Memoir of an Island Girl

Lisa-Ann Marie Gillings was born in Jamaica in 1967. She spent her childhood living in the small Kingston neighborhood of Patrick City.

Many people dream of island life and the paradise of Jamaica's blue skies and white beaches. Lisa-Ann, however, had a much different experience in her hometown. Her parents were so abusive that she refuses to call them her mother and father. Instead, they are just "the woman who give birth to me" or the "monster" and the "sperm donor." Lisa-Ann was beaten daily and made to sleep on the floor. A move from the island to New York City did nothing to stop the abuse. There was no escape for her. Even relatives she originally trusted ended up betraying her in the end.

Lisa-Ann's story isn't just about this horrific abuse. Instead, it is about how she survived an impossible childhood to go on to be a loving and generous mother. She chronicles her struggles with her own children and how her past affected her parenting. Lisa-Ann was determined to make sure her family always had a stable home and that they knew their mother loved them. This memoir is a testament to her own endurance and strength.