Marooned

Coming May 2027

Marooned captures the defiant spirit and determination of women who refused to be marginalized. Unrelentingly brutal, occasionally provocative, and deeply emotional, it exposes the complex relationships between oppressors and the oppressed, and rejects all attempts to characterize women who endured slavery as passive victims. One of the fiercest Maroon chief warriors was a woman. This, at a time in history when women were raped and brutalized, and recompense came only to those courageous enough to grab hold of it.

Free and fierce, Nedra Ubote, a young Maroon, was captured and sold as a slave. They tortured, lashed and sexually abused her, but she refused to be their victim. Rebelling like the animal they thought she was, she escaped—then she returned. She did not capture them. With might and precision, she led the guerrilla war to destroy them—all of them!

Watch out for more. Marooned, the antithesis of slavery!

Olumbo, a pivotal character in The Irish Connection, stayed with my readers long after the final page. Insisting that the story of his people be told, Olumbo inspired me to write Marooned.

But, Marooned was primarily inspired by Jamaica’s Queen Nanny, a legendary Maroon chieftainess, known as herbal leader, prophetess, and indomitable guerrilla warrior, who triumphantly led battles for freedom from British tyranny. She is the only female among seven national heroes celebrated by Jamaica’s government and its people, and a testament to the role women played in the island’s fight for freedom.

Excerpt

Havoc filled Nedra’s senses. Yells, grunts, swears, and blood-curdling screams polluted the air. The British red coats fired wildly, confused, not knowing from which direction they’d be attacked. The camouflaged Maroons moved in for the final kill. Nedra lurched forward and took care of an enemy with one swing of her machete. She retreated. She puckered her lips and screamed bird calls till her throat stung. The Maroons destroyed everyone who made the mistake of budging. By early afternoon, no one moved. Nothing stirred. Nedra glanced downhill and saw three red coats quickly retreating, leaving their dead behind. The abeng horn let out three ear-piercing blasts. Drums broke into a strong, slow refrain. Done for the day; enemies defeated!