Guest Blogger: J.L. Campbell

Ya know, I’ve come a long way since J.L. Campbell told my story in Hardware – which only got published last month. In 2009, I was going through a truck-load of problems. You see, I’m the problem-sorter-outer for my family and friends. So, I was dealing with my girlfriends’ relationship drama, plus that of my parents and then along came Quinn, who looked like bad news, but really wasn’t.

It did take him a while to get past my defenses and boy did I have many. I thought he was a gangster, but he showed me otherwise. It also took me some time to get over myself. Thing is, at first glance I’m snooty and I did have some, ahem, prejudices. But if you get to know me, you’ll find out that I’m just shy with people I don’t know. Anyhow, Quinn helped me turn all of that around. He’s the centre of my world. Well, him and our son, Chad, who came along a while after…but you’ll have to read Hardware to find out all about that. If intrigue and suspense are your thing, then you’ll enjoy our story.

But to get to the point of my visit, it’s coming on to Christmas and in Jamaica, there are certain things that tell you what time of year it is...stuff like Dark Fruit Cake, that’s yummy and has quite a kick if you get carried away with the rum and wine. Gungo Peas makes a nice dish of rice and peas. Baked Glazed Ham is eaten at almost every meal. Poinsettias bloom in brilliant reds, peach and white. Delicious Pot Roasted Beef is a must and so is Sorrel, a lovely deep burgundy drink that comes from a plant. We do tend to flavour this drink with lots of rum.

We have Midnight Mass and Watch Night Services across the island and for those who like to party, there are office get-togethers, stage shows and pageants…oodles of activity that take us right through the season. Best of all, there’s the time with friends and family and the goodwill that flows from one end of the island to the other, like the chilly winds that come from North America. Oh, and for those of you who get lots of snow, that’s something we never experience.

Here’s wishing all the best of the season for you and yours. Carol, thanks ever so much for allowing me to share an insider’s view of a Jamaican Christmas Under the Tiki Hut.

J.L. Campbell is the author of Contraband, Dissolution, Don’t Get Mad…Get Even, and Hardware. She is always on the lookout for story making material. She also loves company and can usually be found lollygagging on her blog at http://thecharacterdepot.blogspot.com

Her website is at http://joylcampbell.com and her Twitter handle is @JL_Campbell.

Comments

Joanne said…
Thanks for the view of a Jamaican Christmas. I've never spent a Christmas outside of New England, so this virtual visit to Jamaica was a nice change of pace. Have a Merry holiday, J.L., with peace and happiness in 2012!
Anonymous said…
I'd be more than happy to swap out my chilly North American winds for some of your sun, sand and rum.
J.L. Campbell said…
Carol, thanks again for hosting me!

Thanks so much, Joanne. Glad the visit was interesting.

Dolores, I totally understand! Thanks for commenting.
Linda G. said…
Mmmm...Christmas in Jamaica sounds delicious. :)
Anne Gallagher said…
I was just talking about midnight mass this morning.

Much joy to you over the holiday season.
Pam Asberry said…
You had me at the Dark Fruit Cake. Looks like a great holiday read, Jayda. Happy holidays to you and Carol, too!
I wish I were in Jamaica for Christmas instead of Missouri, but this is "where the love light gleams". I think I would like dark fruit cake.

Merry Christmas, J.L. and Carol!
LR said…
Tis the season for rum! Yippee.

Would love to go to Jamaica right now.
J.L. Campbell said…
Linda, oh yes, we eat way too much rich, delicious food during Christmas.

Same to you Anne. Mass is a big part of my Christmas celebration.

Thanks, Pam. Dark Fruit Cake - lovely stuff! Happy Holidays!

JW - the warm weather here is a blessing indeed. Still, we've been having some chilly winds in the last day or so.

LR - I like that. Rum Season it is. :)
It must be great to celebrate Christmas in Jamaica. Enjoyed the post very much.

Yvonne.
Anonymous said…
Lovely!
Christmas in Jamaica sounds terrific! Love your feisty character too. Merry Christmas!
Under the Tiki Hut with a character is very original. I enjoyed the read. You gotta watch out for those "gangsters" with the six-pac abs...that's such a deadly combination.
How very interesting! Sounds like a Jamaican Christmas is very different for our Ozark Mountain Christmas.

I so enjoyed meetin' JL and will keep an eye out for her books. Hardware sounds most intriguin'.

God bless ya sweetie and have a blessed, bright and beautiful Christmas, hopefully there will be fudge involved. Heeehehehe!

'Just sayin'.......
Janet, said…
Sounds like you do a bit of celebrating in Jamaica! Merry Christmas to you and good luck with your writing.
Jennifer Shirk said…
Christmas in Jamaica sounds awesome!

Merry Christmas to you and Carol!
J.L. Campbell said…
Thanks ever so much to all of you for sharing your thoughts. I'll be around to visit your blogs. Happy Holidays!
Mason Canyon said…
I love the look at Christmas in Jamaica. Happy Holidays to you and much success with your writing.

Carol, Happy Holidays to you too. I'm off to check out your post on Sia's site (can you tell I'm running way behind?).

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Tracy Jo said…
J.L. - I think I need to read this book...it sounds a little like my love story. Oh and I just listened to Shaggy's Drummer boy - Jamaican style before I read this. After that song and your description...I think I need a vacation! :-)

Happy Holidays to both of you!
I miss festive Christmas spirit in Jamaica. I'll have to take a trip next year.

Hardware looks like a good read. It will be on my book reading list for next year.
J.L. Campbell said…
Thanks, Mason. Hope you have a good Christmas too.

Tracy, thanks for dropping in. Now I gotta go listen to Shaggy. Didn't even know he did Christmas music. I'll be he put an interesting spin on it. Enjoy the holidays!

Peaches, hoping you do get to make that trip and that you enjoy Hardware when you get to it. If you like a fast paced read, then you'll probably like it. Happy Holidays!
Kiru Taye said…
Great post, J.L. She's quite an interesting character and I hope to meet her soon when I get down to reading Hardware.

Merry Christmas, all!
Carol Kilgore said…
Thanks so much for guest blogging with me! I hope you had fun. I'm really wanting some of that dark fruit cake and rum :)

Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I like hearing about Joy's rituals.

Hope you both have a wonderful new year.
J.L. Campbell said…
Kiru and Theresa, thanks for coming by.

Carol, thanks ever so much for hosting me. I really appreciate your kindness. Wishing for you and yours the very best Christmas and a prosperous 2012.

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