eva Zarucki on saxophone. Dr. Harold Munnings also played soft jazz on his classical guitar during an intermission.

Other poets who read their work were: Shalimar Johnson, A. Shareef Josey, Princess Pratt (former student of Shalimar Johnson), Eric Rose and Ancilleno Davis.

As we settled into easy chairs it was like being in someone’s home. We were surrounded by books of all kinds and a variety of gifts were displayed on antique tables and shelves. I felt immersed in culture. It was so relaxing and peaceful, far away from the everyday rowdiness of Nassau – lovely soft jazz and good company, along with the spoken word beautifully presented by the poets. All of the guests sat quietly, giving way to the artists, but occasionally there was a jovial moment, especially when a poet’s work had a little humour in it! Teas were available at the rear of the store.

As we left this most enjoyable event, the heavens opened and the rain came down accompanied by thunder and lightening! We waited a while and then made our way home to get ready for an evening meal at Spritz, Sandyport.

I couldn’t have had a better birthday!

Check out Obediah’s Facebook page at OBEDIAH MICHAEL SMITH FACEBOOK 

or email him at bestwordsmith@gmail.com