Caribbean Writer

My name is Geoffrey Philp, and I am a writer from Jamaica. I started Geoffrey Philp’s Blog Spot to provide readers with information about my writing and the work of contemporary Caribbean and South Florida writers.

I was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and I attended Mona Primary and Jamaica College, where I studied literature under the tutelage of Dennis Scott. When I left Jamaica in 1979, I went to Miami Dade College and after graduating, I studied Caribbean, African and African-American literature with Dr. O.R. Dathorne and creative writing with Lester Goran, Evelyn Wilde Mayerson, and Isaac Bashevis Singer. Since then, I have attended workshops with Derek Walcott , Edward Albee, and Israeli playwright, Matti Meged. As a James Michener Fellow at the University of Miami, I studied poetry under Kamau Brathwaite and fiction with George Lamming.

In 1990, I published my first book of poems, Exodus and Other Poems, and four other poetry collections have followed: Florida Bound (1985), hurricane center (1998), xango music (2001), and Twelve Poems and A Story for Christmas (2005). I have also written a book of short stories, Uncle Obadiah and the Alien (1997), and a novel, Benjamin, My Son (2003) which was set in Jamaica during the turbulent eighties—a time of gang and class warfare, mass exodus, and the emergence of reggae, Rastafari and Bob Marley. I am currently working on a book of short stories, “Who’s Your Daddy?” and Other Stories, and a novel, “Song for the Shulamite,” which is set in South Florida. The major stars of the novel are a hurricane, a missing daughter, and a Rastaman—kind of Zora Neale Hurston meets South Florida and Jamaica.

I’ve also won several awards and nominations for my work including an International IMPAC Dublin Award (Nomination) 2005, Dublin, Ireland; Sauza “Stay Pure” Award 2000; Florida Individual Artist Fellowship 1997, Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida; “Escape to Create” 1995, Seaside Institute; Canute Brodhurst Prize 1993, The Caribbean Writer, University of the Virgin Islands, and James Michener Fellowships, 1990-1992, University of Miami.

Over the past twenty years, I’ve worked as a Poet-in-the Schools with Dade County Public Schools, taught English, drama, and journalism at West Miami Middle School, freshman composition at the University of Miami, and nearly every English course at Miami Dade College where I am now the chairperson of the College Prep. Department. As I have learned, I have passed on the knowledge I have gleaned by giving readings from my work and conducting creative writing workshops in the US, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom.

I am available for “Meet the Author” readings from my work and intense weekend creative writing workshops/lectures. To contact me, please e-mail geoffreyphilp101 [at] gmail.com.

I hope you have enjoyed reading Geoffrey Philp’s Blog Spot.

Blessings,

Geoffrey