Chat ’Bout!: An Anthology of Jamaican Conversations

Shelley Sykes-Coley is a Jamaican of mixed Chinese, European and African heritage. After working in the creative industry for over 30 years, she decided to pursue her love for writing after a 20-year career in Marketing. Her dream of becoming a published author took root after emerging the winner of an open mic segment at the largest literary festival in the Caribbean, the 2016 Calabash Literary Arts Festival in Treasure Beach, Jamaica. Her first collection of poems, Chat ’Bout! An Anthology of Jamaican Conversations, is that dream come to fruition. The author’s poetry is permeated with familiar memories, experiences and conversations that highlight common Jamaican idiosyncrasies and cultural norms that contribute to the shared life experiences that sometimes Jamaicans use to ‘tek bad tings mek laugh’. Her style of story telling is reflected in politically incorrect social commentary and humorous conversations. Her wry sense of humour, use of colourful Jamaican dialect and simple conversational style easily transports audiences, bringing her highly entertaining pieces to life. Shelley is married and lives in Kingston, Jamaica, with her husband, André.