How The Wooing of Beppo Tate Sparked a Magical Moment

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I can’t recall the exact moment I decided to become a writer. Maybe there was no singular moment.  

All I know is that as a child, I enjoyed reading novels, and I often daydreamed about becoming an author.

Yet, within the nebulous cloud of childhood memories, I can recall a few vivid moments and standout stories that have inspired my writing journey.

One such story is The Wooing of Beppo Tate, written by C. Everard Palmer, a beloved Jamaican author.

Synopsis

The Wooing of Beppo Tate is a classic coming-of age novel set in the village of Kendall in Jamaica.

The story follows the adventures of the titular character, Beppo, a teenage boy navigating the challenges of moving to a new home and growing up in a small village.

As with all coming-of-age stories, Beppo navigates many pivotal moments that every teenager can relate to.

A Magical Moment

I first read The Wooing of Beppo Tate during my English lessons in high school. I was ten years old in Grade 7, and as far as I was concerned, I had the best Language Arts teacher in the entire school.

She was soft-spoken and kind. Most importantly, she allowed us to take turns reading our literature textbooks aloud in class. That was my greatest joy in high school.

We read Emile and the Detectives and Chike and the River, which were lovely stories. But The Wooing of Beppo Tate was hilarious, especially when read out loud.

I remember my teacher laughing so hard one day that her face turned red. I found it amusing that a story could make my teacher laugh so much.

It was a magical moment that made me dream about writing a story that would be just as entertaining.

That was decades ago. But I hope to meet my teacher again to give her a copy of my debut novella.

I would want her to know that her kindness mattered, and her laughter sparked a magical moment for a ten-year-old girl.

Have you had a similar experience? Which magical moment or standout story inspired you?

Please share in the comments below. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

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© Christene Campbell at Cozy Caribbean Fiction