By the Rivers of Babylon

A father’s effort to forge a relationship with an only child is the theme of award-winning Jamaican author Horane Smith’s ninth novel – By the Rivers of Babylon.

The novel tells the story of New York-based Jamaican singer, Ron Weir, who learned he had a son, only a week before the mother of his child died tragically. Ron must now battle resentment, tragedy, and an uncertain future as he tries to make up for lost years with his son, and at the same time, unravel the many questions that confront him day and night.

Smith, who’s best known for writing historical fiction, the first being the internationally acclaimed novel Lover’s Leap: based on the Jamaican Legend and its sequel the USA Booknews Bestbook Award finalist, Dawn at Lover’s Leap, is writing his third novel of contemporary fiction, with the release of By the Rivers of Babylon. The others are Reggae Silver and Seven Days in Jamaica.

“I love both genres, hence my attempt to create a balance,” he said from Toronto, Canada, where he resides. Smith’s last historical fiction was Marooned in Nova Scotia, a Story of the Jamaican Maroons in Canada, which was listed by the Toronto Reference Library among its Top 50 Recommended List of Jamaican books to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the island’s independence.   

“There are more novels in both genres to come, all with Jamaican themes. I do try to alternate between historical and contemporary wherever possible, but it doesn’t always happen that way,” he added.

Smith, a BURLA Award winning novelist for outstanding contribution to African-Caribbean and North American Literature, Is also the author of Port Royal, Underground to Freedom, The Lynching Stream. More information about his books can be found at www.horanesmith.com.