New Beginnings with Author and Publisher Marlene

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Marlene moved to the United States at the age of eight. Her love for books began her very first summer in the U.S. when her stepmother literally dragged her to the library;a way to keep her off the streets. As if a match made in heaven Marlene took to reading like a fish to water.

Some favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder, Beverley Cleary and Judy Blume. Growing up in a house with 3 brothers she was lucky to find an author like Ms. Blume to educated her on the trials and tribulations of being a young girl. Marlene laughingly states that due to having a tight-lipped, strict stepmother she was happy to have access to  books as Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret, Blubber and Forever to keep her informed as she advance into womanhood.

Marlene began writing poetry at the age of 11 and  from that point on she felt lost if she didn’t have a pen and her trusty composition notebook with her..

In 2005 Marlene self-published, her first book Babies’ Daddies. She published her second book ‘Making It In My Own’ in 2006, ‘Island Beauty’ followed on June 1, 2009. Her most recent release came out on June 15, 2011 titled Jamaican Gal. Marlene states that she wrote this book to bring some of the island feel to the readers. She rarely saw books depicting her home or use of the dialect. Drawing from her memories and experiences of her first eight years, she painted a vivid picture of what it was like living in Jamaica, moving to a different country at such a young age and trying to integrate into such a different culture.

She is currently working on her fifth book Babies Daddies-The Remix, and a novella titled, UnWanted. http://www.authormarlene.webs.com/

Join us  213-769-0952 9PM EST, 8PM CST, 6PM PST