MJV Three Bookish Thoughts with J.L. Campbell

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Today on My Jamaican Vignettes blog we’re returning to a blog series that we started all the way back in 2017. Yep, we’re going way back.

Welcome to a new MJV Three Bookish Thoughts. Today we’re featuring Jamaican author J.L. Campbell.

J.L. Campbell writes contemporary, paranormal, and sweet romance, romantic suspense, inspirational and women fiction, thrillers, as well as new and young adult novels. Campbell has penned 50 books. She is a certified editor, and book coach. When she’s not writing, Campbell adds to her extensive collection of photos detailing Jamaica’s beauty.

Visit her on the web at www.jlcampbellwrites.com to learn more about her work.

Three Bookish Thoughts with J.L. Campbell

What’s the last book you read that made you sit up and think “wow”? What made it so special?

That would be Fifty Words For Rain by Asha Lemmie. It was a heartrending read about Nori, the bastard child of a Japanese family, who is raised in an attic after her mother abandons her to the care of cruel grandparents. Set in Japan after the Second World War, the reader gets an inside view of the changing world that’s resisted by the aristocracy. The cruelty and lack of regard for Nori’s life highlights the divide between the rich and poor, the accepted and the forbidden. Her calm acceptance of being less than nothing and her life journey make Fifty Words for Rain a painful read.

Who are your favourite authors or writers that inspire you?

You may be sorry you asked this question. 😊 I’m an eclectic reader so I have many favourites, but in terms of craft, I enjoy the simplicity, clarity, and clever plot twists from writers like Robert B. Parker, Dick Francis and Jeffrey Archer.

For humor, give me James Herriot and Gerald Durrell. I also enjoy reading Mary Higgins Clark, Lisa See, and Pamela Samuels Young.

If I may add to this, there’s also Yasmin Angoe and Bisi Adjapon, plus too many contemporary romance writers to name.

In terms of Jamaican/Caribbean authors, those that come immediately to mind are Anthony Winkler and Marlon James.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give a new writer from the Caribbean?

Once you reach a certain skill level, cast your net as wide as you can, but don’t forget to make connections at home. Early in my journey, I submitted to publishers outside Jamaica because I figured I’d have more opportunities through overseas publishers. That eventually happened, after which I went hybrid and began self-publishing my books.

I have only submitted to one local publisher, and that was years ago, so I can’t speak to what happens today, but research is important and is one of the necessary steps on the journey to being an author. Publishers across the Caribbean are another option to explore.

Bonus answer: Find local and regional competitions to enter to boost your writing credentials.

The Latest Work By J.L. Campbell – Murder by The Book

I was introduced to Ms Campbell’s work through her novel Murder by the Book which was released earlier this year.

Here’s the book summary:

Some stories are too dangerous to tell, especially when they’re your own.

Addison Comstock is a literary icon, known for her bestselling crime novels, razor-sharp tongue, and relentless rise to the top. But behind her polished brand lies a ruthless past filled with secrets, betrayals, and broken lives—including those of the writers she’s employed to ghostwrite her success.

When her longtime editor collapses and dies during a team retreat in Jamaica, what appears to be a medical emergency soon begins to feel like something far more sinister.

Tensions rise, loyalties fray, and whispers of sabotage grow louder. Someone in Addison’s inner circle has decided enough is enough, and truth is becoming stranger than fiction.

As the body count climbs and buried truths resurface, Addison is desperate to maintain control of her crumbling empire. But with accusations flying and her dirty past threatening to go public, even Addison begins to question who she can trust . . . and how far she’s willing to go to protect her legacy.

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I am happy that J.L. Campbell agreed to be featured. You can find her books in local bookstores and retailers as well as online.

I read and enjoyed Murder by the Book and I can’t wait to dive into Campbell’s backlist.

Thanks for reading and I’m excited to be getting into the rhythm of blogging again. You can look forward to regular Sunday blog posts throughout September.

Take care.