Kerron Tomlinson (Morgan) grew up in Jamaica West Indies. Her parents were ministers and were assigned to many parishes to serve. She remembers her early life as one that saw the family moving house at least eight times as her parents took on new assignments.

Kerron read almost incessantly, and wrote short stories from the time she was in primary (elemantary) school.

When she went on to college,she was encouraged by her Literature teacher, Mrs Neil, to consider writing as a career. However, with the limitations of the time, she wrote , because she had to satisfy the urge to write. She wrote a short play ” Run Bredda Rat,” for the drama group from Manning’s School in the 1980s. The drama group entered the Jamaica Cultural Development Competition and won a silver medal.

In the early 2000s she was delighted to see a Literary Arts supplement of The Jamaica Observer, that published short stories, essays and poems. This gave her the opprtunity of having her stories published.

She also entered the short story competition of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission competition in 2006, and won an award.

Kerron is now working on the another novel in the “It’s Own Time,” series.

Kerron has one child, Verrden Morgan, and five siblings.

• Where are you from?

I am from the island of Jamaica, West Indies

• Why do you write? 

Writing is innate to me. I am most excited when I’m creating a whole new world from words.

• What do you write about? 

Stories about people, how we relate to each other… how we navigate this journey called life, are fulfilling to write. I also write about the effect of the unseen world, on the ‘seen’ world the forces that battle against good and evil, in   our lives.

• Do you have a specific writing style?

My style of writing is primarily narrative and descriptive.

• What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

Sometimes, no matter how you write and refine your draft, your story seems stuck. It’s as if there is another story that is somewhere in the subconscious that needs to be told. So, my greatest obstacle can be writing an outline or a pitch. On the other hand, it can be a great tool too.

• What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

“I didn’t want the story to end.” ‘When is the next book?” ‘Are you going to write more about character  so and so?”

• How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since I was about ten years old, and have been an avid reader from the age of six.

•  When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

I always knew I was a writer. I was always writing, and doing music.

• What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I would wake at about 4:00 a.m. and do at least an hour of writing.  Make breakfast for the family before 5:30. Do a high-intensity run on the treadmill from 5:30-6:00.

Get ready to go teach high school music and be out of the house by 7:30 So that type of scheduling took much organization during the weekends. Now, my son goes off to school…I’m on leave because of an illness that led to paraplegia. My focus is on being in a good place mentally, then on the writing process.

• What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Not following the draft/outline;, letting the story develop organically.

• How long does it take to write a book?

For me writing a book takes sometimes up to a year, sometimes a few months.

• Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?

Yes. Read, read, and then read some more. Studying the classics in college under the guidance of a great literature instructor really helped me.

• What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?

There’s usually a struggle about whom the characters will become, and what crisis they have to face. How do I make the characters’ issues resonate with the reader?

• What do you think makes a good story?

Usually, stories in which good, and love triumph over greed, selfishness, meanness…you know, that sort of thing. Also, stories with strong positive family values.

• What does your family think of your writing? 

They’ve been fans from day one. My family is filled with creatives. They all read voraciously.

• Do you see writing as a career?

At this point- yes. Before technology changed the world, living on my tiny island meant my access to international agents, publishing houses etc. was a long struggle it didn’t seem I was about to win. So I still wrote and had stories published in a national newspaper the  Jamaica Observer Arts Section. I also entered Arts competitions and did well. To make a career from creative writing under those circumstances, however, seemed just a dream

• Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers?

Pursue your God-given passion