Sometimes our upbringing and parental love shape the course of our lives, and make us who we are and what we stand for.

I was born, and grew up in Guyana. My childhood days were spent in Bound Yard, a slum occupied predominantly by sugar – estate workers, many of whom were descendants from indentured laborers. I was raised single-handedly by my mother who worked laboriously in the sugar plantations to eke out a living.  Living conditions were deplorable. We lived in an old, dilapidated cottage with no electricity, not even a table or chair. I was forced to utilize the hard ground for my chair, the rickety couch for my table and the dim flickering light of the kerosene lamp for my studies.

 My mother couldn’t read and write but she spent her last penny to ensure that I was provided with a decent education. I will never ever forget that day I accompanied her to purchase my books for one of my grade school classes. The prices of the books totaled twenty-five dollars, and seventy-cents. All she had in her possession was twenty-one dollars, which included her week’s wage and some savings. I watched her pleading pitifully with the bookseller to reduce the prices. He adamantly suggested that she should forego some of the books. She looked sad and defeated. Determined that I should have all my books, she left, pawned some of her jewelry, and returned to fetch all my books. This incident moved me so much that my life’s explicit goal from then was to study diligently to make my mother proud of me.

It is my mother’s sacrifices and unwavering, unconditional love that have inspired me to write my novel, “Goodbye Forever, Vicky.” All the characters in my books have been shaped by my upbringing, and my association with different families and teenagers as a High School teacher.  Even though my mother is gone, her memories will always linger, and as I look way beyond the clouds for the brightest star among the angels, I want my mom to know that my love for her will never ever die, and I pray that she will continue to inspire me to fulfill my dreams.