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Biography/Early Life:

Writer and self-proclaimed “purveyor of all things natural”, Janice Lynn Mather was born December 29th, 1981 in Nassau, Bahamas. Lynn received both her MFA and BFA from the University of British Columbia as well as an Associate of Arts degree in Language and Literature from the College of the Bahamas. While striving for a stronger recognition and acceptance of Bahamian women in the literary realm, Lynn proves that it is rightfully possible for woman, not just Bahamian, to make a solid living from their work in creative writing.

Career/Work:

While focusing mainly on literary fiction in the form of novels, Lynn also publishes short stories, and the occasional poetry, in journals and anthologies such as Tongues of the Ocean, A Sudden and Violent Change, and We Have a Voice. Being a proud Bahamian, Lynn chooses to center her work around where she is from and who her people are. She even writes on her wittingly unusual website, “I write about people. Mostly my people. From the Caribbean. Specifically the Bahamas. My home. Lots of fiction. Literary fiction. Usually novels. Occasionally poetry. Mostly about being a girl/woman.” Just like her this short fragmented poem, Lynn’s works reflect a to-the-point energy when it comes to talking about her home and the realness of its people. Through her writing to aims to engage her readers in a discourse about the Bahamas, refocusing the lens off of the idea of perfection or paradise and onto one about her “truth” by examining and exposing “social ills…by presenting them through the eyes of everyday people.”

Analysis of Themes:

With themes of magical realism, tragedy, romance, and even coming of age Lynn uses the reality of the Caribbean—utilizing various areas such as Haiti and the Bahamas—as a backdrop for these pieces, with a strong lead of female characters and protagonists, in order to provoke the question, “Can what’s done in the Caribbean be undone?” or “How do we proceed with life now that violence has occurred and changed us?”

As the writer aspires to “write [these] truths,” she enjoys obtaining inspiration from other impressive Caribbean writers, such as Edwidge Danticat, and is beginning to revel in her successes. As of recently her work has been short-listed for the 2011 Small Axe Literary Competition and the 2012 and 2013 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

List of Publications:

Autumn

Learning to Breath

“Tongues of the Ocean”

“Drinking Water”

“A Sudden and Violent Change”

“We Have a Voice”

“Mango Summer” Pepperpot: Best New Stories From the Caribbean

Reference section:

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38367:bahamian-writers-make-commonwealth-prize-short-list&catid=38:arts-a-culture&Itemid=59

http://www.tribune242.com/photos/galleries/2015/oct/23/10242015-weekend/14664/

https://janicelynnmather.squarespace.com/bio/

http://www.scribesvalley.com/winners2003.html

http://www.peepaltreepress.com/authors/janice-lynn-mather

http://andrewhideo.com/tag/caribbean-literature/