A Childhood of Summers on Montserrat Island

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Emerald Isle of the Caribbean

Springfield Gardens, NY (Vocus) August 16, 2010

Transport yourself to the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” in the breezy, heartwarming pages of Maamie and Parpi Daley of Montserrat: Meet the Daleys (published by Trafford Publishing), the new book by Dorine S. O’Garro.

Nicknamed the “Emerald Isle” because of its lush, verdant landscape and the Irish ancestry of its residents, Montserrat is part of the Lesser Antilles islands in the Caribbean Sea. The resilient spirit of its people has been tested in recent years with hurricanes and devastating volcano eruptions, and it’s estimated that the island has been reduced to one-third its former size.

Set against the rich, green backdrop of Montserrat, Maamie and Parpi Daley of Montserrat tells the fictional tale of Maggie and Syd Daley, a brother and sister from New York who have been visiting their paternal grandparents, Maamie and Parpi, at their home in Montserrat since Maggie was six years old. Known as the Big House, Auntie Vera, her husband and their children – first cousins to Maggie and Syd – all live together with Maamie and Parpi and enjoy spending family time together in the Big Yard.

One of the best things about summer evenings in the Big Yard is getting to hear Maamie’s improvised stories told by moonlight during family gatherings. At the Big House, life is different from the bustle and rush of the big city and time seems to slow down a little bit. There is no television; rather, Maggie and Syd spend their days learning about the island, its customs and its unique regional language, called “patois.” Beaches, tress and fruit meadows provide an abundance of opportunities for exploration.

Rich detail and wholesome characters combine in the lighthearted pages of Maamie and Parpi Daley of Montserrat as it celebrates the benefits of close family ties. Enjoy Maamie’s favorite stories as she shares them in this charming new book.

Dorine S. O’Garro was born on the island of Montserrat and moved to the island of St. Kitts as a young child, attending Catholic school and shepherding her flock. At age 12, she returned to Montserrat. Three years later, O’Garro relocated to New York City, graduating high school and earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Spanish with a French minor from Hunter College. She also completed university studies in Mexico and Canada. For 32 years, O’Garro taught in New York’s public school system, 18 of which were at Manhattan’s renowned Stuyvesant High School. Eight days after her retirement in 1995, the Soufriere Hills Volcano began to erupt in Montserrat, an occasion which would prove to be the catalyst for her writing career. “My aim is to write of my island’s rich culture, especially since the volcano continues to erupt,” O’Garro writes. She is also the author of Montserrat on My Mind, Tales of Montserrat, Montserrat in the Heart of the Caribbean, America and England and Miss Tillie.

Trafford Publishing is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit Trafford publishing.

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