Gershwin Quintyne fuses Caribbean culture with global storytelling

BAVINA SOOKDEO

Gershwin Quintyne, a Trincity-based author with a background in information systems technology, has made a foray into the literary world with the release of two new novels: A Funeral in Vieux Fort and Come Find Me.

Quintyne holds an MSc in information systems management from Greenwich University in London, a BSc in computer information systems and an associate degree from Andrew’s University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. He balances his government career as an information systems manager with a passion for storytelling that he describes as “addictive.” He writes in the evenings, capturing ideas during the day and refining them on weekends.

The author, who is an avid trumpet player, aims “to put Trinidad and Tobago on the map again, where illustrious and legendary writers such as VS Naipaul and Michael Anthony have certainly found success.”

His love for storytelling was nurtured by his mother, a secondary-school teacher from Delaford, Tobago.

“My parents divorced when I was five and my sister was six. My father migrated soon after to the UK and never called or wrote. Everything that my sister and I are, is due to my mother's dedication and hard work.

"My mother always got my sister and me books for birthdays and Christmas and got us enrolled at the public library in Arima. We both read a lot growing up. We both love reading.”

His mother died of cancer in 2016.

He began writing a story while she was alive and this eventually grew into his first novel, For President and Country, which was self-published through Amazon in 2023. On December 30, 2024 a continuation, A Funeral in Vieux Fort, also went live on Amazon. Come Find Me, a young adult romance with a touch of intrigue and a narrative rooted in his personal experiences, was made available on Amazon on December 14, 2024.

Quintyne says his first novel did well in the US, Canada and UK.

“The Kindle sales were also pretty good. The paperback version sold above 500 copies, so I am hoping that A Funeral in Vieux Fort and Come Find Me will do even better. I also create cinematic trailers for my novels, so people can picture them as films.”

These can be seen on Quintyne’s social media pages.

Of his newest efforts, Quintyne revealed the novels combine elements of romance and mystery, offering readers an emotional journey.

A Funeral in Vieux Fort takes place about two months after For President and Country ended. A catastrophic warehouse explosion in Vieux Fort, St Lucia, claims two lives, sending ripples of fear through the tranquil town.

In TT, a violent prison break results in the deaths of five police officers, shaking the country’s sense of security. The National Security Council has 72 hours to find out what happened.

These tragedies soon converge, pulling Jarrod Gallard, agent CORB-1, into a sinister plot that spans the Caribbean. As he tracks clues from St Lucia to a showdown in TT, he uncovers a dark conspiracy rife with danger. CORB-1 faces his ultimate test, knowing he might not survive.

Come Find Me is loosely based on Quintyne’s university experience and a dream he had.

“It is a story of a Trinidadian, Jay Vincent, whose parents unfortunately passed away in a car accident. Soon after, he is awarded a full scholarship to attend a prestigious university in the USA.

"At the university, he catches the eye of Alex (Alexandra Summers), the stunningly beautiful and charismatic school president from a wealthy family. That night, she dreams vividly of Jay, a chance encounter in the university store, ending with his mysterious words to her: 'Come find me.'

"Their real-life meeting the day after in the hallway sparks an undeniable connection, but just as their bond begins to grow, tragedy strikes and Jay loses his memory. As Alex fights to help him remember, she battles her growing feelings for him, while her friend Caroline, wickedly seizes the opportunity to win Jay's heart.”

The message, he explained, is that love finds you, sometimes when you least expect it.

“The message in the espionage novels is that in TT, we also have uniquely trained operatives who could be just as good on screen as James Bond, Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt. I certainly am attempting to create that with my novels.”

His previous work explores espionage, intrigue and Caribbean settings.

“I wanted to create a Trinidadian equivalent to the James Bond or Jason Bourne stories.”

Quintyne said the character Agent CORB-1 in these novels is partially inspired by a late friend, Fitzalbert Victor, a member of former Special Anti Crime Unit of TT (SAUTT) and the Prison Service, who contributed technical knowledge to the books.

Asked why he chose to set his books in TT and how the local setting influences his storytelling, Quintyne said, “TT is a rich and dynamic place that offers so much. I picture my books being made into films one day, so I can always picture the filming locations, the places where the scenes can be set etcetera. I think TT offers many places that can captivate a reading audience or film audience, just as much as New York, London and Paris.”

He added, “I like to highlight the people of TT, make them relatable. I love to showcase us in my books to the world. My first novel could also resemble loosely a travelogue, as it spoke of the beach in Tobago (Bacolet Bay), NAPA, Memorial Park, the Brian Lara Promenade, the water tanks in Laventille, and east Port of Spain, to name a few."

As for what he loves most about TT?

“A Trinidadian can fit in anywhere. Our culture and uniqueness make us stand out. I have been to the USA, London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Pisa and people are always fascinated with TT. In Rome, a Caucasian girl from Zimbabwe was asking me about the Trinidad flambeau!”

As for what books and authors inspires his style or approach to writing, Quintyne said, “I am following the Ian Fleming model (the author of the James Bond novels). He was a British intelligence officer and naval officer and after he retired, he bought a property in Jamaica and began writing. It just so happened that the owner of the Warwick film company was looking for something new to produce as a film and he stumbled across the James Bond novels.

"Additionally, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy just before he died in 1963, said in an interview that his favourite novel was the James Bond, From Russia with Love. Therefore it certainly piqued an interest in readership and sales.

"My favourite books are Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald. My middle name is Jay. I was named after Jay Gatsby.”

In addition to thrillers and romance, Quintyne is expanding into new genres, including science fiction and horror.

“I’m working on a modern retelling of a Trinidadian legend set in the 18th century and modern Trinidad. I’m also writing sequels to Come Find Me and A Funeral in Vieux Fort.”

While Quintyne hopes to host a formal launch, he acknowledges the financial challenges involved.

“I have a personality that loves grand gestures, but sometimes reality pulls me back,” he admitted with a laugh.

All three of his books are available worldwide on Amazon and he also hopes to approach bookstores in TT.

Quintyne advised aspiring writers, “Pursue what you love doing. Do not be one-dimensional. I quote our famous son of the soil Geoffrey Holder, famous actor, dancer, painter and singer – 'Do what you love, and the money will come.'"