Flaming Hearts and Other Stories is Ellis’ first published collection.  The collection which won the National Book Development Council first prize for adult literature in 1993 (The Una Marson Award) was published in 1996 and established Ellis as a new and unmistakable voice among Jamaican story-tellers. The characters that people these stories are the “ordinary Jamaican people”  Garfield Ellis says it is  his calling to write about,

The writer’s power lies in transforming the stories of these ordinary people, speaking in authentic Jamaican voices and living comfortably in their environment, into tales of relationships, and internal struggle and concerns universal to the human condition.

Meanwhile, the author’s own relationship with the backdrop – his beautiful island – plays always lyrically in the background. 

STORIES

Breeze

A boy finds camaraderie and a role model in the carefree life of a beach-roaming womanizer. 

Flaming Hearts

Two boys struggle to find themselves and their confidence in the face of their faith and fear of a harsh and disciplined teacher. 

Sparing Partner

Love tests the limits of friendship as two people try hard to keep their relationship within platonic bounds. 

Caney

The story of a sugar cane vendor’s quest to win the heart of a lonely housewife 

Rain

A man discovers that the woman he gives shelter in his car from the rain is more than just another passerby.