Lynda R. Edwards's Blog: "Beyond Paradise: The Untold Stories of Caribbean Literary Voices

Confessions of a Writer with Too Many Ideas and Not Enough Time

I launched a Substack series called The Reader’s Guilty Pleasures: 10 Weeks of Bookish Fun—a joyful deep-dive into the weird, the wonderful, and the downright questionable things we do as readers. (Yes, I sniff books. No, I won’t apologize.)

The original plan? Procrastinate writing my new novel, A Sea of Blood and Tears, by pretending to be Very Productive Online™.

But guess what? The muse—drama queen that she is—decided now is the perfect time to storm in wearing velvet and throwing plot twists like confetti. I’m trying to run a lighthearted Substack here and she’s shouting, “Write, you fool!”

So now I’m juggling a weekly writing series, a raging novel, and the eternal guilt of not posting enough #content.

Do I bow to the beast that is social media? Or surrender to my muse, who smells like old books and bad decisions and is, let’s be honest, the love of my life?

👉 Come join the chaos: https://substack.com/@lyndaredwards

Bring your guilty pleasures. I’ll bring mine.

Can we talk about Caribbean literature for a second?

My collection keeps growing, and people keep asking, 'Where are you finding all these books?' So I'm sharing my secret weapons:

Caribbean Authors - This site has become my happy place. That's where I discovered W. St. Cyr's "The Vault" and True Nicks' "The Halfway Tree." Both blew my mind in completely different ways.

Dore Tate's Facebook page ("Books about Jamaica-authors and Writers") - If you're not following this, you're missing out. It's how I found out Olive Senior has a new book, "Paradise Once," and let me tell you, I'm still thinking about it.

Cap Village's Author Village Series - This introduced me to Leah T. Williams and "Neither out Far Nor in Deep," which I never would have found otherwise.

Here's what I've learned: these stories exist. These incredible Caribbean voices are out there writing, publishing, creating. We just have to seek them out.

And honestly? Once you start, you can't stop. It's the best rabbit hole to fall down.

What Caribbean books have changed your reading life? I'm always looking for my next obsession.

Which of My Novels Should You Read First? Let Me Help You Choose!

Stories of Resistance, Legacy & Imagination — From the Caribbean to the World

Hi readers,

If you’re new to my work (or wondering which of my books to dive into next), let me take you on a journey.

Each of my novels explores Caribbean life through a different lens—from generational family sagas and reimagined histories to stories pulsing with magic, revolution, and heart.

Here’s a quick guide to help you choose your next unforgettable read:

Redemption Songs
A Caribbean family saga of strength and survival
Meet a fierce female protagonist caught between tradition, betrayal, and love. This novel explores what we carry from one generation to the next—and what we fight to change.
Perfect for those who love historical fiction and strong female leads.

Friendship Estate
What if colonialism never happened?
This visionary novel reimagines a utopian Caribbean untouched by empire. It's a daring thought experiment that challenges the history we know—and invites us to dream bigger.
For readers who love speculative fiction and alternative histories.

I Am Cuba
Romance. Revolution. Magical Realism.
Set during the Cold War, this novel blends myth, politics, and passion across generations. Expect revolutionaries, love stories, and a bit of magic in every chapter.
A great pick if you enjoy sweeping, emotional, and cinematic stories.

Ready to read?
All three novels are available now—and I’d love to hear which one speaks to you the most.

Don’t forget to leave a review or rating—your feedback matters!

Thank you for supporting Caribbean literature and storytelling with heart.

P.S. already read one of my books? Hit reply or message me on Goodreads—I’d love to hear what resonated with you most.

Answering Some Questions About Me and My Writing Process

2. What was the writing process like when together with this book, was it a smooth process or some setbacks in getting information?

The writing process for this book was definitely not a straight path—it’s been a long and winding journey, to be honest. It all began back in 2004, after I watched this fascinating documentary that claimed Cuba might actually be sitting on the Lost City of Atlantis. That idea absolutely lit a fire in my imagination. I was captivated by the mystery, the history, the possibilities—everything about it. I started outlining, dreaming, scribbling notes… but then life, as it often does, stepped in.

At that point, I was still finding my voice as a writer, and my first published novel, Redemption Songs, just took over. It had something urgent to say, and I knew I had to let that story come through first. Then in 2020, I felt ready to return to the Atlantis idea, but again, something else intervened—Friendship Estate began to take shape, and it became clear that it needed my full attention. So once more, this project was set aside.

Now, looking back, I realize those delays were actually a gift. The time and space allowed the story to mature—both on the page and in my own mind. I’ve grown as a writer, and the world has changed too, giving new relevance and resonance to the themes I wanted to explore. So while it was a process full of starts, stops, and unexpected detours, I truly believe the book I’ve written now is far stronger and deeper than anything I could have created in 2004. It’s proof to me that some stories need to wait for the right moment. And this was it. Nothing before its time.

The Publishing Revolution is Here - And Readers Are Leading It

Have you noticed the incredible shift happening in how stories are being told?

Some authors are completely reimagining the reading experience by:
Releasing stories scene-by-scene over weeks/months
Creating active comment communities where readers discuss and theorize
Letting reader feedback actually influence character development and plot
Building anticipation that keeps you thinking about the story between releases

This isn't just serial publishing - it's interactive storytelling where readers become part of the creative process.

Think about it: instead of binge-reading and moving on, you're living with these characters for months, discussing their choices with other readers, and watching your own insights potentially shape the story.

It's like being in the world's most engaged book club while the book is still being written!

I'm fascinated by how this creates deeper connections - both to the story and to fellow readers. The anticipation, the community discussions, the feeling that your voice matters in the narrative... It's addictive in the best way.

Have you experienced this kind of interactive storytelling? What did you think?

Would you be interested in reading a book that unfolds this way?

When Do you Feel Most at Peace

This is perhaps the most existential question anyone can ask of a human being. What is peace, really, in a world that seems to conspire against it at every turn?

Do I find peace by turning off the TV, considering that world events are anything but peaceful? Do I stop shopping because prices are outrageous, and the simple act of buying groceries has become an exercise in economic anxiety? What does peace even look like in 2025? Is it fellowship, gathering with others who share our burdens?

Or is it isolation, retreating into solitude where the chaos can’t reach us? Is peace found in charity, in giving ourselves away to causes larger than our individual suffering? Or is it in hoarding, protecting what little security we can grasp in uncertain times?

These questions circle in my mind because peace has become something I must actively construct, rather than simply stumble upon.

I find my deepest peace in the space between memory and creation. When I’m writing, the stories of my ancestors flow through me onto the page. In those moments, time becomes elastic. The outside world, with all its noise and demands, fades to background static. There’s just me, the words, and the voices of those who came before, speaking through me to those who will come after.

It’s the peace of purpose fulfilled, of being exactly who I was meant to be before the world started adding its requirements. When I’m crafting a scene set in Jamaica, channeling the rhythm of Caribbean speech, weaving magical realism into everyday moments, I’m not fighting against anything; I’m flowing with something ancient and eternal.

But peace, I’ve learned, isn’t a permanent state. It’s not something you achieve once and keep forever. It’s something you create, moment by moment, choice by choice. Sometimes it’s as simple as turning off the TV. Sometimes it’s closing the laptop and sitting with my thoughts. Sometimes it’s calling family and letting their voices remind me of what matters most.

Peace, for me, is remembering that beneath all the roles I’ve had to play, all the responsibilities I’ve had to shoulder, there’s still that child who believed stories could heal the world. She’s still there, still believing, still creating peace through the simple act of giving voice to the voiceless.

Maybe that’s what peace really is: not the absence of chaos, but the presence of purpose strong enough to anchor us in the storm.

On Finding Your Creative Village

Fellow book lovers, I'd like to share a magical experience that recently happened to me. I was drawn to a Caribbean author's book exchange here in Orlando, one of those moments when you have to follow your intuition. That's how I discovered CAP Village, and more importantly, found my village of inspiration.

CAP Village is Orlando's vibrant cultural hub where storytellers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries gather. It's a space designed for creativity and connection, hosting everything from literary events to workshops, photo shoots to podcasts. But what struck me most was the sense of community, especially within the Caribbean literary scene.

As authors, we know the struggle of balancing writing with the business side of publishing. Social media marketing? Planning content across multiple platforms? It's overwhelming. (Shoutout to Nicola at NL Marketing for keeping me sane and pushing me out of my comfort zone!)

Finding a creative space where I can batch-create content while being surrounded by fellow storytellers has been transformative.

There's something powerful about having a community that truly gets your creative process. When my husband declared he's done filming my videos because "the talent is too hard to work with" (his words, not mine! 😂), I knew I needed to find my tribe.

The Caribbean literary community at CAP Village has become that tribe for me. It's reminded me that creativity flourishes when we're supported by people who understand our stories, our struggles, and our dreams.

To my fellow authors: Where do you find your creative community? Is it a local bookstore, a writing group, or an online forum? I'd love to hear about the spaces and people that inspire your work.

Because at the end of the day, we're all just storytellers looking for our village.

Exploring New Avenues for Writers

Okay, book people – I need to share something that's been keeping me up at night.

I stumbled down a rabbit hole last month reading this incredible serial story on Substack, and it got me thinking: are we witnessing a whole new way stories get told and discovered? Or am I just getting distracted by shiny new platforms?

Here's the thing: I've found some of my favorite reads this year through newsletters and platforms I'd never heard of six months ago.

There's this writer, Dale Mahfood, who posts segments of his short story NEVERLAND every Wednesday, and I'm literally refreshing my inbox like it's the next episode of my favorite show.

Another author is doing this experimental thing where readers vote on plot directions. It's wild.

But here's what's bugging me:
How do I find the good stuff without drowning in mediocre content? My bookstore has staff picks and displays that guide me to great reads. These platforms? It's like wandering through an infinite library with no librarian.

And for the writers I know trying this:
Some are thriving, building these amazing communities where readers actually comment and engage with their work. But others are exhausted from trying to be writers AND marketers AND community managers all at once.

One friend told me she spends more time promoting than writing now.

Here's my real question:
Are we discovering genuinely different voices this way, or just hearing from people who are good at self-promotion? Because I've found some incredible writers who'd never get past traditional gatekeepers, but I've also waded through a lot of... well, let's just say not everything deserves an audience.

Have you found any gems through these platforms? And writers, are you actually connecting with readers, or does it feel like performing in an empty theater sometimes?

Actually, I'm putting my money where my mouth is, I just launched a 7-part series on Substack to experience this firsthand. Three episodes in and I'm already seeing how different it is from traditional publishing. The immediate reader response is both thrilling and terrifying.

https://lyndaredwards.substack.com/p/...

What's the best thing you've discovered outside traditional publishing lately?

Fellow readers and book lovers,

I wanted to share a moment of gratitude as "I AM CUBA" makes its way into the world.
Writing this book was made possible by an incredible street team of fellow Jamaican authors and creatives who became my literary family: George Graham, Andre Simpson, Sardia Robinson, Natalie Corthésy, Fabian Lyon, Robert Younis, Charles and Judith Hyatt, Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter, Karline O. Samuels, Andrene Bonner, Anne Thornly-Brown, Danae Grandison, Gordon James, Judith Falloon-Reid, Dale Mahfood, Debra Ehrhardt, and my childhood friend Anabella Seaga-Mian.

They all seemed to possess an uncanny ability to know exactly when I needed an encouraging word or a motivating text during the writing process.

To my fellow authors reading this: never underestimate the power of community in the creative process. We truly do rise by lifting others.

If you're interested in Caribbean literature or stories that explore identity and belonging, I hope you'll consider adding "I AM CUBA" to your reading list.

With immense gratitude,
Lynda

"The Amalfi Curse" by Sarah Penner

Just cracked open "The Amalfi Curse" by Sarah Penner and I'm already enchanted!

After absolutely loving "The Lost Apothecary," my expectations were sky-high for this one. Penner has this incredible gift for transporting readers to atmospheric, historical settings that feel both mysterious and magical.

The Italian coastal setting is already working its charm on me.

Early impression: If you loved her previous works, this promises the same beautiful blend of historical intrigue and compelling storytelling that makes Penner's novels so addictive.

Anyone else starting this one? Would love to hear your thoughts!