Grenadian Author Launches First Novel “Force Ripe”

GRENADA — Grenadian author, Cindy McKenzie, officially presented her first novel, Force Ripe, on Saturday, October 24, to friends, family and a cross-section of Grenada’s literary advocates, including representatives from the Ministry of Education and Acting Chief Education Officer, Elvis Morain.

Cindy McKenzie reading from Force Ripe.

Force Ripe, the author says, was 14 years in the making.  Written from the perspective of, and in the voice of Lee, the main character, the novel takes the reader on her journey from her first memories of life in a Rastafarian commune, through foster care and her subsequent reunion with her mother, when she was a teenager.

Lee draws from images, characters, stories told and historical events, to weave a beautiful portrayal of a little girl’s survival and an important part of her island’s history.

Grenadian author, Cindy McKenzie, right, and Oonya Kempado.

The book makes liberal use of Grenadian Creole dialect and local idioms, adding to the authenticity of the characters.  Themes of immigration (barrel children), the extended family structure, Rastafarianism, and the Grenada Revolution, amongst others, hold special appeal for a wide audience, especially readers with an appetite and longing for more Caribbean literary works.

Author and Director of Mt. Zion Library, Oonya Kempadoo, congratulated McKenzie on her accomplishment, calling it a proud moment in which she acknowledged the author’s bravery for having written a book addressing a subject matter usually considered taboo, and going further to self-publish.

Ms. Kempadoo further applauded the writer for her “significant contribution to Caribbean literature, world literature, and local language on the page in a way not previously heard before.”

McKenzie, who was born in the northern parish, St Patrick, in Grenada, has lived, briefly, in the UK and currently resides in Confer, St George, with her husband and daughter.

Force Ripe is available for purchase from the author McKenzie at www.cindymac.info and her author page on Facebook.