From the desk of
FRANCES-MARIE COKE
From the desk of
FRANCES-MARIE COKE
by Frances-Marie Coke
In the words of
FRANCES-MARIE COKE
WRITING MATTERS
Newsletter Issue: August 2025
Greetings my Friends...
It has been one year since I was privileged to travel home to Jamaica for the launch of my first novel, When Banana Stains Fade. Imagine the thrill of landing in Kingston and seeing few, if any signs, of Hurricane Beryl who had threatened to derail the plans. I was filled with gratitude, but it was nothing compared to the joy of interacting with over eighty family members, friends, and book lovers who turned up at my old haunt, the main lecture theatre at Mona School.
Since then, the support received for the book has been overwhelming – in the best sense of the word. Personal messages, feedback on social media,
reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and Barnes and Noble, along with many other forms of recognition have kept me encouraged to share the experiences and observations that made me write the story. Every time I think it’s over, something new comes along to make me grateful that Pearlie, Naomi, Bradley, Esther, and Zarah, along with my other characters, never stopped their chatter in my head demanding that I write their stories! I am overjoyed that they insisted for three years, until I heeded. The recent National Indies Book Award for being a “Finalist in the Category New Fiction” is the most recent.
Along the journey, we discovered the world of interviews, book fairs and book club visits, events that provide contact with diverse book lovers who invest their time and interest in the worlds we create. Book club members are avid readers whose curiosity and insights compel writers to dig deep for answers to their probing questions about our characters, our storylines, and our reasons for writing. Gratitude to all those who hosted us!
Here are a few...
“Meet Frances Coke” | August 27, 2024. Just look at this question and you will see how challenging their questions were. “Hi Frances, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?”
Bold Journey Magazine
Then, there was my experience with Black Coffee Book Tours. This one focused on various aspects of the book and several wonderful reviews by their team of voracious readers!
And of course, we travelled to old and new places, mingling with other authors, but mostly with the readers on whom all writers depend for just about everything that we need to keep going!
What happens after a year like this, you might ask?
Well, you know the reward for hard work is more work! So here I am, still working— to write, to promote writing, and once again to keep our eyes on what matters to writers and readers!
My gratitude to everyone who keeps asking “So, what about the next book,” or “When will we see some poetry?” and “What about the writing lessons?”
Truthfully, I have no idea when next I will come to the words “The End.” It’s just as well that I don’t believe in using that phrase because I trust you all to know when a story is over. And I assure you mine is not! You will be the first to know the next chapter! But first, I just wanted to be in touch, and to let you know the depth of my appreciation.
Guest Appearances/ Interviews:
-Karen E. Osborne’s YouTube Blog
-Turning Pages Book Club
-Totlyn Oliver’s “Why I Write”
- Abeng Book Club
How can we make this newsletter work for you?
Please contact us and tell us in a few words.
Thank you!