Leaving the island of Jamaica as an infant with her parents, the only home that Iyana Cambell knows is the United States of America. At the age of sixteen, not only does Iyana lose both of her parents, she meets a law student named Bradley. Bradley has taken a caring interest in her and promises to pick up the pieces of her past tragedies. Now in her third year in college and engaged to a powerhouse attorney, Iyana feels that she has met her knight in shining armor. However, one 4th of July, Iyana is set up on a drug charge. Iyana realizes that Florida is home to her, and according to immigration law, she is deported back to Jamaica: a culture she has never known. Iyana is forced to stay with an Aunt she never knew and live in poor conditions. Determined to obtain some sense of normalcy, she tries to finish her education and enroll in the University of the West Indies. With no loans or financial aid, she must find another way to make money to pay for school and other necessities. Now at the end of her rope, Iyana meets another American deportee, Phe Phe who helps her get into school and teaches her the ropes on how to make it on the streets of Jamaica, as a Dance Hall Queen. Phe Phe is reluctant of letting Iyana know too much about her life, but soon the two become best friends. Phe Phe introduces Iyana to a lawyer Marlon that works to get her deportation overturned and help her discover the beauty that Jamaica has to offer. From the Pen of Ni’cola Comes a tantalizing tail of lies and deceit woven into the exotic life of a dance hall queen. The island of Jamaica has many secrets and taboo to offer. Will Iyana naivety cause her to be overtaken by all the deceit or will her Pum Pum bring her into the light?
Excerpt:
Phe Phe
Loosening the clenching grip I had on Iyana’s hand, a feeling of peace came over me. This was the first time that I shared my story and had an opportunity to show someone that generally loves me how I used to live. It was rush hour in New Kingston, and the traffic on Trafalgar Road was at a standstill.
Weaving our way through the vehicles, I was so busy trying to ensure that we were good that I didn’t notice the three youths watching us and approaching us from the opposite direction.
We were almost on the other side of the street when the group finally caught up with us. The smile that was planted on my face quickly dissipated when I noticed that they were not trying to get around us, they wanted us. Well, not us. It was me who they wanted.
It didn’t take me long to recognize the youth that stood directly before me. I had seen his face many times in the photos that used to decorate my home back in D.C. It was David, Jason’s son.
We stood there for what felt like an eternity and stared each other down. The pace of my heart sped up tremendously, but I was not going to let them know that they put any fear into my heart.
Slightly turning my head, I looked at Iyana and mouthed the words, “I love you,” but quickly turned back to face my aggressor.
“Mi did a luk Fi yuh an kno seh mi wud a fine yuh round yah suh. Wi fine yuh. Now wi a guh kill yuh!”
Grabbing me by my hair, Jason punched me in my face over and over again. I pushed Iyana away, screaming at her, “Iyana, run! Gyal run an nuh luk back!”
Attempting to swing back didn’t make any sense because his goon squad quickly grabbed each of my arms as he continued to hit me. A crowd began to form around us as they screamed out and called me all kind of names.
The man holding my left arm pulled out a knife and handed it to David. All the fight I had in my body was gradually going away as I watched the knife coming closer to my throat. He leaned in so close to me that I was able to inhale the sour scent of the rum he had consumed earlier.
The last thing I remembered was hearing him whisper into my ear, “Now yuh a guh ded.”
All of a sudden, everything went black around me as I felt him quickly pierced my throat.
Biography
Striving to inject her unique flair into the realm of contemporary fiction, Award-Winning, Best-Selling author and blogger, Ni’cola Mitchell enter the literary scene with one main objective: To Stimulate Your Mind, One Word at a Time. Through her independent publishing company NCM Publishing, Ni’cola published numerous titles which have been featured on various best-selling lists throughout the country. Much of her work revolves around complex relationship issues and Mitchell’s compulsive desire to see women overcome challenges. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, she currently resides in North Las Vegas, Nevada with her two daughters Destani and Diamond. Ni’cola is also the CFO of Obsessive Soul Media and Co-Founder of the Baltimore Urban Book Festival. She sits on the board of the Miss Black Collegiate USA Scholarship Pageant, and manages the pageants Author Pavilion. She is also a primary panel member for the State of Black Parent Conference. Ni’cola is also the Celebrity Brand Ambassador for Premier Hair. She is a contributing writer for Urbania Magazine and FeedLynks, the Urban News Network. Ni’cola is a Strategic Partner for the California’s Women’s Conference, and is also a 2014 Blogger’s Week Ambassador. She holds a Bachelors degree of Science in Business Management and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Film.
Over and Over Again was featured in the top ten by EDC Creations Recommended Reading List the 2009 fall season under Mainstream Fiction and Women’s Fiction. Ni’cola was nominated Self-Published Author of the Year with the African-American Literary Award Show for 2010, 2011, and 2012. Her short story “The Forbidden Rain” was featured in the Between the Sheets anthology which won 2011 Anthology of the Year with the African-American Literary Award Show. Ni’cola’s distinctive writing talent has led her to become a featured columnist for Urb Society Magazine, and a nominee for the 2014 I Am a Diva, literary awards. With her outstanding representation of Las Vegas’ African American community, Ni’cola Mitchell was featured in the second edition of Who’s Who in Black Las Vegas. As well as being an author, Nicola is also a motivational speaker and literary consultant, which allowed her to become the recipient of the 2013 Queen that Rocks Award, from the Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation Conference. Ni’cola was also the 2015 Upward Bound Honoree award, presented by the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Currently, she is touring across the country, speaking about the importance of going after your dreams and overcoming obstacles, and how to self-publish your book successfully. When she isn’t writing, Mitchell loves to spend time with her family and volunteers as a mentor for youth activities.
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