Chat 'Bout!: An Anthology of Jamaican Conversations - Paperback

by Shelley Sykes-Coley (Author)

Chat 'Bout!: An Anthology of Jamaican Conversations Jamaicans love to 'tek bad tings mek laugh' and Chat 'Bout! lets you get in on the conversation. Written in Patwa or Patois, Chat 'Bout! celebrates all things mundanely Jamaican. Unfiltered, honest and funny, it examines the idiosyncrasies of everyday Jamaican life - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Guided by Jamaican GPS, Chat 'Bout! takes you on a journey through Jamaica, past and present. Get lost while reminiscing down memory lane; stop and eavesdrop on conversations, and vicariously experience a minibus ride. Next thing you know, you are experiencing an unfortunate episode of 'runnin' belly' and having a good belly laugh while you are at it. Be thoroughly entertained by Chat 'Bout! and pick up some Patwa as brawta.

Author Biography

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.