Aspinall Book Signing At Dockyard Art Centre

Bermudian author, J.K. Aspinall, will be signing her new novel, The Drummer Boy of Castle Island on Sunday [Dec 16] from 1.00pm – 4.00pm at the Bermuda Art Centre in Dockyard.

Commenting on her book, Ms. Aspinall states it is wonderful to write plots that take place outside of Bermuda, but there are so many extraordinary things on the island that mesh the historic with a physical environment that is, at times, so incredibly beautiful, it is hard to describe. The Drummer Boy of Castle Island achieves this.

“The book will thrill adults,” she says, “who want to immerse themselves in, or share with friends abroad, the descriptions of nature that surrounds us. Water that shimmers like glass. Skies that explode with pinks and magentas. Hurricane seas with charging waves of white horses. ”

She states the younger set, 11yrs to teens, will identify with the young characters and their rollicking adventure in the fantasy aspects.

“In my current dealings with young Bermudians,” Ms. Aspinall says, “when I ask if they know about Castle Island, they state “no.” They have never seen it, have no idea of where it is, have no knowledge of the forts and the importance they represent in Bermuda’s history. I was shocked. That is a very sad reflection on….what?”

“Hopefully, The Drummer will be likened to teaspoons of sugared enlightenment. Let young ones engage in rollicking fantasy, white feeding them tidbits of a history that envelopes Castle Island like a blanket. In this manner, they will absorb history and learn to appreciate the unparalleled beauty of their homeland.”

Quoting from her book’s author’s forward: “The Drummer is more than an adventure –more than a time-travel fantasy story about three youngsters who find themselves on an island in the seventeen hundreds.

“The Drummer is about a place—an incredible place called Castle Island–and a man who introduced me to this magical world when I was very young. His name was Christy Smith and he died many years prior to the time frame at the commencement of this story.

“He was a fisherman, born during the period when the black population living in Tuckers Town was re-located to make room for a white dominated, land-grab market designed only for the affluent. Christy was one of only two black fisherman given permission to moor their fishing boats in Tucker’s Town Bay.

“The other man was Austin Talbot, who brought so much fame to Bermuda as a member of the renowned calypso band, The Talbot Brothers.

“I met Christy when I was eight years old. He was part of a collection of fishermen who kept small dinghies on John Smiths Bay, the same beach where my parents operated a beach club. When Christy invested in his motorized fishing boat… he taught me all he knew about Castle Island.

“I roamed over its rocks and walls long before it became a popular spot with boaters, and my impressions are detailed throughout the story. Christy appears infrequently in the story, but he was the living, breathing inspiration, and everything I write about is because of him.

“He gave me ocean waves, night skies, ink blue depths, flying fish, fear of sharks when I went overboard two miles out with a knife to hack away a line entwined around his propeller shaft, and finally, the dreams of becoming a mermaid.

“The Drummer is my vehicle to immortalize the image of Christy Smith, a kind, gentle human, a monument to hard work, dedication, and boundless energy, reaching out to all things he loved. There is nothing like this in Bermuda anymore. His world is gone.

“He was on the water searching for bait fish every day at sunrise and did not return home until evening. Study his photo in the back. Read his poem. Notice the chopping board, the axe he used to chop fish, the white scars on his knees, the power in his hands, and the most beautiful, strong face….”

This high quality, high gloss page book contains a record of photographs of Castle Island and Christy Smith taken by Ms. Aspinall in the 1970’s, along with detailed pen and ink sketches. Each chapter is headed by one of her pen and inks. Her art is highly detailed and imaginative.

“It is way beyond being an ordinary, paper back. It is a professionally produced book that could be considered a collector’s item among those who cherish Bermudiana.

The book retails for $18.95 and so far is sold by: Bookmart, Robertsons Drugstore, Book Cellar, Bermuda Art Centre, and Craft Market. “The only outlets who truly support Bermudian authors,” Ms. Aspinall states.

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