Island in the Clouds – first reader response received by email!

Last week, while I was sitting at the bar in Tommy’s on Bequia, a woman came in and asked about the novel advertised at the entrance and on the restaurant wall. I wrote about that encounter here. The woman has now written to me, after having read my novel, and gives me permission not only to quote what she said about the novel but also to use her name. Thank you, Susan!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book two days ago. We have been coming here by boat since 1995 and have brought several friends with us. My husband sends a daily email to friends and family so he mentioned the book and one of our friends has already downloaded it. I am sure there will be others.

Yesterday Randy and I walked up the beach and came upon the Sunny Caribbe Plantation House abandoned resort. Another couple from England was there as well. They vacationed there many years ago and wondered what in the world had happened to it. We discovered lots of interesting info on Google. Locals with whom we have chatted are dismayed about it. We saw a wind surfer on the beach there with the name “Toy” on it.

I am amazed that we have been coming here all this time and never realized that place was there. Our accommodations have always been on our 44 ft. boat throughout the islands so we know very little about resort life.

We have been out snorkeling at Lower Bay and are now getting ready to try the Frangipani for dinner. Over the years we have visited all the restaurants along the beach but never have gone to the Frangipani.

I had been looking for some kind of book about Bequia and after asking for suggestions at the book store, the tourist office as well as some of the friendly vendors we have gotten to recognize, I found nothing. It was meant to be that I asked at Tommy’s about your book just as you were sitting there. It is exactly what I was looking for. You have treated the local people with respect. I really like your use of local dialect which I hear all the time and try to figure out. The local use of pronouns now makes more sense to me. It is certainly far removed from any grammar we learned. Reading this story has made me feel better connected to the human tapestry of island natives, tourists and those who have chosen this place as a residence for their own reasons. Many have added positive dimensions to life here, like Dr. Halliday and his wife Melanie in your story, and others have abused the privilege of living here. Such is the case across our planet. We also have visited Moonhole and your description is really great. We always point it out and have our friends look through binoculars to see it.

So many of our friends and family have worried about the drug abuse here and boaters’ safety. We try to be careful but no matter where one is trouble can occur so we feel confident that all will be well as we continue yet another of our dream journeys. This may be our final time to visit the islands on Windward Passage with so many friends joining us so we do not let many things worry us.

Susan Williamson