Jamaican novel - Paperback 275 pages.

     The island of Jamaica boasts pristine white sand beaches, rolling hills with plush green vegetation, pulsating reggae music, and a people as vibrant as the sun. Beneath this picture though is the dark side of the island, of a society undergoing social and economic transformation that produces a myriad of challenges that affects its people in different ways.

This is the landscape that has developed Sheila Sampson, the third of seven children of Alphanso and Delceita Sampson, both ordinary working class parents from the inner city community of 33 Lane in the tough Waltham Park Road area of Kingston, Jamaica.

Despite the desire of her parents for their daughter to provide an example to her younger siblings, Sheila’s youthful exuberances leads her in a completely different direction resulting in her being ostracized from her family and forced to face life on her own and to raise two young children in trying circumstances, especially after the departure of her lover and childhood sweetheart Tony. 

      The story is set in the transient socio-political period of the late 1970’s to late 1980’s, and explores issues of honesty, integrity, spiraling criminality and the influence of drugs, money, and power.  It provides the reader with an in-depth look at how the underworld forces work to legitimize itself in a country struggling with issues of approaches to development, and how these issues affect the country’s systems and its citizens. This intriguing story is told through the experiences of Sheila Sampson "The Girl From The Lane."

 The story also portrays that in spite of hardships, there are benefits from making smart choices.

The now popular painting of the "Girl in the Lavender Hat" that is the cover photo for the novel "The Girl From The Lane." The original painting by author and Artist Richard H. Blackford has been sold. However 500 copies of this now famous painting has been made available by the artist. Each copy will be numbered and individually signed by the artist.

 As usual there is no charge for delivery within the USA and Canada.

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