On Conversations: #AAMBookclub #author Shona Jabang

Please join me in welcoming author Shona Jabang to Conversations today! Shona is here to talk about her new book, Ethereal Voices! So, check out the cover and blurb below. And don't forget to check out her interview too, and get to know Shona Jabang!

Lisa ~
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Ethereal Voices 

The short stories included in Ethereal Voices by Shona Jabang are reflections of so many aspects of Jamaican life. However, with stories set in Africa, the UK, and America, each story has its own unique take on what it means to be from the Caribbean. The stories span the 1920’s to the 2000’s. The reader cannot help but become caught up in the drama and longing expressed in these colorful stories where themes of social mores and norms and struggles with and impact of emigration are all wrapped in the complexities of relationships in the Jamaican community. This collection of stories and poems overflow with vivid imagery, poetry, rhythmic tones, and symphonies of poignant moods.

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Interview with Shona Jabang

Who is Shona Jabang?

Shona Jabang is a Jamaican-American author who has recently released her debut collection of short stories and poems entitled Ethereal Voices.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I have always enjoyed writing and reading as many books as I can. I am a voracious reader, and I enjoy stories from all cultures that cover a variety of complex themes and issues. I love to travel, do my artwork, and I love animals.

What has influenced your writing?

My writing has been influenced by my Jamaican heritage, my upbringing, and my travels.

Where do get the inspiration for your characters?

I am inspired by stories my mother used to tell, Jamaican myths and legends, religion, and superstition. I also enjoy stories that are different in terms of their subject matter and somewhat fatalistic characters.

Who would be your ideal reader?

Anyone who has a thirst for learning about different countries, fantasies, and complex relationships will love my stories and my poems.

Do you consider yourself a poet as well as a short story writer?

Many of my stories are full of poetry and imagery. I have two stories that are written in a distinct poetic format, which is a very intriguing manner to write and to read a story – poetic fiction.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans are to keep writing. I would like to write a collection of short stories revolving around my ancestry, which I have managed to trace back to the 1850s on both my maternal and paternal sides. I already have a title in mind.

Shona V. Jamadi-Jabang is a Jamaican-American. She is a 9th and 10th grade language arts teacher at Lakenheath American High school as well as a part-time writing instructor with the University of Maryland University College (UMUC – Europe). She lives with her husband, Lamin, and two dogs. Shona Jamadi-Jabang originally grew up in the UK but has lived in Jamaica, Canada, and the US before returning to the UK to work as a teacher. She has a BA in English, an MS in Education, and MA in Creative Writing (MCW). She enjoys writing stories, poems, and plays that are based on her cultural background – an amalgamation of all the in which she has lived. Shona has just published her first collection of short stories and poems entitled Ethereal Voices under her pen name Shona Jabang and was also recently awarded The Cecile de Jongh Literary Prize for her story, “The Sea Witch,” which was published in the The Caribbean Writer.


Connect with the author:
www.facebook.com/etherealvoices
etherealvoicesbyjabang.wordpress.com
twitter.com/tajjee7777
tajjee9@gmail.com