Hey Joe: Jamaica Series (Book 1) (Volume 1)

HEY JOE is the first book in the Jamaica Series by Jerry Beller. It is an adventure story about an American named River Adams who moves to Jamaica, totally absorbing himself into the local culture. Most the young Jamaican males, and some not so young, refer to him as Joe, often starting the conversation with “Hey Joe”. River does not like being called Joe. He is living here and is not a tourist passing through for a couple of days and then gone. He moved here to write a book. He did not bring anybody with him. He refuses to let anybody from America visit him. He is here to experience Jamaica like a Jamaican, and not a rich one at that. Each day is a great adventure for River, both with the story he is writing, but also in his travels each day around the Portland Parish. He falls in love with both nature and the people of Portland. Portland is the most peaceful, least developed and most beautiful parish in Jamaica. River does his best to get to know every square inch of land in Portland and beyond, while also attempting to meet every person in the parish. While some bigots inevitably hate him, he makes many lasting friendships and leaves a mark on the area. Nature humbles him as he witnesses great storms, rain that drops out of the sky like the ocean turned upside down, magnificent rainbows, daily sunrises and sunsets, winds that makes him fear he might get blown off the island, tropical heat in abundance and beauty everywhere he looks. River frequents all the local hangouts, including Winifred Beach, purposely steering clear of most the tourist hangouts. In his daily travels, River meets a wide array of amazing characters among the Jamaicans. This book is about River becoming more than just another Joe to the people around Port Antonio.