“Where did the time go?” That’s a common topic of conversation these days, and one I ask myself almost every day. Before you know it, the kindle-countdown-one-year celebration for In the Promised Land will be over. I hope you took advantage of the deep discounts over these 3 days to get your copy of this captivating novel.

In order to whet your appetite further while there are still a few hours left, I am posting an excerpt that captures one of the scenes written around the true event which forms the backdrop of this novel – the bombing of the police headquarters as a small Muslim group staged a bloody coup in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

Excerpt

As he checked his watch, something on the television screen caught his eye. A man resembling Dennis Kallipersad, the evening news anchor, sat at a table. Behind him, stood two men dressed in army uniforms, carrying rifles. Derek frowned. Not one of those bad plays at this time of day. It was just after four. He was about to switch to the other station when the man sitting said in a tremulous voice, “We have suspended regular programming to bring you this report. Trinidad and Tobago television was taken over by the Muslimeen forces of Yasin Aboud Bakr this afternoon around 2.30 p.m. It has been learned that our sister radio station, Radio 610, has been taken over. Muslimeen forces also stormed the Parliament building and bombed the Police Headquarters on St. Vincent Street earlier this afternoon. Motorists are urged to stay away from those areas.”

Derek dashed across the room and yanked the bathroom door open. June stood there drying herself, but for the first time her nakedness failed to excite him. He grabbed her by the hand and ran with her back to the bed. Snatching up her clothing, he thrust them at her. “Here, get dressed, quick.”

“Honey, my hair —”

“Never mind, you’ll fix it in the car.”

While she scrambled to get into her clothes, Derek shoved his feet into his socks and shoes, then felt his pocket for his keys. June, clad in underwear, paused, looking at the television. “What’s going on? Is that a play?”

“Here. Put on your skirt.” He held out the garment, she stepped into it, and he quickly pulled her zipper up.

She reached for her jacket.  “What’s that about the Parliament?”

Derek turned off the TV. “Here’s your jacket, let me help you.” He pushed the sleeve over one arm, and she shrugged the other arm through.

 “Ready? Let’s go.” He grabbed her arm while she was still buttoning her jacket.

She twisted free. “Wait. What’s the rush?”

“The Muslims have taken over. Come on.”

June barely had time to grab her purse before he dragged her by the hand and out through the door.

Everything seemed normal as they got into their car, and Derek wondered if it was some type of hoax. But when they eased into the mainstream of traffic, chaos confronted them. Drivers turned in the middle of the road, passed on the shoulder, cut in and out, showing off their skill in amazing ways.             

 Derek decided to turn around. Signaling, and not giving the car behind him time to pass, Derek spun the wheel, bringing his bumper right up to the paint of another car. The driver shook his fist and mouthed something, but Derek ignored him, backed up, then zoomed off in the opposite direction. After a half mile they encountered another traffic jam. This time they saw the reason. Police were stopping everyone and checking their identification.

“Oh, boy,” Derek muttered, leaning his head back against the head rest.

June switched on the radio. An announcer’s voice came through the static. “Motorists are asked to avoid St. Vincent Street where the Police Headquarters building is still smoldering after this afternoon’s bombing —”

Derek switched off the radio, cursing under his breath. June’s face had gone pale. She stretched out her hand to turn the radio back on, but he growled, “Leave it alone.”

“I heard something about Police Headquarters —”

“I said leave it alone.” He spoke through clenched teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering. He dared not look at her. He hated speaking to her like that especially after the lovely time they had just had, but he was scared as he’d never been in his life. His father worked at Police Headquarters.

So, I won’t hold you up any longer. Get your copy of In the Promised Land while the price is still $2.99.

Coming from a music-loving culture like Trinidad & Tobago, music is as important to me as bake and shark – another Trini favorite. As I published in another post some time ago, the only musical invention of the twentieth century – the steelband – originated in Trinidad and Tobago and, like Carnival, has spread to other countries even as far away as Japan.

It’s only natural then that I should include music in my novels. Since the Egypt series is set in the 80s, the songs are those that were popular around that time period, as well as a few classical Christmas songs. So, here is my playlist from book 1, Coming Out of Egypt and a few lines about how it appears in the novel.

“Endless Love” by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross

David took the napkin from her, and wiped off the ring. Then he placed a cassette into his tape deck and “Endless Love” filled the car. While the song played, he slipped the ring on her finger. “This, my dear, is my clumsy way of asking you to marry me. I love you, Cicely Stewart. I want you to be my wife.”

Memories of last night returned, along with the words of the song, “You will always be, my endless love.”

His rendition of “Endless Love,” accompanied by the orchestra would have moved her to tears if she didn’t glance at Miss Stewart’s face from time to time.

“Carry Your Candle” by Chris Rice

When Rose got to the chorus, Cicely joined in, “Carry your candle, Run to the darkness—”

Applause broke out, then faded as the children came up the aisle, each carrying a lantern and singing, “Carry your candle, run to the darkness …”

“Help me make it through the night” by Lord Baron

From her perfectly-styled hair down to her high-heeled sandals and everything in-between, she was gorgeous. The words of the song, “Help me make it through the night,” beautifully sung by a local calypsonian, popped into his mind.

“Midnight Blue” by Wendy Alleyne

The words of “Midnight Blue” spilled out softly. Marva’s hand trembled as she followed Jason’s action and pushed the knife into the cake. As the song reached the high note, “And I think we can make it,” Jason’s lips met hers in a brief, tender kiss.

“O Holy Night”

While Sheila complimented Cicely on her new curtains and decorations, her father and Fred went to the stereo, and soon the strains of O Holy Night filled the air.

And here’s one of these videos for you to enjoy.

Hope you are enjoying your Labor Day holiday. I am taking full advantage of the stormy weather we’re having in South Florida today to catch up on some writing and reading as tropical storm Gordon moves through. Whatever you do today, take some time to rest and prepare for tomorrow.

When you think of a library, you think of a place that is always quiet, where people speak barely above a whisper, so you can read or browse the bookshelves with little distraction. Well, this past Friday evening, one of my local libraries, the South Regional – Broward College Library, did not fit this description. And no one complained because everyone was there to celebrate the 56th independence anniversary of the twin-island nation of Trinidad & Tobago. It was a time of food, fun, laughter and, as happens with every T & T occasion, music.

I was fortunate to have a table at the festivities where I met a lot of fellow Trinidadians, and sold a few copies of my book Coming Out of Egypt. I must tell you I was a little surprised, and pleased, at how much the title drew people’s attention, and here’s why. The story of the two sisters who came out of an abusive childhood begins in their hometown of Egypt Village, Trinidad. Egypt in the Bible represents a place of bondage; a place where the Israelites were kept in slavery for 400 years until God sent Moses to deliver them. The girls’ situation when the story begins is one of bondage – they were abused by their father, although that took before the story began. They eventually flee Egypt Village to elude the police and so they came out of Egypt literally. With the intervention of Marva’s teacher, they begin to overcome some of the effects of the abuse and therefore came out of Egypt figuratively.

That’s the reason for the title Coming Out of Egypt, and I had lots of opportunity to explain that to curious passersby, some of whom were familiar with Egypt Village. I just kept thinking I hope I have all the facts surrounding the setting straight, which is why it’s so important to research settings carefully when you are writing about a place.

You can also follow this gripping series with book 2 In the Wilderness and book 3 In the Promised Land by clicking these links.