I married a Chicago boy twenty-four years ago, and lived there for fifteen years before relocating to Orlando. I was very active in the Jamaican community in Chicago and I thank them for easing my homesickness and making her transition to the United States seamless. Redemption Songs was born from a nightmare. After waking my husband and describing the terrifying dream to him, he advised me to write it down, then rolled over and went back to sleep. His advice resulted in my first fictional novel and him getting some well-deserved rest.